Teacher's Lounge

The Halloween Social is here, students! Certainly, it is belatedly scheduled but as you all have been studying so hard and we want to show our guests a taste of the celebrations here at Westwood Academy, the social is on today!

No classes are to be attended today. Instead, you are all welcome to the booths lined up in the courtyards with games and sweets. Bobbing for apples and candy floss, dunking the headless horse man and hot mince pies. There will be spiced cider (non-alcoholic) served. Enjoy the social atmosphere in the ballroom where there will be music and a place to sign yourself up for the costume contest or spirit yourself over to the gymnasium where the theatre department has set up an elaborate haunted house for students to get their fill of chills and screams.

Please be aware that the student code of conduct is still in effect. Anyone found breaking campus rules will be punished accordingly but we trust that you all will be on your best behaviour!

Westwood Academy has received a message from Horthorn and we must share it with the student body.

It seems that the campus of Horthorn has been quarantined due to an unusual strain of virus, impervious to all attempts to contain and eliminate it thus far. It is believed that all the Horthorn students here are free of the containment so please do not be alarmed. However, the authorities have ruled the school a hazard and are not permitting anyone to leave or return to the school until a solution is found. As such, Westwood Academy is more than willing to offer all our Horthorn exchange students a second home and continued studies here until further notice.

This is an unfortunate set of circumstances and any Horthorn students who have concerns for family members or friends still at their school should rest assured that the greatest effort is being made to keep everyone healthy and safe within the walls of Horthorn Academy. 

We'd also like to inform you that the Halloween Ball has been pushed back until Saturday, partly due to this and various other reasons. We're extremely sorry for the inconvenience and invite you to join us in the dinning hall for some treats and company, but we assure you that you'll get to enjoy the promised festivities this weekend. In the mean time, please enjoy your time together and continue to perform well in your classes. 

It is that time of year. Ghosts and ghouls, candy and pranks. While we are confident that none of the students here, whether Westwood or Horthorn, intend on giving the security staff any troubles with pranks as we approach All Hallow's Eve, we do hope that you are all thrilled that we are continuing our annual tradition.

There will be a Halloween Social, put together by the Student Counsel with assistance from the Tech and Theatre students to set up the haunted house in the gymnasium while the social with snacks and refreshments will be located in the campus ballroom. Please respect the decorations as they go up this week and make certain you're getting all those costume ideas cemented so that you can enter the Best Costume contest. If you are intending on bring a date, then clear that up with friends and partners! As always, there shall be no substances banned in the school code of conduct or any inappropriate interactions between students.

Because the Professors and I believe that you have behaved so well - with a few exceptions, sadly enough - we have decided to make a trip to London today. We'll be leaving in an hour so that we can get there before lunchtime, and then you can choose a place to eat lunch with your friends. This is an opportunity to stop for a coffee at a lovely cafe or go out shopping until you drop, or whatever else you wish to do. You've got free reigns do what you please as long as you stay on your best behavior - you are representing our school and we expect that you'll act maturely and appropriately -, the only requirements being that you keep your mobile phone with you and turned on at all times so that we can reach you in case of an emergency, and to meet us back at the bus stop at five p.m. so we can return to Westwood in time for dinner.

Anyone in year eleven to thirteen is allowed to come with us on the trip, as long as they had their permission slip's signed by their guardians during the summer. I've heard that you have a similar method back at Horthorn, so if you received your parents' permission for that you are free to come along now as well. This trip is by no means mandatory and the choice is up to you whether you join us or not, but I hope you'll find it an enjoyable and promising possibility. I will meet those who choose to come along outside the school in an hour.

We are so thrilled to have you back for another educational and fulfilling year. We hope you have had a wonderful and peaceful summer, and that you are motivated to continue to pursue your education. As you know, this is a big year for Westwood Academy. Not only because it is another year awaiting you all with a plethora of new opportunities, but because this year, the faculty of Westwood Academy is introducing a new concept: an exchange students program, of sorts.

For those of you who don't already know me, I am your Principal, Vivienne Graham. I will proceed to give a very warm welcome to your new fellow peers -- and I expect you all to do the same -- to the students of Horthorn Academy, all the way in Scotland. These fellow students are now part of the Westwood family, and they should be treated as such. I have faith that all of you will be friendly and be as eager as I am to show them the Westwood way.

There will be no classes until Monday morning, so you all have the weekend to settle in and familiarize yourself with both the surroundings and the family of Westwood. You all are free to relax in your Common Rooms or roam around in the school ground for today. Keep in mind the curfew that is mentioned clearly in the rule book that has been given to each of you, and know that I believe it is too early for anyone to be punished, you all best be careful.

That said, I hope you all are as happy to be back as I am to see you all. I am certain that this will be a good year, and am equally certain that you all will make sure of it. Won’t you, now?