HOL Ravenclaw • Roost Blog

Ravenclaw Newsletter - September 2020

Hello everyone. I hope everyone had a great summer.

Ravenclaw News
It’s early in the House Cup Race, but so far we are in first place with 892 points. Keep it up!!!

The Roost has a new activity, go and find your missing school supplies by completing fun tasks and earn beans along the way.

Have you ever wanted to submit to the Alte? The Alte deadline for the October issue is September 30. So get those submissions in!

If you have a topic of interest that you want to create a debate about, go over to the Debate Club.

HOL News
It’s a new school year at HOL and I hope everyone is signing up for the classes they want. There are plenty to choose from this term!

There is a Read-Along in the dungeons. Go join the Slytherins for a month of tasks and trivia to do with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Show your knowledge.

Have you ever wanted to perform on stage? Head over to the Gryffindor Common Room to meet a graduate of Hogwarts who is back for a visit and wants to put on a show.

Hufflepuff is having new monthly activities. Each month has to do with a wonder of the world. There will be weekly activities, head over to the Hufflepuff Common Room and see what this month is about.

The Art Department has two new projects to start off the school year. You can decorate Platform 9 ¾ or create your impression of your favorite chapter from any of the Harry Potter books.

The Library Department also has two new projects: The Grass is Greener and The Best Person for the Job.

Go over to Hollers to see what new and interesting challenges they have for you to complete this month.

If you would like to submit to other Newspapers other than Ravenclaws, Serpentimes is accepting submissions until October 15th and the Paw Print is accepting submissions until October 23rd. There is plenty of time to get those submissions in, but don't wait until the last minute.
Posted by Alexander Brighton in Uncategorized on Wed Sep 02, 2020 11:52 am | 1 comment · Add comment

Ravenclaw New Eaglet Newsletter - August 2020

Welcome to Ravenclaw!

Welcome back home, eagles! Special welcome to the eaglets who will be joining us for the first time this school year. This newsletter is admittedly lengthy, but has a lot of information about all things HOL for you. In my 4 years here, I’ve learned so many new things and I’ve met people from around the world who I can now call friends for life. I hope that the same can happen for all of you!

There is a LOT on both HOL and within Ravenclaw to get involved in. It can seem overwhelming at first, so we’re dedicating this newsletter to help our new members (and veterans, too, for that matter) get a grasp on how to access things on the site. You will also learn a lot of this information through your HOL 101 class.

If you have questions about anything at any time, feel free to ask any of the Ravenclaw Prefects and they'll be happy to answer or point you in the right direction. Remember, we're here to help!

HOL Fundamentals

HOL Handbook: In order to keep the site safe and running smoothly for everyone, there are a few simple rules that we ask all of our members to follow - you'll find these in the HOL Handbook and the HOL Code of Conduct. If you haven’t read these documents yet, I highly recommend that you do! You can find them all the way at the bottom of the main HOL page or click on the links below:
HOL Handbook
HOL Code of Conduct

Chatrooms/IRC: The HOL chat rooms are a great place to get to know your fellow students! There are almost always a few students hanging out in the chat rooms, especially during the weekends. A list of official channels can be found in the HOL Handbook. Of particular interest, the main HOL channel is #hol and the Ravenclaw house channel is #ravenclaw. You can access the Chatrooms from the bottom of the main HOL page or at the link below.
Chatrooms

HOL Forum: If you have not already done so, you should definitely sign up for the HOL Forum using your complete HOL name as your username. The HOL forum is where most of the action happens here, including major site announcements, HOL-wide activities, clubs, classrooms, etc. Be sure to check there regularly for new activities and announcements.
o Current Activities: This is where you can find any HOL-wide activities that are being run. Right now, Diagon Dealings is in progress until August 17th, and you can still sign up!
o Art Department: Located on the main HOL page, the Art Department offers monthly art projects that you can submit for house points. Other members will vote on the quality of your work, and you can vote on others’ submissions as well. Go check out the current projects now - due August 31st!
o Library Department: Also accessible on the main HOL page, the Library Department will offer monthly writing prompts for you to participate in and vote on. New prompts were just posted - due August 31st!
o HOLLERs: HOLLERs is a fun place for all kinds of activities. There you will find monthly puzzle challenges and artistic tasks.
o Book Club: The Book Club offers a space to discuss books, authors, themes, and other things. You can also practice your writing skills there! They also run some big activities - right now, the Book Bout reading challenge is happening until August 23rd. Go get involved!

House Forums: Even though you are a member of Ravenclaw, you are more than welcome (encouraged, even!) to make an account on the other houses' forum pages. Each house offers activities that all HOL members can participate in.

Ravenclaw Basics

The Roost: The Ravenclaw Common Room is affectionately known as The Roost! In addition to the monthly activities we have running, there are several forums where you can interact with your fellow Ravenclaws. There are also informational forums where you can learn about how to earn house points and how to get the most of your HOL experience in general! We encourage you to click around and check out all the information and opportunities available to you!

Nests: As a member of Ravenclaw, you've also been sorted into a house nest (Blue or Bronze) according to the first letter of your HOL first name. Nests are split alphabetically A-J (Blue) and K-Z (Bronze). Each nest can play host to its own discussions, debates, games, etc. but by no means are you restricted to posting within your own nest - feel free to visit your neighboring nest to see what they have going on!

