WINTER TERM OPENING CEREMONY AND CLASS START

[thewatchers]

WINTER TERM OPENING CEREMONY AND CLASS START
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The snowfall has only intensified as Daybreak moves into the first day of Winter Term classes. A school-wide orientation will be held in the auditorium, followed by an open period where tours will be given to new students by student volunteers. After a noon lunch in the main hall, short introduction classes will be held where the syllabi will be distributed and professors can give a brief overview of what they’ll be covering over the term.

A. ORIENTATION ASSEMBLY

With a new school year comes a fresh address. The orientation assembly is one of the few times that the Headmistress and High Seer, Mila Duchene, speaks to the gathered faculty and students about their purpose and why they’ve been found and gathered here. About how Nightfall looms ever closer, and how together they will be the flames who light the coming darkness.

It is, in the manner of many orientation speeches, fairly long-winded. Those who have been here for more than a year have likely heard this speech before, though it’s slightly more urgent this time. Maybe it’s a good time to get to know the people on either side of you a little better while the Headmistress talks, because you’ll be here for a while. Or maybe you’ve planned ahead, and you have something to entertain you at orientation - much to the shared entertainment or dismay of others in your vicinity, perhaps.

Or you could actually be listening to the speech. It’s up to you.


B. SCHOOL TOUR

For students fresh to the academy, the sprawling nature and architecture of Daybeak Academy can be quite intimidating. Fortunately, helpful student volunteers have been tapped to help escort the new students around and give them a feel for campus. Student volunteers are typically chosen for both their experience on campus and helpful nature. While some scripts are provided, students are encouraged to ad-lib and put their own spin on campus and what they like about it. New students are, of course, encouraged to ask as many questions as they can to make sure they fully understand and familiarize themselves with the campus as quickly as possible.

C. SNACK STATION

During the first three days after the Holiday break, throughout the campus grounds are small stations manned by the kitchen staff and volunteers, the smell of hot chocolate, cider, and frying bread fills the air, stirring the appetite and promising warmth on this cold winter’s day.

Every booth has hot chocolate, some spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, others rich and creamy, but always with an option for marshmallows, peppermint bark or caramel drizzles - with non-alcoholic hot cider for those with an allergy to chocolate. For food options, naturally being France there are crepes of all types and beignets on offer, with jam- or custard-filled berliners, while those looking for a more savory fare will be treated to rissoles - a fried bread stuffed with minced meat or bechamel sauce and cod.

While the drinks are on tap and readily available, it may take a few moments to get the treats out, so might as well make conversation while a fresh batch is made.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[made_up_names]

[ Admittedly, Peter would make friends with a potato if it talked back. ]

Peter. Peter Parker. Nice to meet you, dude. What's your username?

[ Referring to the school network. ]

[heartofasamurai]

Username?

[He is still uncertain by the word used.]

[made_up_names]

Y'know, for the school network thing?

[ He takes out an old, battered smartphone. ]

[heartofasamurai]

Oh, you mean the student profile they encouraged us to create for their online program. It is my name, of course. [Why would he use anything else?]

[made_up_names]

...

Dude. No way. You have to get at least a little creative.

[heartofasamurai]

[Now he is a little confused.]

The purpose is to encourage others to contact us electronically for ease of communication about our classes and extracurricular activities, is it not? If I chose a false name, how would they recognize it was me speaking to them? I would not want someone to be confused about my identity.

[made_up_names]

That's why you get something that people will recognize, but also isn't just your name. Preferably with a pun involved.

[heartofasamurai]

Puns I am more familiar with do not translate as easily into English, but as they do not know who I am, I fail to see how choosing something like that would make me more memorable as myself.

[made_up_names]

Dude, it's like --

[ Look, he'll just show you. He gets out his fun, showing off his own username. "ohnomorespiders." ]

You're gonna remember that way better than Peter Parker.

[heartofasamurai]

Peter Parker is a memorable name. What do spiders have to do with you that I would remember them?

[Seiji is clearly missing some point about this, as he rarely even used the internet if he did not have to back in Japan. School was the only time he might need it, but he would just as soon use a library for research rather than an online search.]