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peckishmods ([personal profile] peckishmods) wrote2019-03-25 10:00 pm
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CLASSES & FACULTY

HONORS COURSES?

Students have the option of taking on additional extracurricular course work. This is considered completing a course "with Honors" and involves additional readings, papers and a final assignment (usually an honors thesis) due at the end of the year. This is demanding, and students may take on Honors work in a maximum of four courses each year. Because they do not meet consistently, Honors is not offered for the Specialty courses.

Denote that your student is taking an Honors course with a (H) next to the class in their course listing. While players may see the occasional Honors pcal slot, this is largely a tool to indicate that a character is particularly hardworking, bright or overachieving in a given course. If you're gunning for the valedictorian spot, you've probably loaded up on Honors courses. TAs automatically receive Honors in whatever course they are assisting with; it does count toward their max allotment of four honors courses.

CHARMS

All Years. Core.

The school of Charms encompasses a mind-boggling number of spells, the easiest to learn and the hardest to master. It's Assistant Administrator Gunzenhauser's job to make it all manageable, and she genuinely seems to enjoy instilling a love of her subject in her students. Her teaching style is engaged and conversational, talking through Charmwork rather than staring at charts, and is weighed heavily by student participation — if you look like you're trying, you're likely to do well, even if the final results of your practical attempts aren't great.

Charms does not have a direct real world counterpart, however early lessons share similarities with English and Vocabulary: rote memorization of gestures and incantations. The most complex Charms are not unlike poetry, requiring feeling to work just as much as the right movements. In addition to spell practice, homework and tests usually involve reading or writing about Charm theory, history or particular spells. Practical exams requiring the successful completion of a number of Charms are standard. Charms is held in a spacious rectangular classroom on the second floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Patrice Tang
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Audrey, Claudia, Echo, Elijah,Gemma, Gertrude, Harrison, Holland, Howdy, Imogen, Joshua, Jupiter, Kermit, Lionel, Maisy, Merlin, Valkyrie, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Armani, Aristotle, Chanel, Desmond, Edgar, Felicity, Fiona, Honey, Ian, Laszlo, Lydia, Mary Grace, Patrice, Pax, Presley, Ramona, Tybalt, Uriah, Viola, Winter, Wyatt, Zadie
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Bijou, Cedar, Cicero, Gideon, Hawthorne, Kirby, Mia, Scarlett, Skip, Willow
✩

HEAD OF DEEPLURK. ASSISTANT ADMIN. CHARMS. STUDENT COUNCIL.

Assistant Administrator Zelda Gunzenhauser may not be Captain of the S.S. Peckenpaugh, but she is the one keeping the ship from dashing against the rocks. Deeplurk's Head of House has the energy of a caring but overworked single mother — approachable, understanding, and unwilling to suffer fools. She bears the unfortunate honor of being the teacher most likely to accidentally be called 'mom' by her students. Ms. G is a perfectionist, and her compassion is matched only by her ruthless adherence to school regulations. Students know they can go to her for just about anything — they also know that she'll still take points or hand out detentions if she gets so much as a whiff of rule-breaking behavior.

Deeplurkers are held to a high standard under Ms. Gunzenhauser, but that's because she knows that her house produces only great people.

ZELDA GUNZENHAUSER

POTIONS

All Years. Core.

Potions at Peckenpaugh is a hands-on adventure in mad science. Mr. Berzelius believes that any theory is worth testing with the right preparations, and the best way to learn is through experience. Naturally, explosions are frequent. There's a lot of ground to cover and less well-prepared students will find themselves left in the dust by Mr. Berzelius's fast moving teaching style. Tutoring is a necessity for many students — a fact Mr. B takes pride in. It's never gruelling work, though. Potions isn't a subject that lacks in exciting course material.

Potions correlates directly with mundane fields like Chemistry and Physical Science. Instructor Berzelius mixes classwork up with essays, multiple choice tests, oral presentations, practical exams and pop quizzes. There's usually at least some homework. Mr. Berzelius assigns frequent papers on Potions safety, in particular. The class is held on the first floor of the central classrooms building in the aptly named Potions Lab.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Zadie Lovelace
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Audrey, Claudia, Echo, Elijah,Gemma, Gertrude, Harrison, Holland, Imogen, Joshua, Jupiter, Kermit, Lionel, Maisy, Merlin, Winifred, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Armani, Chanel, Desmond, Edgar, Felicity, Fiona, Honey, Ian, Laszlo, Lydia, Mary Grace, Patrice, Pax, Presley, Ramona, Uriah, Viola, Winter, Wyatt, Zadie
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Bijou, Cedar, Cicero, Gideon, Hawthorne, Kirby, Mia, Scarlett, Skip, Willow
✩

HEAD OF MOTHGARDEN. POTIONS. ALCHEMY. DEBATE CLUB.