Each nest is overseen by a team of prefects, who will serve as the main points of contact for all of the students in their nest. The nests are divided as such:
Blue (A-J) – Alexander Brighton, Gail Allen, Mia Fountain
Bronze (K-Z) – Kendra Givens, Polaris Black, Torii Taylor

Each year, there is a competition between Blue and Bronze which involves four categories: House Points, Activity Points, Blue/Bronze Olympics in November, Ravenclaw Pride Month in March. You can help out your nest to earn points by completing your homework, participating in activities both here and on HOL and just being an active HOL member in general. You can find more details at your nests by clicking here for Blue or Bronze.

Orientation: If you’re ever lost and need direction, the Orientation section is a good place to start! There you’ll find information on navigating the main site, classes, clubs and activities, and sections of the Roost, as well as a tutorial for connecting to the HOL chatrooms via IRC. There’s also an activity involved with beans to be earned! Information there will be reviewed and updated regularly to make sure it’s as accurate and easy to follow as possible.

Adopt-an-Eaglet: Ravenclaw offers first years the opportunity to partner with a veteran housemate through the Adopt-an-Eaglet program, located within Ravenclaw Orientation. This mentor can answer questions, give advice, keep in contact, and generally help our newest members learn the ropes. Coincidentally, it's also a good way to make a new/first friend on the site! If you’d like to have a mentor, please post your name there and we’ll get you matched with someone ASAP. Feel free to reach out directly to any of the mentors listed on the Adopter List.

All Around Ravenclaw

Alte Sententiam: The Alte is Ravenclaw's bi-monthly house newspaper. Articles commonly include reviews, scientifics, puzzles, graphics, and articles about any number of topics. Alte is sure to have something for everyone to enjoy. Anyone is welcome to submit your own articles, stories, or graphics to be published. The Alte is consistently a good read, so I'd encourage you to check it out whenever a new issue is released. You can contact editor-in-chief Gail Allen or editors Prof. Ryan Granger and Polaris Black with any questions.

o The War Room: Want to learn about all the ways you can earn house points and help Ravenclaw in its quest for the house cup? (Which, by the way, is currently sitting in Prof. Kyrie’s office and she doesn’t want it removed…) Check out the War Room so that you can stay in tune with what’s keeping Ravenclaw the best house in HOL.

o Debate Club: Being the thinkers that we are, Ravenclaws are prone to having strong opinions about just about anything. If that sounds like you, then the Debate Club might just become your favorite part of the Roost! Recent debates are over the best summer vacation and activity.

o E=MC Hammer: This is where we talk about music! The lovely Gail Allen always poses a monthly topic relating to a particular theme and then you’re welcome to share a song that comes to mind based on that theme. I’ve discovered a lot of new music this way!

Ravenclaw Staff

Remember, prefects (especially your nest prefects) and reserves should be your first point of contact with any concerns!

Prefects
Kendra Givens (Head Prefect)
Alexander Brighton
Gail Allen
Polaris Black
Mia Fountain
Torii Taylor

Professors
Prof. Kyrie Adderholt (Head of House)
Prof. Arielle Lemoyne (Deputy Head of House)
Prof. Ryan Granger (Deputy Head of House)
Prof. Gustavo Flores
Prof. Limine Snidget
Prof. Neville Prongs
Prof. Rorey Padfoot
Posted by Kendra Givens in Uncategorized on Tue Aug 04, 2020 8:09 pm | No comments · Add comment

2019-2020 Ravenclaw Newsletters

Welcome Back, Eagles!

I just want to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning Eagles – it’s a great time to be a Ravenclaw attending HOL. The House Cup is secure in Kyrie’s office, won with 49,367 House Points! And congratulations to our own Maxim Trevelyan for being the top points earner last year, managing to accumulate an awesome 5,631 House Points!

Ravenclaw News

Many thanks to Gail Allen and Kendra Givens for running a friendly tournament of the popular board game Guess Who? over the summer. The top three winners were Astor Arensin, Iverian Gnash, and Alexander Brighton. This activity was open to all houses and was well received by all!

Please join Rave’s exclusive activity for September, Rowena’s Feud. Every day I will post a fill-in-the-blank question with the first letter of the top seven answers. Your job is to guess how the 100 Americans surveyed filled in the blanks. You will earn one activity point for each day you attempt to answer the question and beans for each correct answer. There is no sign-up and no penalty for an incorrect answer. The winning nest earns bragging rights and gets to keep Rowena’s Diadem on a shelf in their nest. So what are you waiting for?

It should come as no surprise that two of our most awesome and hardworking Eagles have just been promoted. Known to most as the inseparable “twinsies”, they are now going their separate ways; Kendra Givens is Ravenclaw’s new Head Prefect and Gail Allen is HOL’s new Head Student!!! CONGRATULATIONS and our very best wishes to you both!

And CONGRATS to our two newest reserve prefects: Astor Arensin and Odessa Love! We’re all looking forward to working with you!

Attention Eaglets and Eagles! Do you know your way around the Roost and HOL in general? If you’re interested in participating in the Adopt-An-Eaglet program, read all about it by clicking here..

