Stonewall Institute: An Information Thread

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This thread includes everything anyone needs to know about Stonewall Institute and its proceedures. Each new topic will be dealt with in a different post. Reading this thread is very, very helpful when creating a student or a professor.

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Stonewall School: An Informational Topic

Stonewall is not a castle

Stonewall Institute for Magical Arts (or, according to the Muggles, Stonewall Institute for the Arts) is not a castle. This is because Canada is neither known for its castles or its medieval feudalism, being a relatively new state.

In the early 1880s when Amelia Clippesby built the school she wanted it to blend in with the Muggle town some distance away as much as possible. To that end Stonewall Institute is not a castle but is, instead, a limestone Victorian school building that would look quite at home in any formerly-British or still-British town from that period.

Stonewall is a school building

As previously mentioned, Stonewall Institute is just an average-looking Victorian school building set in a not-so-average part of town. When the Institute was first constructed it was considered a sufficiently safe distance away from the Muggles, but as time went by the Muggle town grew larger and larger, and as usually happened, a magical community grew up near and surrounding the school.

Stonewall is a rather large (for its time) building constructed out of the local limestone and red clay bricks. Its façade has certainly seen better times. There is a wall running around the school and its grounds separating it from the town.

Stonewall is bigger on the inside than on the outside

Stonewall doesn't look like it can actually house a population of roughly six hundred people, but that's because the building on its own can't. Amelia Clippesby had the foresight to use wizard space when building the school, and because of this the inside of the school has many more rooms than its physical size should allow. This causes a curious sensation when someone first enters the entrance hall as everything quickly expands.

Stonewall has moving rooms

Although many of the problems with Stonewall's wards and spells have been fixed, several of the rooms are still free to move about. However, they are now constrained to their own floor, so lateness due to moving classrooms is no longer as tolerated as before.

Stonewall has a very extensive cellar system

Stonewall Institute's cellars are very large and very confusing, and as such should only be navigated by Jacksons or Clippesbys, whose Common Rooms are to be found here. The cellars resemble a labyrinth more than they resemble anything else, although as a small mercy they seem rather content to stay put. A secret bunker is rumoured to be beneath the school.

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Stonewall Institute Procedures

This thread contains everything you need to know about how Stonewall Institute works – classes, sorting, how muggleborn students are contacted... the works!

Muggleborns & the Sorting

Muggleborns receive personal contact with their school letter

During the summer months, professors specially trained by the Ministry are sent out to approach Muggleborns about to enter their first year at a magical school. At Stonewall Institute Elizabeth Darling acts as a liaison officer, and she often allows students entering their seventh year to accompany her on her travels.

The liaison officer and a student representative arrive at the Muggleborn's home and provide information about their school and the magical world to the student and the student's family in as delicate and sensitive a manner as possible, and it is then up to the parent's of the young witch or wizard to decide upon his or her ultimate place of education.

Stonewall Institute uses a Sorting Orb to Sort its students

When the school was first opened, Amelia Clippesby was gifted a Sorting Orb by a Cree wizard that was designed to see the true nature of a person. Its magic was customised to produce a list of students, sorted by their House traits, for the headmistress of the school.

The Orb requires no consent or interaction with the focus of its magic, and it automatically Sorts every person (magical or Muggle) who enters the school building. Its magic has never wavered.

The Stonewall Houses

Stonewall Institute has four Houses: Astoria, Clippesby, Jackson and Wentworth

The Stonewall Institute for Magical Arts was founded in 1883 by Amelia Clippesby, a British witch who had moved to the area two years prior. The lack of magical schools in that area of Canada had long frustrated her and, given the opportunity by John Wentworth, a fellow expatriate from Britain, she founded the Stonewall Institute for Magical Arts near the Muggle town of Stonewall.

The school soon attracted magical residents who moved into the town, some separating themselves wholly from the Muggles and others managing some degree of integration, all because of the school. The school primarily serves Manitoba province, but students from all across Canada are welcomed with open arms.

The school has four houses, again based on the British model:

Clippesby House, named for Amelia Clippesby
Wentworth House, named for the school's benefactor
Astoria House, named for Amelia Clippesby's daughter
Jackson House, named for the Muggle founder of the town

Amelia Clippesby was careful to follow the example set forth by the Hogwarts founders and so students are sorted into each House based on certain traits.

Clippesby House
Students from Clippesby House are often the kindest, most hard-working students that can be found. Amelia Clippesby valued a strong work ethic and honourable conduct above all else, and students found in her namesake House reflect this. Clippesby students have often been called “boring”, but they have the drive and ambition to succeed in life. Clippesby is the 'House of Doers'. The House colours are wisteria and grey. The animal most associated with this House, and the animal found on its crest, is the bison, chosen for its reliability, courage and stability.

Wentworth House
Wentworth students live for practicality and function. John Wentworth valued independence and initiative. Wentworth has often been called the 'House of Leaders' and has always treasured charisma and academic ability, although has been noted in the past for producing students whose motto is “the ends justify the means”. The House colours are cardinal and blue-grey. The animal most associated with Wentworths, and the animal on its crest, is the lion, chosen for its handsome features, its courage, power and dominance.

Astoria House
Students from Astoria House have always been the most artistic and creative of the four Houses. Students from this House have a tendency towards 'form over function'. Astoria has been called the 'House of Dreamers' in the past. The House has always been surrounded by something of a dramatic flair. The House colours are celadon and Mountbatten pink. The animal most associated with Astoria (despite the eagle guarding the Common Room entrance), and found on its House crest, is the swan, chosen for its beauty and artistic expression.