Peckenpaugh's resident mad scientist and Mothgarden's Head of House is Alva Berzelius, a brilliant man who consistently proves that you don't need common sense to be smart. Potions is never boring with Mr. Berzelius, who counts every explosion as a victory in his ongoing war against Ms. Altizer. Rumors abound that he's found the secret of immortality, and the glass eye he takes out to "watch the kids" when he leaves the room is from some horrible accident tied to his experiments. His frat boy charm and casual demeanor make him fun and approachable, but his teaching style is relentless, designed to weed out anyone who can't keep up with his classes.

Mr. Berzelius pretends to care very little for his charges — just try dying, assholes. Despite his best efforts, his fondness for the bright, curious minds of Mothgarden is glaringly obvious.

ALVA BERZELIUS

TRANSFIGURATIONS

All Years. Core.

Transfiguration is as challenging to learn as it is vital to know, its spells staples in every wizard's repertoire. While the school is universally useful, the course material itself is notoriously dry — a lot of numbers and repetition. Instructor Min's peppy teaching style alleviates the drag of Transfiguration somewhat, but the theory is dense and practical application can be tough to master even if you understand the equations.

The course corresponds to real world Mathematics classes, with elements of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Physics. Regardless of how she decides to conduct class on a particular day, Ms. Min is known to assign a lot of homework — problem sets, exercises, the occasional short essay — and her tests are notoriously tough. Luckily, she's happy to put in additional time with students who want to improve. The Transfiguration classroom is on the first floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Audrey, Claudia, Echo, Elijah,Gertrude, Harrison, Howdy, Imogen, Joshua, Jupiter, Kermit, Lionel, Merlin, Valkyrie, Winifred, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Armani, Aristotle, Chanel, Desmond, Edgar, Felicity, Fiona, Honey, Ian, Laszlo, Lydia, Mary Grace, Patrice, Pax, Presley, Ramona, Tybalt, Viola, Winter, Zadie
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Bijou, Cedar, Cicero, Gideon, Hawthorne, Kirby, Mia, Scarlett, Skip, Willow
✩

TRANSFIGURATIONS. ADVENTURE CLUB.

Dorothy Min joined Peckenpaugh's staff in 2018, taking over for hand-puppet aficionado Mr. Woodrow. She's new to this whole teaching business and it shows—mostly in good ways. Ms. Min's earnest, indefatigable enthusiasm for not just Transfiguration but Peckenpaugh as a whole is contagious. She brings an excitement to her classroom that's positively electric, like being taught by a cheerleader. It's a breath of fresh air in a course as dense and dry as Transfiguration. Problem is, Ms. Min's habit of frequently switching up class formats makes her difficult to keep up with. She's strict with grading, but compassionate. She gets the struggles of being a modern teenager, and while not forgiving of slackers, Ms. Min is always willing to help them pull things back together. Whatever those things may be.

DOROTHY MIN

ARTIFICING

All Years. Elective.

It takes more than just Charms and Transfigurations to make a working wand or flying broom. Even everyday tools like self-inking quills require a bit more finesse than simple enchantments allow, and that's where Artificing comes in. A hybrid school, Artifice uses techniques from nearly all others to create useful magical devices. It's a challenging course. Dr. Ranui expects his students to continually show a mastery of the basics before tackling the fun stuff, but there's very little theory study or rote memorization. The class is all about making and Dr. Ranui has a knack for pushing the limits of his students' creativity. Despite its steep requirements, Artificing is wildly popular and is generally accepted to be one of the most fun at Peckenpaugh.

