Welcome to Wolfshaw Academy!

[Alista Wyman]

S e t t i n g

School and Grounds

Wolfshaw Academy is situated in South Australia, about 845km from Adelaide. It's at the base of a mountain range with the grounds encompassing a natural stream, known as the Calming Stream, and heated swimming pool under a large open pavilion. A large Quidditch pitch is around a five minute walk from the school, through a path lined with pine trees. The rooms inside the manor are rich and feel friendly and the stone walls are charmed to be warm in winter and cold in summer.

Reaching Wolfshaw

A train from each capital city leaves early in the morning on January 30th and travels to the station a few kilometres north-west of the school. From there students board carriages pulled by horses from the stables at a nearby estate. When they reach the school they are treated to the welcoming feast and can catch up with their friends. The sorting takes place during this time and any notices are given out by the principal.

Merianga

The local town, Merianga (Mare-ee-ang-ga), is located quite near the school – it's only a five minute walk down the dirt road. Merianga is comprised of both Muggles and wizards, but the latter outnumber the former, and the Muggles know about the wizards in their town; they also know there's some sort of school near by. The local pub, Hocus Pocus, is a favourite haunt amongst students, but other locations include After Dawn (a Card store), Binding Solutions (a wizarding fix-it shop), Lemon Chocs (the best sweet shop for miles) and the Post Office (which is divided into two sections; Muggle and wizard).

First and second year students must have a chaperone when visiting the town (usually an older student), but third years and above may leave the school on weekends to visit the town. The leaving students must write their name, house and time of departure in the heavy book by the front doors and also their time of arrival when they return. Any student found not obeying this will be banned from leaving the school grounds.

IMPORTANT!!

For a look at the layout of Merianga (and it's very important, as the town is divided up into the streets in the game) please see this picture, and this is the legend, which tells you what is actually what. Enjoy!

[Alista Wyman]

H o u s e s

Nasken: Named after Elizabeth Nasken, Nasken students are kind, compassionate, loyal and extremely hard-working. They're determined and follow things through. They can become obsessed with ideas quickly and can be emotional.
The Nasken colours are pale blue and gold and the house is represented by a flying owl.

Balker: Named after Jeffrey Balker, Balker students are intelligent and creative. They don't always follow through with things, as they like to think about it more, and can be quite idealistic in their thoughts. They often need to be brought back down to earth and told when something's not realistic. They're often selfish without realising it.
The Balker colours are rich green and bronze and the house is represented by an open book.

Astier: Named after Isabel Astier, Astier students are bright, outgoing and independent. They don't like to be told what to do or how to do it. They hate seeing people in pain or sorrow and will always try to help friends in need. They usually have level-heads, except when it comes to their own lives.
The Astier colours are deep plum and white and the house is represented by a pair of open hands cradling a ball of light.

Findel: Named after Oscar Findel, Findel students are rarely concerned with the plights of others, except those of their friends. They're brave, but sly – they can get their own way without people even realising it. They are talented at cutting corners and are born trouble-makers.
The Findel colours are red and silver and the house is represented by a sleek cat.

Getting Sorted

The Sorting Orb (more commonly called 'The Orb') determines which house the student goes into. The Orb, resting on a wooden pedestal, naturally emits a faint blue-white glow. When a student places their hands on it the light inside changes to the primary house colour and becomes almost painfully bright. The student then goes and sits at the correct table (though it is common to see an Astier student at the Findel table etc during the school year) and the next one steps forward.
For the rest of the year The Orb is kept in the principal's office.

Each student, after being sorted, is given a room in the corresponding common area. This small room includes a desk, chair, bed frame and mattress, wardrobe and bedside table. Students may customize these as they wish, though there are limitations. The rooms each have an attached ensuite to ensure privacy and comfort.

[Alista Wyman]

C l a s s e s

First and second years study only the compulsory subjects, but also have the option of Extra Curricular Activities (unfortunately first years are not allowed on the house Quidditch teams).

Third, fourth and fifth years not only continue to study the compulsory subjects, they must take on an extra two optional subjects. They are encouraged to continue participating in ECA.

Sixth and seventh years must do a minimum of five subjects, maximum of seven. These can be a mix of compulsory and optional or one or the other. It is suggested they don't participate in ECA rather focus on their studies but it is completely up to them.