Our unique newspaper, the Alte Sententiam, is always looking for talented writers, artists, and puzzle-makers. If you’re thinking you might want to contribute, check out FAQ by clicking here.. Our first issue should be published some time in October and the issue theme is Spooky.

And don't forget to check out E=MC Hammer and the Debate Club - there's always something interesting going on!

GO RQT!!! The HOL Quidditch season doesn’t start until November but current co-captains Maxim Trevelyan, Prof. Limine Snidget and Arielle Lemoyne are always scouting for new talent so don’t be afraid to contact them if you are interested in joining our Quidditch Team.

HOL News

The Castle Renovation (HOL 5.0) has been proceeding quickly and one new feature they have been working on is Pets. The team is interested in knowing which pets you'd like to see included as well as how you'd like to be able to interact with them. Please help by answering a survey which can be accessed here.

To check out the Art Department click here and to check out the Library Department click here. There’s always a project to create, or projects to be reviewed, and of course, points to be earned!

As always, points opportunities will be posted in the Rave War Room so check back often. The current HOL-wide activity is Welcome Month, which officially began on Monday 2 September and will end Monday 30 September. A total of 60 points can be earned! To learn more, click here.

You have until Tuesday 15th October to submit to SerpenTimes and there are lots of points to be won! To learn how, click here.

Don't forget to check out HOLLERS here. There are always puzzle Challenges, Creative Outlet projects, and Writing Under Constraint challenges just waiting for you to complete! There’s no sign-up required and you can work at your own pace.

The class list has been posted here and there are some old favorites in addition to some exciting new subjects. Make sure you read the course outline before you sign up for the class. Don’t forget, you can sign up for a maximum of five classes.

Most important, enjoy yourselves and have a great year!
Posted by Prof. Polaris Black in Uncategorized on Mon Sep 09, 2019 12:32 am | 9 comments · Add comment

Ravenclaw New Eaglet Newsletter - August 2019

Welcome to Ravenclaw!

Welcome back for another amazing year, eagles! Special welcome to the eaglets who will be joining us for the first time this school year. This newsletter is admittedly lengthy, but has a lot of information about all things HOL for you. For those who don’t know, this version of our community (HOL 5) is pretty new and still constantly developing, so there’s plenty to look forward to!

There is a LOT on both HOL and within Ravenclaw to get involved in. It can seem a little overwhelming at first, so we’re dedicating this newsletter to help our newbies (and oldbies, for that matter) get a grasp on how to access things on the site.

If you have questions about anything at any time, feel free to ask any of the Ravenclaw prefects or reserve prefects (listed at the bottom of this post) and they'll be happy to answer or point you in the right direction. Remember, we're here to help!

HOL Fundamentals

HOL Handbook: In order to keep the site safe and running smoothly for everyone, there are a few simple rules that we ask all of our members to follow - you'll find these in the HOL Handbook and the HOL Code of Conduct The handbook covers all of the HOL basics, including profiles, points, chain of command, classes, chat, etc. Both of these documents are new and up to date, so please be mindful of them!

HOL Forum: If you have not already done so, you should definitely sign up for the HOL Forum using your complete HOL name as your username. The HOL forum is where most of the action happens here, including major site announcements, HOL-wide activities, clubs, classrooms, etc. Be sure to check there regularly for new activities and announcements.

Ravenclaw Basics

The Roost: You will find that the Ravenclaw common room is affectionately known as the Roost! In addition to the monthly activities we have running, there are several forums where you can post and interact with your fellow Ravenclaws. There are also informational forums where you can learn about how to earn house points, how to get involved in Quidditch, and how to get the most of your HOL experience in general! We encourage you to click around and check out all the information and opportunities available to you! Please know that are also welcome and encouraged to sign up for an account with the other common rooms and participate in activities that they have available to non-house members also. Links to other houses can be found here.

Nests: As a member of Ravenclaw, you've also been sorted into a house nest (Blue or Bronze) according to the first letter of your HOL first name. Nests are split by first names A-J (Blue) and K-Z (Bronze). You can find the nests about halfway down the main forum page. Each nest can play host to its own discussions, debates, games, etc. but by no means are you restricted to posting within your own nest - feel free to visit your neighboring nest to see what they have going on!

Each nest is overseen by a team of prefects, who will serve as the main points of contact for all of the students in their nest. The nests are divided as such:
Blue (A-J) –, Hannah R Thomas, Alexander Brighton, Gail Allen.
Bronze (K-Z) – Kendra Givens, Vanessa Tilley, Polaris Black.

Each year, there is a competition between Blue and Bronze which involves five categories: House Points, Activity Points, Blue/Bronze Olympics in November, Ravenclaw Pride Month in March, and Quidditch. You can help out your nest to earn points by completing your homework, participating in activities both here and on HOL, playing or practicing Quidditch - and just being an active HOL member in general. You can find more details at your nests by clicking here for Blue or Bronze.

Orientation: If you’re ever lost and need direction, the Orientation section of the Roost is a good place to start! There you’ll find information on navigating the main site, classes, clubs and activities, and sections of the Roost, as well as a tutorial for connecting to the HOL chatrooms via IRC. There’s also an activity involved with beans to be earned! Information there will be reviewed and updated soon to make sure it’s as accurate and easy to follow as possible.