Artificing is analogous to real world classes like Shop and Art. It is wholly project-based, with students in a given year all making roughly the same thing, working with the same material or from the same theme to create something unique. Dr. Ranui is delighted when students put their own spin on something, but still prefers if they at least try to stay within the parameters of each assignment. There are no tests. Instead, juniors and seniors are each expected to submit a final project in June. The most passionate Artificing students can often be found after hours in the Artificing Workshop in the South Quarter, plugging away on personal projects in their stalls.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Ramona Grimsditch
  • SENIORS: Gemma, Howdy, Jupiter
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Edgar, Honey, Ian, Lydia, Ramona, Wyatt
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Cedar, Cicero, Hawthorne,Skip, Willow
✩

HEAD OF WILDGULCH. ARTIFICING. MAGIROBOTICS.

Don't let the funky print short-sleeved button-ups fool you, Wildgulch's Head of House Dr. Caspian Ranui may very well be a robot. Sure, he's charming and charismatic, good-natured, helpful and hardworking, but there's something a bit odd about him. First of all, he's never not working: grading papers, putting in time at the workshop, advising, socializing—maybe all at once. He lives and breathes structure, is strictly punctual, and is dramatically thrown off when things don't go as planned (which makes explosions in the Artificing Workshop all the more wild). It's odd, considering the stories surrounding his youthful exploits. Once upon a time, he was quite the adventurer, traveling the world to study Engineering and Artificing with muggles, wizards and magical beings of all types. He doesn't like to talk about himself, but it hardly matters when he has such a talent for making each one of his students feel like Artificing is their gift.

Dr. Ranui is positively arrogant about how talented Wildgulch is. He knows, without a doubt, that his is a house of creative visionaries, each student a bright and shining star in their own right.

CASPIAN RANUI

ASTRONOMY

All Years. Elective.

Celestial objects have always had a direct effect on magic. The potency of potion ingredients, spell success, psychic energy, the activity of magical creatures are all tied to the movement of the stars, and a solid foundation in Astronomy is key to understanding the very core of magic. Twice a week Mr. Hobgood takes students on a journey through time and space, covering everything from ancient aliens to Van Allen belts and how they have an everyday impact on their lives.

Astronomy in the magical world is similar to its mundane counterpart, just with some extra complications thrown in. There’s a lot of math, science, and magical theory to be covered in this class, but Mr. Hobgood strives to keep it accessible for students at every level — he has some great mnemonics for remembering the spectral classes in order of decreasing stellar surface temperature and what that means for your Patronus Charms, guys. No big fan of wasting the day hunched over a book or in a stuffy classroom, Mr. Hobgood has been known to take students on impromptu field trips when the textbooks get too heavy (or there’s a meteor shower they just have to see), and gets too bored during long tests to ever bother writing them. And while there is generally homework, it’s almost always some kind of reading or chart they started in class, and Mr. Hobgood never assigns any unless they have plenty of time to ask for help before they leave. Astronomy is held in the Astronomy Tower located in the West Quarter.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Audrey, Gertrude, Holland, Kermit, Winifred
  • JUNIORS: Armani, Desmond, Edgar, Felicity, Laszlo, Zadie
  • SOPHOMORES: Hawthorne, Kirby, Mia
✩

ASTRONOMY. AV CLUB.

Students who have been paying attention in History of Magic will probably recognize the name Hobgood—there have been at least three MACUSA presidents with that name—but Hermes Trismegistus Hobgood has not followed in the family legacy. A bit of a vagabond, Mr. Hobgood considers himself to be a cool teacher, who would rather tell stories of his time drinking absinthe with a princess in Monaco than get bogged down with the day-to-day minutiae of running a classroom. He's an intelligent instructor with a broad knowledge base when it comes to the stars, and serious students know they can get a lot of useful information out of him with the right questions… but less serious students also know they can easily derail a discussion with off-topic questions about his glory days.

HERMES HOBGOOD

CRYPTOZOOLOGY & MAGIZOOLOGY

All Years. Elective.

It should come as no surprise that a school established in North America's hotbed of cryptid activity would have a remarkable Magizoology & Cryptozoology department. Peckenpaugh has always had strong ties to the Bureau of Magical Beings, and that is most apparent in its extensive and well-funded Magizoology courses. Guest speakers are frequent (as Peckenpaugh focuses more on the cultures, histories and languages of sapient creatures, classified as Beings), and field trips are common. It sounds like a blast, but there's a lot to memorize and Mr. Trullinger does not always have the patience for students who think a fun class means an easy class.