Compulsory Subjects

Transfiguration
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Potions
History of Magic
Herbology
Charms
Astronomy

Optional Subjects

Care of Magical Creatures
Divination
Muggle Studies
Ancient Runes
Arithmancy

Extra Curricular Activities

Drama
Quidditch
Flying (this differs from Quidditch as it is more a learning and practice class and non-competitive)

[Alista Wyman]

S c h o o l ... U n i f o r m

B o y s

Summer
Navy shorts or pants
Short-sleeved white button-up shirt
Navy jumper OR blazer (see below)
White/black/grey ankle socks
Black school shoes
Deep blue open robes with house crest OR
Deep blue blazer with house crest
MAY wear house tie

Winter
Navy pants
Long-sleeved white button-up shirt
White/black/grey ankle socks
Black school shoes
Deep blue open robes with house crest OR
Deep blue blazer with house crest
MAY wear house tie

G i r l s

Summer
Navy knee-length skirt or shorts
Short-sleeved white button-up shirt
Navy jumper OR blazer (See below)
White/black/grey ankle/knee-high socks
Black school shoes
Deep blue open robes with house crest OR
Deep blue blazer with house crest
MAY wear house tie

Winter
Winter skirt (blue tarten, between ankle- and knee-length) OR
Navy pants
Long-sleeved white button-up shirt
White/black/grey ankle socks – may be longer OR
Black tights (may only be worn with winter skirt)
Black school shoes
Deep blue open robes with house crest OR
Deep blue blazer with house crest
MAY wear house tie

NOTE: After schooling hours, students may wear whatever clothes they want, be it wizard or Muggle. As stated, the house tie is optional.

[Alista Wyman]

F o u n d i n g ... I n f o r m a t i o n

Wolfshaw was founded in 1801 by Elizabeth Nasken, Jeffrey Balker, Isabel Astier and Oscar Findel. Elizabeth and Isabel were great friends while they were in Europe – Isabel was French, Elizabeth was British – and when they came to Australia in the late 1700s, they met Jeffery and Oscar. Jeff was on their crossing ship and Oscar was an American already living in Australia. All four of them were wizards (or witches, as the case may be), and they'd often reminisce about their various schools.
Elizabeth was a school teacher, which was why she moved to Australia in the first place, and Isabel a nurse. Jeffrey was a writer who wasn't having much success and Oscar was more or less a stable hand.

They often talked about making a magic school of their own, but were too lazy and preoccupied to do anything about it. Elizabeth and Oscar would teach children who showed magical ability in secret – their parents never knew.

But when they met a young witch who had been disowned by her entire family and hunted by the police, they decided to make their dream real. Elizabeth took the girl in as her own daughter until the school was complete.

The four friends built a stone mansion in northern South Australia and gave their names to four houses. They were constantly in contact with Hogwarts and borrowed methods such as the quill that wrote down each magical child's name when they were born. The naming process was fairly simple: Oscar saw the wolf as a symbol of power, freedom and energy. The other founders agreed that it fitted what a school should have.

[Alista Wyman]

R o o m s

Rooms at Wolfshaw lead off of the common rooms and are not divided by gender; there are three doors in the common rooms that open onto narrow corridors, doors lining one side. Every student gets their own room with ensuite for privacy.

Please see this picture for a room layout.*

The rooms basic decor is as such: wooden furniture (desk, king-single bed, desk chair, wardrobe, bookshelf, bedside table), off-white walls, dark grey/green/blue carpet and bronze fittings on the dark wooden window and door. Curtains in the house's primary colour can be tied back with a rope in the house's secondary colour.

The ensuites are white-tiled and have silver fittings.

All students are to bring own linen; sheets, blankets, towels etc. Behind the door is a hamper for them to put their clothes into for the house-elves.

As long as property isn't destroyed the students are allowed to customize their rooms however they like; please remain aware that students - unless they are in their seventh year - would not have the ability to change colours of things or create whole new items etc from magic. Even if they did manage it it would be short-lived, as the room resets itself every Monday morning - personal affects remain untouched, but any charms and transfigurations are reversed.

*Credit to Naomi

[Alista Wyman]

T I M E S

Breakfast is 7 - 9am.
Lunch is 12:30 - 1:30pm.
Dinner is 6:30 - 7:30pm.

Information on curfews for each year can be found here.