Adopt-an-Eaglet: Ravenclaw offers first years the opportunity to partner with an ‘older’ housemate through the Adopt-an-Eaglet program, located within Ravenclaw Orientation. This person can answer questions, give advice, keep in contact, and generally help our newest members learn the ropes. Coincidentally, it's also a good way to make a new/first friend on the site! If you’d like to have a mentor, please post your name there and we’ll get you matched with someone ASAP or you can feel free to reach out to any of the mentors listed on the Adopter List.

RQT: Do you love Harry Potter trivia? You should get involved in HOL Quidditch! The fabulous Ravenclaw Quidditch Team (RQT) has won the Inter-house Quidditch Cup 9 times - the best record of all the HOL houses! The team is always ready eager to welcome all eagles interested in participating! If you're interested in joining the team, you can contact Prof. Arielle Lemoyne, Prof. Limine Snidget, or Maxim Trevelyan with any questions. Feel free to join the team IRC channel, #ravenclawquidditch, and give some trivia a shot! In case the mention of Quidditch caught your attention, you can read more about it in the Quidditch Handbook, which is located directly under the HOL handbook here.

Activities around HOL and Ravenclaw

Chat rooms/IRC: The HOL chat rooms are a great place to get to know your fellow students! There are almost always a few students hanging out in the chat rooms, especially during the weekends. A list of official channels can be found in the HOL Handbook. Of particular interest, the main HOL channel is #hol and the Ravenclaw house channel is #ravenclaw. If you're unsure of how to reach the chat rooms, a handy guide can be found in the Roost's Orientation forum. The chatrooms are also where Quidditch matches and practices are held.

Alte Sententiam: The Alte is Ravenclaw's bi-monthly house newspaper. Articles commonly include reviews, scientifics, puzzles, graphics, and articles about any number of topics. Alte is sure to have something for everyone to enjoy. Anyone is welcome to submit your own articles, stories, or graphics to be published. The Alte is consistently a good read, so I'd encourage you to check it out whenever a new issue is released. You can contact editor-in-chief Gail Allen or editors Prof. Ryan Granger and Polaris Black with any questions. The other houses also have newspapers with varying degrees of activity. You can check the Great Hall in the HOL forum for updates on when the other houses are accepting submissions.

Clubs and other Fun Stuff

On the Roost: The common room forum is host to a few sections that relate to our house's particular character and interests.
o The War Room: Want to learn about all the ways you can earn house points and help Ravenclaw in its quest for the house cup? (Which, by the way, is currently sitting in Prof. Kyrie’s office and she doesn’t want it removed…) Check out the War Room so that you can stay in tune with what’s keeping Ravenclaw the best house in HOL.
o Debate Club: Being the thinkers that we are, Ravenclaws are prone to having strong opinions about just about anything. If that sounds like you, then the Debate Club might just become your favorite part of the Roost! Recent debates are over the best summer vacation and activity.
o E=MC Hammer: This is where we talk about music! The lovely Gail Allen always poses a monthly topic relating to a particular theme and then you’re welcome to share a song that comes to mind based on that theme. I’ve discovered a lot of new music this way!

HOL Clubs: HOL itself also has a few other clubs, catering to a few other interests.
o Book Club: The Book Club provides a place to discuss your favorite books or authors, as well as participate in different activities relating to literature, creative writing, etc. The club hosts a monthly book discussion, so stayed tuned to announcements for the next month’s book selection!
o HOLLERS: This section aims to create an environment where members from all houses can get together easily and make new friends. This club hosts monthly activities full of puzzles and adventure. Currently, they’re working on solving the disappearance of the Hogwarts castle! We encourage you to take a look!

Art Department: Found on the main HOL page, the Art Department is a great place to create visual art based on a monthly prompt. You can anonymously submit your own original piece within the month, and then others can rate your work and provide you with compliments and constructive feedback on it. You can also participate in rating others’ work and providing them with feedback as well. Perfect for those who love visual and graphic arts! August’s project is called ‘Blockbuster Summer’.

Library Department: Similarly to the Art Department, our Library Department Heads provide you with monthly prompts for creative writing. Once you submit your story, others can read it and provide you with compliments and constructive feedback. Go check it out and give some creative writing a try! August’s prompts are ‘Postcards from No One’ and ‘Saving Time’.

Hogsmeade: Another location soon to be renovated with the creation of HOL 5 is Hogsmeade. Be on the lookout for announcements in the HOL forum related to its release.

Ravenclaw Staff

Remember, prefects (especially your nest prefects) and reserves should be your first point of contact with any concerns!

Prefects
Kendra Givens (Head Prefect)
Alexander Brighton
Gail Allen
Hannah R. Thomas
Polaris Black
Vanessa Tilley

Reserve Prefects
Astor Arensin
Joey Stark
Odessa Love

Professors
Prof. Kyrie Adderholt (Head of House)
Prof. Arielle Lemoyne (Deputy Head of House)
Prof. Ryan Granger (Deputy Head of House)
Prof. Astrid Black
Prof. Limine Snidget
Prof. Neville Prongs
Posted by Kendra Givens in Uncategorized on Mon Aug 12, 2019 9:01 pm | No comments · Add comment

2018-2019 Ravenclaw Newsletters

It’s the First o’ September!