Jackson House
Students from Jackson House are loyal and friendly and value a good time. Work is viewed as a necessary evil, something that must be done before leisure time. The House has been called the 'House of Merrymakers' and its students have taken this to heart in times gone by. Students from this House are typically witty and pleasant. The House colours are Columbia blue and old mauve. The animal most associated with Jackson House, and the animal found on its crest, is the hunting dog, chosen for its loyalty, good cheer and gregariousness.

Traditionally, students from Jackson do not get on with students from Clippesby and vice versa; the same holds true for Astoria and Wentworth. House rivalries become most important during Quidditch matches and other inter-House activities, but it has not been unknown to see rude posters around the school.

Classes and Class Threads

Class threads are optional!

As a magical school, Stonewall obviously has classes geared towards learning magic. So, here is everything you need to know about how we're going to roleplay classes at Stonewall!

If You're a Professor

• Class threads are optional! If you play a professor character and you would like to teach a clas, post a sign up thread in your class's forum with the appropriate information (what year, for example) and wait to see who's interested!
• Threads are to be titled with the year of the students, then the class, and then what the lesson number is. The description field should note the day, date and time of the thread. For example: Fifth Year Transfiguration: Lesson 1. 9:55 AM, Tuesday 6th September.

If You're a Student

• Students at Stonewall choose their electives in their third year and start their elective classes in their fourth.
• All subjects except for ancient runes and arithmancy are compulsory, that is, all students below sixth year must do these.
• NEWT students will take at least five (5) NEWT-level classes from the OWLs they passed, but may take more if desired.
• Class threads are optional! However, do not roleplay your character at times when they should be in class if they are not actually in class: if a teacher finds out it could lead to punishment!
• It is expected that OWL students do ten (10) classes.

Classes offered to NEWT-level at Stonewall are:

• Ancient Runes
• Arithmancy
• Art
• Astronomy
• Charms
• Dance
• Defence Against the Dark Arts
• Herbology
• History of Magic
• Muggle Studies
• Music
• Potions
• Transfiguration

The History of Stonewall's Electives

Stonewall Institute has always had a thriving and brilliant arts department. It was famous for its music and art programmes (combining muggle disciplines with music and art magic) and had a very good dance department. The electives care of magical creatures and divination were dropped from the school curriculum in 2006. The electives art, music, dance, domestic magic, magical literature and theatre were dropped from the curriculum in 2000 due to ongoing budgetary concerns. It is expected that graduates from before 2000 would have done one or more of these discontinued subjects to at least OWL level. In 2012, the electives art, dance and music were added once again to the school's subjects, with plans to reintroduce literature and domestic magic at a later date, as well as theatre.

Payment

Due to funding given by Rivulet Potions, Stonewall Institute has once again become a private institution. Due to this, students will be required to pay fees to attend the school starting from the year 2014. There will be a scholarship fund for students unable to afford schooling. All students transfering to Stonewall from another school or from private tuition will be subject to a yearly fee covering tuition and board.

TIMETABLES WILL BE SORTED OUT AT A SLIGHTLY LATER DATE. FOR NOW, DO NOT START ANY CLASS THREADS.

[Admin]

Stonewall Institute for Magical Arts
The Rule Book

In accordance with Ministry legislation a rulebook has been created and disseminated to all Institute students. The rules found in this book are binding and punishment will follow if any are broken. A copy of this rule book can be provided in French if the recipient so desires.

Stonewall Institute is to be a safe learning environment

As per Ministry legislation, all public magical schools are to be fully open to any wizard regardless of his background, whether that be magical, muggle or a mixture of the two. Discrimination on the basis of blood status, religious beliefs, ethnicity or sexual orientation will not be tolerated from any student or member of staff at the school.

Stonewall Institute does not have a uniform

As the Institute is a Ministry-funded public magical school there is no uniform. However, a strict dress code is recognised. Students must at all times during the school week (defined as Monday until Friday) wear robes when in lessons or attending any school function. Robes in a student's House colours are available for purchase, and it is noted that these robes are to be worn when attending any official school function such as assemblies, sporting events or tournaments.

There is no dress code at the weekend (defined as Saturday and Sunday), save for appropriate and tasteful clothing. This rule is at the staff member's discretion.

Stonewall Institute is an alcohol and drug-free zone

No student is permitted to bring alcohol onto the premises, and any caught doing could be expelled from the school at the Headmistress's discretion. This also applies to cigarettes and other prohibited substances such as doxy powder or powdered boomslang skin.

[Members of staff are allowed to consume alcohol and have alcohol on the premises, but such stores of alcohol must be inaccessible to students. All members of staff are bound by the rules about drugs and any other illegal substances.]

Stonewall Institute does not condone duelling

Any students found duelling will be subject to strict punishment and perhaps expulsion from the school. Duelling is a dangerous sport and should only be undertaken in the presence of a trained, responsible member of staff.

Stonewall Institute recognises that magic is not a toy

Magic must always be used in a responsible, safe manner. Students are not prohibited from using magic at school but must be mindful that all magic used is used responsibly and safely. Any student caught using magic on another student without his or her express permission will be punished. (See also the provision above on duelling.)

Stonewall Institute recognises the danger of Muggles and Muggle residential areas

Stonewall Institute is an urban school. There is a degree of danger associated with this, and to minimise the effect of the Muggle town only students above sixth year are allowed off school premises during the week (defined, as above, as Monday to Friday). Students fourth year and above are allowed into the town on weekends only, and must be back at the school before ten pm (10:00PM, 22:00).

The Institute recognises the need for inclusive and comprehensive rules according to certain principles. To this effect this rule book has been produced. New rules may be added when and where necessary at the discretion of the school board.