Salutations
I imagine most of you will be befuddled and gobsmacked to find that the aging members of staff here at Hogwarts have acquired these magical journals, but I assure you it is all for the best! We are only thinking of you, after all - your educations, your safety and so on; what better way to remind you of upcoming student events, due-dates for homework assignments and detentions than these natty little things? Much less costly than owl post and much more timely than informing you in person - yes indeed, this newfangled gadgetry is the way of the future!
Now, where was I...ah, yes...
You have all been back 'in the saddle' as it were, for a week now, and myself (and the rest of the staff) all hope that you have settled back in to the routine here at Hogwarts. New students, I hope you are finding your way around the place without too much hassle; a word of warning - if you see a small, see-through gentleman with a grin that wraps several times around his cranium, walk swiftly in the opposite direction. He wishes you no harm (...mostly) but he will make you severely late to class. And your professors will be less than understanding after the first few weeks, if you are continually tardy.
Argus Filch has asked me to pass on a few 'do's and 'dont's' but instead of writing them up here, I have affixed them to your common room notice boards. The itemised list of 2759725 punishable offences can be perused there at your leisure, though I should perhaps repeat a few of the more important rules and regulations:
* The Forbidden Forest is, as it's name suggest, off-limits unless accompanied by a member of staff. All games centering around daring your fellow students to set foot inside it will be promptly stopped if you are spotted by member of staff, and yes, games of this sort are punishable by detention. This rule is in place for your own safety.
* Curfew for students up to Fifth Year is 8pm. Sixth and seventh years may stay out till 9.30, but any students found outside of their common rooms after these hours will be punished. It is suggested you are all in bed by 11pm, unless you have a note from a professor indicating that you are working on a particular assignment that requires you to be out of bed (for example, astronomy students may seek permission to visit the astronomy tower to gather data for star charts, etcetera, after hours).
* Absolutely no students in other students dormitories after hours. Boys, as you are aware, you cannot enter the girls dormitories at all. Any efforts to bypass this particular jinx will fail, and possibly backfire horribly, so I can only suggest that you not attempt it.
* Hogsmeade weekends are the only times during which it is permissable to visit the village, unless, of course, you have the permission of a professor or other member of staff. Such permission must be put in writing, and run by the Headmaster (ooh, that's me!) first. Once again, this rule is for your own safety. Any student found sneaking in to the village without the knowledge and blessings of the Headmaster will be punished. Any student found visiting the village on Hogsmeade weekends without the permission of a parent or gaurdian will, similarly, be punished.
* Correct uniform will be worn at all times. We are liberal up to a point, but you must remember that Hogwarts has a tradition running back many centuries, and we cannot allow our students free reign to dress as they would on weekends. Please respect the uniform code.
* Threats towards other students or members of staff will not under any circumstances be tolerated.
I do believe those are the most important ones! Obviously, I would suggest reading up on Argus' list in your free time, if for no other reason, simply to ensure that you don't inadvertantly break a rule and end up on his bad side. He has quite a temper.
As you will now be aware, your head boy and head girl for this year are Mr Kit Newton and Miss Hermione Granger. Feel free to accost them if you require assistance with anything, and likewise your house prefects are there to help. Do respect their authority - they are entitled to issue you with minor detentions, but if you have any issues with their decision making talk to your head of house.
Enjoy your ensuing week, all! The first Hogsmeade Weekend will be next weekend, so those of you who do not yet have a signed permission form, please write to your parents/gaurdian/s. Your forms should be submitted to your head of house for perusal.
Pleasant weekend, all!
~Dumbledore, A
Now, where was I...ah, yes...
You have all been back 'in the saddle' as it were, for a week now, and myself (and the rest of the staff) all hope that you have settled back in to the routine here at Hogwarts. New students, I hope you are finding your way around the place without too much hassle; a word of warning - if you see a small, see-through gentleman with a grin that wraps several times around his cranium, walk swiftly in the opposite direction. He wishes you no harm (...mostly) but he will make you severely late to class. And your professors will be less than understanding after the first few weeks, if you are continually tardy.
Argus Filch has asked me to pass on a few 'do's and 'dont's' but instead of writing them up here, I have affixed them to your common room notice boards. The itemised list of 2759725 punishable offences can be perused there at your leisure, though I should perhaps repeat a few of the more important rules and regulations:
* The Forbidden Forest is, as it's name suggest, off-limits unless accompanied by a member of staff. All games centering around daring your fellow students to set foot inside it will be promptly stopped if you are spotted by member of staff, and yes, games of this sort are punishable by detention. This rule is in place for your own safety.
* Curfew for students up to Fifth Year is 8pm. Sixth and seventh years may stay out till 9.30, but any students found outside of their common rooms after these hours will be punished. It is suggested you are all in bed by 11pm, unless you have a note from a professor indicating that you are working on a particular assignment that requires you to be out of bed (for example, astronomy students may seek permission to visit the astronomy tower to gather data for star charts, etcetera, after hours).
* Absolutely no students in other students dormitories after hours. Boys, as you are aware, you cannot enter the girls dormitories at all. Any efforts to bypass this particular jinx will fail, and possibly backfire horribly, so I can only suggest that you not attempt it.
* Hogsmeade weekends are the only times during which it is permissable to visit the village, unless, of course, you have the permission of a professor or other member of staff. Such permission must be put in writing, and run by the Headmaster (ooh, that's me!) first. Once again, this rule is for your own safety. Any student found sneaking in to the village without the knowledge and blessings of the Headmaster will be punished. Any student found visiting the village on Hogsmeade weekends without the permission of a parent or gaurdian will, similarly, be punished.
* Correct uniform will be worn at all times. We are liberal up to a point, but you must remember that Hogwarts has a tradition running back many centuries, and we cannot allow our students free reign to dress as they would on weekends. Please respect the uniform code.
* Threats towards other students or members of staff will not under any circumstances be tolerated.
I do believe those are the most important ones! Obviously, I would suggest reading up on Argus' list in your free time, if for no other reason, simply to ensure that you don't inadvertantly break a rule and end up on his bad side. He has quite a temper.
As you will now be aware, your head boy and head girl for this year are Mr Kit Newton and Miss Hermione Granger. Feel free to accost them if you require assistance with anything, and likewise your house prefects are there to help. Do respect their authority - they are entitled to issue you with minor detentions, but if you have any issues with their decision making talk to your head of house.
Enjoy your ensuing week, all! The first Hogsmeade Weekend will be next weekend, so those of you who do not yet have a signed permission form, please write to your parents/gaurdian/s. Your forms should be submitted to your head of house for perusal.
Pleasant weekend, all!
~Dumbledore, A