I just want to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning Eagles – it’s a great time to be a Ravenclaw attending HOL. Not only did we win the House Cup by nearly a riddikulus 1400 points, but our very own Shiloh Adlar broke the all time individual points record! I know the bar is high but we still got this!!!

Ravenclaw News

Many thanks to Gail Allen and Kendra Givens for running summer camp and escorting a group of inter-house travelers on a whirl-wind tour of the New Seven Wonders of the World with an optional Treasure Hunt included. We’re exhausted and barely made it back in time to get our school supplies, but I think all will agree, it was a fantastic journey!

For a change of pace, I contacted the Department of Games and Sports and got permission to host Bagman’s BINGO this month. Participants can play up to three cards at a time and for each card played, 20 beans will be added to the pot. You have three shots to get a standard line winning pattern and the first one to cover a card wins the jackpot. Details will be posted shortly.

In case you didn’t know, our amazing HoH Prof. Kyrie Adderholt, has joined the Head Office as Deputy Headmistress. And breaking news, she just passed the bar exam so we have our very own member of the Wizengamot in house! W00T W00T!!!!

And CONGRATS to Prof. Arielle Lemoyne and Prof. Ryan Granger, who have both been promoted to Deputy HoH – we’re all looking forward to working with you again!

Prefects Astrid Black and Scarlett Lacarnum have completed their NEWTs and graduated HOL – CONGRATULATIONS! And Astrid has elected to come back as a full-fledged Professor, so check out her classes!

Prof. Gustavo Flores is now Professor Emeritus. Thank you for all your contributions, Gus – we’ll miss you! <3

Attention Eaglets and Eagles! Do you know your way around the Roost and HOL in general? If you’re interested in participating in the Adopt-An-Eaglet program, read all about it by clicking here..

Our unique newspaper, the Alte Sententiam, is always looking for talented writers, artists, and puzzle-makers. If you’re thinking you might want to contribute, check out FAQ by clicking here.. Our first issue should be published some time in October.

And don't forget to check out E=MC Hammer and the Debate Club - there's always something interesting going on!

GO RQT!!! Co-captains Prof. Arielle Lemoyne and Shiloh Adlar are always scouting for new talent so don’t be afraid to contact them if you are interested in joining our Quidditch Team.

HOL News

The first phase of the Castle Renovation (HOL 5.0) has been pretty painless and I think most of those trick stairs have been fixed. The classrooms have all been redecorated and the courses are much more accessible and inclusive. The view is even more incredible and I just know you’re going to enjoy exploring the place.

Our very own Vanessa Tilley and Art Department co-Head has informed me that during the next phase, the Art Department will be relocated from Ravenclaw to the main Castle website. Be on the lookout for new projects sometime in October.

As always, points opportunities will be posted in the Rave War Room so check back often. The next HOL-wide activity will be Character Clash, beginning on Monday 24 September and ending Sunday 28 October.

You have until Saturday 15th October to submit to SerpenTimes and there are lots of points to be won! To learn how, click here..

Our very own Maxim Trevelyan and HOLLERS Assistant has extended his HOLLERS summer challenge Backpacking ‘round the World deadline to Sunday 9th September. There’s no sign-up required and you can work at your own pace. And don't forget, there are always Challenges and Creative Outlet Projects just waiting for you to complete!

The class list has been posted and there are some old favorites in addition to some exciting new subjects. Make sure you read the course outline before you sign up for the class. Don’t forget, you can sign up for a maximum of five classes.

Most important, enjoy yourselves and have a great year!
Posted by Prof. Polaris Black in Uncategorized on Sun Sep 02, 2018 1:50 am | 9 comments · Add comment

Ravenclaw New Eaglet Newsletter 2018

Welcome to Ravenclaw!

Welcome, new eaglets, and welcome back to our veteran eagle friends too! We’re so excited to start a brand new year here and see what awesome things we can accomplish. With the recent release of HOL 5, we’ll all be on a somewhat new adventure together this year!

There is a LOT on both HOL and within Ravenclaw to get involved in. It can seem a little overwhelming at first, so we’re offering this newsletter especially for our newer members to help you get a grasp on how to access things on the site and what things you need to be mindful of when participating. As things are still being updated with the release of HOL 5, not all features of the site are currently available. We’ll list here if a feature is not available yet, and then there will be an announcement on the site from the site developers when those features become available.

Even if you've been around for a while, you may want to review some of this information to be sure you're caught up with any changes or additions made to the house or common room, especially with the release of HOL 5 being so recent.

If you have questions about anything at any time, feel free to ask any of the Ravenclaw prefects or reserve prefects (listed at the bottom of this post) and they'll be happy to answer or to point you in the right direction. Remember, we're here to help!

HOL Fundamentals

HOL Handbook: In order to keep the site safe and running smoothly for everyone, there are a few, simple rules that we ask all of our members to follow - you'll find these in the HOL Handbook and the HOL Code of Conduct The handbook covers all of the HOL basics, including profiles, points, chain of command, classes, chat, etc. Both of these documents are brand new and updated with the release of HOL 5, so please take some time to read them!

