Spirit Woods Educational is a large school located somewhere along Canada's eastern coast. The school is not well known outside of the country, but those who are aware of the school it is well known for its advancements in Spirit Magic.
The curriculum is taught in English, but many Canadian-French people still attend the school.
History[]
Spirit Woods Educational was founded by Rosalina Pixien in 1878 along the eastern coast of Canada in a forest known as The Four Seasons Forest. The forest itself is divided into four sectors, each sector stuck in a certain season. After graduating from Hogwarts in 1874, Pixien moved to Canada to learn more about the lost art of Spirit Magic.
While on her ten-year long trip, Pixien felt discouraged by the accessibility of education for Canadian wizards, who would have to journey down to Ilvermorny for schooling.
Inspired by the completely magical Four Seasons Forest, Rosalina Pixien founded Spirit Woods Educational. The school was initially just a small wooden complex by the sea, but it quickly rose in popularity. By 1900, the school had over 100 pupils.
By the first World War, Pixien had achieved her goals and passed the baton to Fabian Aames, her first pupil.
School Year[]
The Spirit Woods school year officially starts the day after Labor Day (first Monday of September) but students always arrive the Sunday before.
Pupils generally reach Spirit Woods through the magically-enlarged-on-inside school buses. These buses are double decker on the inside and there are six of them that go on routes through Canada's largest cities (eg. one goes through the province of Ontario). Most students are expected to be at the magical stations present in Canada's largest cities on Sunday, and portkeys are set up for students in very remote areas to transport them to the school.
When the students arrive on Spirit Woods' grounds the evening of Sunday, they are greeted to a warm feast and some opening words from the headmistress. The first years are sorted on this day.
Labor Day is still a holiday in Spirit Woods, and the First Years are taken on a thorough tour of the grounds while the older years catch up with one another. Schedules are handed out and the students prepare for the first day.
Quidditch tryouts commence throughout the fourth week at Spirit Woods, and is always very popular.
Sorting[]
The four houses Aquami, Aerono, Pyros, and Terrata all represent the four elements. Aquami's are known for their intelligence and independence, Aerono's for their curiosity and friendliness, Pyros' for their bravery and charm, and Terrata for their steady and calm behaviour.
Students are sorted by standing in a small circle just large enough for them to be in. This circle is in the middle of a quad of the four houses, with each of their symbols (elements) carved into the ground.
If the student is a Aquami, the Aquami symbol will shoot up water. If the student is an Aerono, the symbol will shoot up a burst of wind. If the student is Pyros, the symbol will shoot up a burst of flame. If the student is Terrata, the symbol will grow grass from it, which will recede as soon as the next student steps up.
Uniform[]
Spirit Woods Educational is located in the Summer Quarter of the Four Seasons Forest, thus meaning that the light grey robes are only required on formal occassions.
Boys are required to wear light grey formal pants and a collared, longsleeve white shirt with their house color tie. Girls also need this shirt as well as the tie, but girls wear the school skirt, which is light grey. Any shoes, as long as they are black and formal, are acceptable. Spirit Woods pupils are almost always seen wearing the light grey blazer that has the school cross on the right hand side.
Daily Routines[]
Breakfast is served in Spirit Woods from 7:00 to 8:30 AM. At 8:50, classes begin. Students are recommended to wake up between 7 and 7:30, and owls arrive in the breakfast period.
Each class lasts around 70 minutes (bar period 5), with two periods before the lunch hour (11:10 - 12:10). After the lunch hour, the third period commences at 12:10, ends at 1:20, and the fourth period goes from 1:20 to 2:30. Fifth period is always the shortest period, as it goes from 2:30 to 3:30.
After period 5, students are allowed a break of an hour which they get to spend however they please. After this, the study period commences, when the year cohort uses the time to study. Dinner occurs afterwards, and although it is not mandatory for students to attend, many do. The Banquet Hall is open from 6:30 to 8:00, and you can duck in and out unless it is a formal dinner.
After 9:00, every student below fifth year is required to be in their house common rooms. Fifth years and above have a later curfew of 10:45. There are no set "bedtimes".
For ill students, they stay in the hospital wing and have their mail delivered to them through the friendly house elves.
Subjects[]
Potions (Core Class)
Defence Against the Dark Arts (Core Class)
Transfiguration (Core Class)
Charms (Core Class)
History Of Magic (Core Class)
Spirit Magic (Elective)
Herbology (Elective)
Magical Creature Study (Elective)
Divination (Elective)
Arithmancy (Elective)
Ancient Runes (Elective)
Flying (Only available if students is official player)
Education Progression[]
All students take the core classes from First Year to Fifth Year. Electives can be taken from the third year onwards. In the sixth (final) year, students can only take subjects that they received E.E or O in. Since Spirit Woods only has six years, O.W.L's are taken in the fifth year and N.E.W.T's in the sixth year.
Recruitment[]
After discovering the young witches and wizards, letters are sent to their families in a loose timeframe from when they are 10 to when they are 12.
These letters compose of a standard welcome and congratulation, followed by a small booklet detailing the equipment and uniform needed, the codes of conduct, and how to get to the different magical stations.
For no-maj families, a wizard or witch who is a teacher or a part of the school board will come with the letter and describe Spirit Woods, as well as taking the wizard/witch to Rocky Road, the Canadian Wizarding Shopping Area. Generally, the letters are all sent before the large school holidays.
Trivia[]
- Spirit Woods accepts students from 11/12 to the school.
- The curriculum is based off Hogwarts, as the founder was from there.
- Pets are allowed. Cats, owls, and rats are the most popular. Dogs are allowed but kept in the kennels and not allowed in dorms.
- Students are able to stage expeditions into the Four Seasons Forest with teacher's permission.
- The students love Quidditch and have a house cup, although they don't have the same rigid points system as Hogwarts.