HOL Forum: At your earliest convenience, you should sign up for the HOL Forum using your complete HOL name as your username. The HOL forum is where a lot of the action happens here, including major site announcements, HOL-wide activities, clubs, etc. You can check for new or unread posts using the menu function at the top right of the page if you want to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

Ravenclaw Basics

The Roost: If you've made it this far, then you've already successfully registered for the Ravenclaw common room, otherwise known as the Roost! In addition to the monthly activities we have running, there are several forums where you can post and interact with your fellow Ravenclaws. There are also informational forums where you can learn about how to earn house points, how to get involved in Quidditch, and how to get the most of your HOL experience in general! We encourage you to click around and check out all the information and opportunities available to you! Please know that while Ravenclaw is clearly the best house, you are also welcome and encouraged to sign up for an account with the other common rooms and participate in activities that they have available to non-house members also. Links to other houses can be found here.

Nests: Now that you've been sorted into Ravenclaw, you've also been sorted into your house nest (Blue or Bronze) according to the first letter of your HOL first name. You can find the nests about halfway down the main forum page. Each nest can play host to its own discussions, debates, games, etc. but by no means are you restricted to posting within your own nest - feel free to visit your neighboring nest to see what they have going on!

Each nest is overseen by a team of prefects, who will serve as the main points of contact for all of the students in their nest. The nests are divided as such:
o Blue (A-J) – Gail Allen, Hannah R Thomas, Polaris Black.
o Bronze (K-Z) – Kendra Givens, Shiloh Adlar, Polaris Black.

We also have an annual competition between Blue and Bronze where the nests compete in five categories: House Points, Activity Points, the Bronze and Blue Olympics, Ravenclaw Pride Month, and Quidditch. You can help out your nest by completing your homework, participating in activities both here and on HOL, playing or practicing Quidditch - and just being an active HOL member in general. You can find more details at your nests by clicking here for Blue and Bronze.

Orientation: If ever you're looking for more information, the Orientation section of the Roost is a good place to start! There you’ll find information on navigating the main site, classes, clubs and activities, and sections of the Roost, as well as a tutorial for connecting to the HOL chatrooms via IRC. There’s also an activity involved with beans to earn, so go ahead and check it out. If you have questions beyond what’s posted there, feel free to ask one of your nest prefects.

Adopt-an-Eaglet: Ravenclaw offers new first years the opportunity to partner with a more experienced housemate through the Adopt-an-Eaglet program, located within Ravenclaw Orientation. This person can answer questions, give advice, keep in contact, and generally help our newest members learn the finer points of Ravenclaw-ness. Coincidentally, it's also a good way to make a new/first friend on the site! If you’d like to have a mentor, please post your name there and we’ll get you matched with someone ASAP.

RQT: It's never too early to foster an appreciation for or get involved in HOL Quidditch! The ever-fantastic Ravenclaw Quidditch Team has won the Inter-house Quidditch Cup nine times - the best record of all the HOL houses! We're always ready and eager to welcome any and all eagles interested in trying this amazingly fun game! If you're interested in joining the team, you can contact the co-captains, Prof. Arielle Lemoyne and Shiloh Adlar, with any questions. Otherwise, feel free to join the team IRC channel, #ravenclawquidditch, and give some trivia a shot! In case the mention of Quidditch caught your attention, you can read more about it in the Quidditch Handbook, which is located directly under the HOL handbook here.

Activities around HOL and Ravenclaw

Chat rooms/IRC: The HOL chat rooms are a great place to get to know your fellow students! There are almost always a few students hanging out in the chat rooms, though the chats are a bit busier on weekends when people are not at work or at school. A list of official channels can be found in the HOL Handbook. Of particular interest, the main HOL channel is #hol and the Ravenclaw house channel is #ravenclaw. If you're unsure of how to reach the chat rooms, a handy guide can be found in the Roost's Orientation forum. The chatrooms are also where Quidditch matches and practices are held.

Alte Sententiam: The Alte is Ravenclaw's bi-monthly house newspaper. From reviews to scientifics to puzzles to graphics to articles about any number of topics, the Alte is sure to have something for everyone to enjoy. Or, to satisfy your more creative inklings, you can submit your own articles, stories, or graphics to be published. The Alte is consistently a good read, so I'd encourage you to check it out whenever a new issue is released.Currently, Gail Allen and Professor Ryan Granger, and Polaris Black are in charge of the Alte.

The other houses also have newspapers with varying degrees of activity. You can check the Great Hall in the HOL forum for updates on when the other houses are accepting submissions.

Clubs and other Fun Stuff

On the Roost: The common room forum is host to a few sections that relate to our house's particular character and interests.
o The War Room: Want to learn about all the ways you can earn house points and help Ravenclaw in its quest for the house cup? (Which, by the way, is currently sitting in our trophy room... where it should stay. Forever.) Check out the War Room for all your needs relating to proving what we already know - that Ravenclaw is the best house on HOL, hands down.
o Debate Club: Being the thinkers that we are, Ravenclaws are prone to having strong opinions about just about anything. If that sounds like you, then the Debate Club might just become your favorite part of the Roost!

HOL Clubs: HOL itself also has a few other clubs, catering to a few other interests.
o Book Club: The Book Club provides a place to discuss your favorite books or authors (other than HP or J.K. Rowling, of course!), as well as participate in different activities relating to literature, creative writing, etc. The club hosts a monthly book discussion, so stayed tuned to announcements for the next month’s book selection!
o HOLLERS: This section aims to create an environment where members from all houses can get together easily and make new friends. This club hosts monthly activities full of puzzles and adventure. We encourage you to take a look!

Art Department:
The main Art Department is still under construction with the release of HOL 5, so an alternative art department has been set up in the Roost until the traditional art department is back up and running. Throughout the year, different projects are released. Students can then create a drawing, photograph, or graphic (or whatever else) relating to the project topic and submit it. Other students can rate and comment on others' art, and after the voting period, everyone who submitted a (valid) piece will earn House points.

Library Department:
The library department is also currently unavailable due to the ongoing construction of HOL 5, but has historically also offered a number of projects throughout the year for students to share a bit of creative writing and earn house points. As with the Art Department, it's always great going through and seeing the sorts of things others have created.

Hogsmeade:
Another location soon to be renovated with the creation of HOL 5 is Hogsmeade. If you find yourself with beans to spare, Hogsmeade will be a good place to visit. You can buy an owl, cat, or a toad at the Pet Store; purchase some chocolate frogs in Honeydukes; or otherwise store any extra beans in Gringotts. Also, you can have your wand choose you at the wand shop. Be sure to visit when it’s up and running!

Ravenclaw Staff

Remember, prefects (especially your nest prefects) and reserves should be your first point of contact with any concerns!

Prefects
Polaris Black (Head Prefect)
Kendra Givens
Gail Allen
Hannah R. Thomas
Shiloh Adlar

Reserve Prefects
Vanessa Tilley
Alexander Brighton
Shadow Gaunt

Professors
Prof. Kyrie Adderholt (Head of House)
Prof. Arielle Lemoyne (Deputy Head of House)
Prof. Ryan Granger (Deputy Head of House)
Prof. Gustavo Flores
Prof. Limine Snidget
Prof. Neville Prongs
Posted by Kendra Givens in Uncategorized on Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:21 pm | No comments · Add comment

2017-2018 Ravenclaw Newsletters

Wow! What a summer! I hope you are all excited to be back at HOL and for our new students, I hope you are ready to meet new people and discover all that HOL has to offer! Our goal is to keep our Eagles active in the Roost and throughout HOL in general, so participate in everything you can, sign up for as many classes as you can handle, join us on IRC for late night chats, and of course, never be afraid to ask questions!

To Recap:

Our new Reserve Prefects, Gail Allen and Kendra Givens, took us to Rowena’s Realm amusement park where we all gathered together for a month of rides, games, food, and surprises! They put a lot of work into Rave Summer Camp and have done a marvelous job thus far as reserves. Keep it up, you two!

We also have two new prefects, who I’m sure you’ll be seeing around the Roost and HOL hosting fun activities of their own, so please congratulate Hannah R. Thomas and Shiloh Adlar!

Shiloh was also promoted to Quidditch Co-Captain over the summer and along with Captain Prof. Arielle Lemoyne, has been leading daily practices with RQT. Congratulations to Vanessa Tilley who won the RQT Summer Botting Tournament with 2327 points and a shout out to the RQT members who participated: Alexander Brighton, Gail Allen, and Kendra Givens, (and the retired-but-not-retired, “It's in my HoH contract” Prof. Kyrie Adderholt and Prof. Limine Snidget.) I’m excited to see what RQT does this season!

What’s Coming Up/What’s Going On:

In the Roost, our September activity hosted by RQT Captains, Arielle and Shiloh, will be starting on September 3. Get ready for a month of quidditch fun as they invite all Ravenclaw students to participate in their recruitment camp!

On HOL, Off to School began last week and will continue throughout the month of September. Be sure to check it out as it will allow everyone, newbies and oldbies alike, to get to know one another better. This is an excellent opportunity to meet others and to build a sense of community back on this site.

Class sign ups are open! Go through the list of classes, find the ones you want to take and sign up for them. Students are allowed to sign up for a maximum of five classes per term. While we would like everyone to be able to take all five classes, we understand RL should take priority and can get very busy. Classes, however, are the easiest and best way to earn points! Think about it, each class is worth 300 points per term and if you take five classes per term and earn the perfect 300, that’s 3000 points right there! That’s crazy!

One other very easy way to earn points is submitting to house newspapers! The Wizarding Times just closed their submissions, but you can still submit to the SerpenTimes until October 15. You can earn up to 50 points for this. Don’t feel like writing an article or creating a game? Check out the Exclusives section where you can earn up to 40 points! If you’re really feeling up to it, do both!

Be sure to keep an eye out on how to submit to the Alte, our own house newspaper, in the coming days!

Speaking of the Alte, let’s give a shout out to Gail Allen and Prof. Ryan Granger for joining the editing staff! I’m sure they’ll do an excellent job!

Let’s also not forget about the HOL Forum. Summer cleaning has been done and the forums are fresh for us to use. There are plenty of areas to discuss your favorite movies/tv shows, games, music, sports/teams, and there are even new subforms for The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts! Ravenclaw prides itself on being the most active house on HOL. Let’s keep that streak up, and remember to follow all HOL rules when you post!

I can already tell that this will be an amazing school year, and I look forward to spending it with you!
GO EAGLES!
Posted by Shiloh Adlar in Uncategorized on Thu Aug 31, 2017 11:52 pm | 10 comments · Add comment

2017-2018 New Eaglet Letter!

Welcome to Ravenclaw!

We’re delighted to welcome you, our newest members, to Ravenclaw House and look forward to getting to know you better. And to all returning members, it’s great to see you again, as always!

Because it can sometimes be a little confusing getting started on a new site, particularly one like our own, where there are so many things to do, we're offering this letter to give our eaglets some direction, and help them get a good foothold both here in Ravenclaw and on HOL. It will stay updated throughout the year, so you can always check back if you've forgotten something or are looking for clarification, and you won't have to worry about anything being outdated.

Even if you've been around for a while, you may want to review some of this information to be sure you're caught up with any changes or additions made to the house or common room.

If you have questions about any of the information presented below, or are just looking for some general advice, feel free to ask any of the Ravenclaw prefects or reserve prefects (listed at the bottom of this post) and they'll be happy to answer or to point you in the right direction. Remember, we're here to help!

HOL Fundamentals
Ravenclaw Basics
Activities around HOL and Ravenclaw
Ravenclaw Staff
Posted by Prof. Polaris Black in Uncategorized on Wed Aug 30, 2017 3:09 am | 1 comment · Add comment

2016-2017 Ravenclaw Newsletters

Happy September Eagles and welcome to a whole new academic year!! The year of 2015-2016 is behind us and wow was it a good one, with us bringing home the very deserved house cup! Rumour has it that Kyrie keeps it in her office and is VERY reluctant to part with it, so let’s all take advantage of the point opportunities that present themselves this year!

House News

In case you haven’t already heard, Ravenclaw has landed two shiny and new (for now…) head Prefects in the forms of Matilde Rayne and Polaris Black!! They’re both brilliant additions to the role so let’s try to not burn down the roost in their first year…

So what happened to our former beloved Head Prefects?? We banished them. Okay no, we would never do that, we couldn’t live without our dynamic duo. Instead, they return as newly graduated professors! Congratulations to Prof. Ryan Granger and Prof. Arielle Lemoyne!

This isn’t the only shift in the prefect ranks recently. Both Hannah R. Thomas and Scarlett Lacarnum have become Ravenclaw Reserve Prefects and Astrid Black and Joey Stark have just joined the Prefects! All are wonderful and deserving people (especially that last guy <<) so don’t feel hesitant to contact any one of them if you want to ask something, or just make a new friend to chat with!

Huge congratulations also go to Niniel Sanders for passing her NEWTS and becoming a Post-Grad student! Anyone who's ever had contact with Niniel knows how well-deserved this is!

In True Eagle fashion, Ariella and Polaris have wasted no time in starting up this year’s activities with the very exciting Hogwarts Magical Pride Month! Grab yourself a muggle and get ready to celebrate your magical selves! The activity begins on the 3rd of September!

With the end of the Summer Quidditch League, we once again turn our attentions to our brilliant house team, RQT. Everyone, new and old, is encouraged to join in the Quidditch fun by botting on IRC. It’s fun and addictive and you can earn activity points for doing so! If you enjoy that, please, come along and try out for the house team and help us fly to victory this year!

HOL News

After days of being tantalised by this terms class list, class sign up is officially OPEN! There’s a ton of exciting new options this term as well as many old favourites, some are even making a come back after long hiatuses! Head over to the main site to sign up and get learning and earning!

There’s still time to submit to the art department’s latest challenge. Design a book cover for the story of your life and start earning points already!

This year is set to be a great one; I can’t wait to get to know all you new eaglets and to work again with everyone else. Let’s keep that cup!
Posted by Joey Stark in Uncategorized on Thu Sep 01, 2016 7:43 pm | 9 comments · Add comment

2016-2017 New Eaglet Letter!

Welcome to Ravenclaw!

Greetings to our newest members - we look forward to getting to know you! And to any returning members who are taking a look in - hello and good to see you, as always!

Because it can sometimes be a little confusing getting started on a new site, particularly one like our own, where there are so many things to do, we're offering this letter to give our eaglets some direction, and help them get a good foothold both here in Ravenclaw and on HOL. It will stay updated throughout the year, so you can always check back if you've forgotten something or are looking for clarification, and you won't have to worry about anything being outdated.

Additionally, even if you've been around for a while, you may want to at least skim over some of this information, to be sure you're caught up with any changes or additions made to the house or common room.

If you have questions about any of the information presented below, or are just looking for some general advice, feel free to ask any of the Ravenclaw prefects or reserve prefects (listed at the bottom of this post) and they'll be happy to answer or to point you in the right direction. Remember, we're here to help!

HOL Fundamentals
Ravenclaw Basics
Activities around HOL and Ravenclaw
Ravenclaw Staff
Posted by Matilde Rayne in Uncategorized on Sat Aug 06, 2016 11:38 pm | No comments · Add comment