The course, which corresponds to real world fields like Anthropology and Biology, is homework heavy. While students are generally spared tests, there are readings, response papers and, Mr. Trullinger's favorite, the dreaded group project. Cryptozoology & Magizoology work often requires additional research, not just in the library but in the field. So, students who are intimidated by the prospect of interviewing strangers may find Mr. Trullinger's class somewhat daunting. Cryptozoology & Magizoology is generally held on the third floor of the central classrooms building, but trips outside are frequent.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Audrey, Elijah, Imogen, Merlin, Valkyrie, Winifred
  • JUNIORS: Armani, Felicity, Fiona, Mary Grace, Pax, Uriah, Viola, Winter, Wyatt
  • SOPHOMORES: Bijou, Gideon, Kirby
✩

C & M. NON-HUMAN LANGUAGES. APPALACHIAN HISTORY CLUB.

Muggleborn students may recognize George Trullinger from his frequent appearances on TLC shows about Big Foot, mermaids and the Flatwoods Monster, spouting "outlandish" "conspiracy theories." Of course, Mr. Trullinger's not exactly an obscure figure in magical society, either — he's as well known for his many near violations of the Statute of Secrecy as he is for his genius. He's a man at the forefront of Cryptobiology and Cryptolinguistics, but he's also a hellion, a passionate advocate for magical being's rights and a total prankster. So, maybe he's stuck here in Appalachia teaching because if he pushes his luck one more time he's going to wind up in jail. It's fine, though, he loves teaching, and brings the same energy to his classroom as he does to telling a camera about the history of satyrs in North America.

GEORGE TRULLINGER

DEFENSE AGAINST DARK ARTS

All Years. Elective.

Defense Against the Dark Arts is never an unfashionable course to study, but it's certainly seen a surge in popularity since a cabal of Dark Wizards were found to have infiltrated the MACUSA's Auror Bureau in 2015. Rush of heroic Auror hopefuls aside, Defense Against the Dark Arts is a challenging (some might say daunting) subject. While the content of the course is by no means boring, it is lecture and discussion heavy, hardly action packed, and led by an instructor with a soothing voice known to put students to sleep. Don't you dare doze off, though, kids; Mr. Purcell is notorious for dropping stacks of books, slapping rulers on desks or firing off noisy charms when heads start nodding.

Because of the nature of the Dark Arts, Peckenpaugh's DADA program is a great deal of theory; real-world counterparts include Philosophy, Comparative Studies, and a bit of physical education in the form of duelling exercises. While students may not leave the classroom bogged down with homework assignments outside of the occasional short paper, studying is absolutely necessary. Mr. Purcell's essay-based tests and exams are legendary, taking most students bell-to-bell to complete. You never want to be the first person handing in a test in Mr. Purcell's class. DADA is held on the second floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Bijou Pascal
  • SENIORS: Echo, Elijah,Gemma, Harrison, Holland, Imogen, Joshua, Merlin
  • JUNIORS: Armani, Aristotle, Felicity, Fiona, Patrice, Presley, Ramona, Tybalt, Uriah, Winter
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Bijou, Cedar, Cicero, Hawthorne, Scarlett
✩

DADA. OCCLUMENCY. DUELLING & SPORT WANDWORK.

There are two things the students of Peckenpaugh know for sure about Lancelot Purcell: he was a Cursebreaker in his former life, and he loves his unbelievably ancient pug, Queen Guinevere, more than anything or anyone. That's why she's always with him, being carried on her pillow or sleeping the day away in her luxurious bed by his desk. A mysterious and sometimes eccentric professor with a downright soporific voice, there's a lot of whispering about Purcell's murky past, but he'll neither confirm nor deny a single thing. Why don't you guys worry about staying awake in his class, instead?

LANCELOT PURCELL

HERBOLOGY

All Years. Elective.

Students of Herbology at Peckenpaugh spend most of their time in the dirt. Rain, snow or sunshine, the class is held in the East Quarter's greenhouse and gardens. Ms. Treetops devotes as much time to the philosophy of Herbology as she does to its nuts and bolts, lecturing on everything from a plant's favorite soils to its medicinal uses and favorite genre of music while demonstrating the best ways to plant, prune and tend. As this is Peckenpaugh, in addition to studying common potion ingredients, there is considerable time spent with sentient magical plants.

Herbology is a science, with real world counterparts in botany, biology and organic chemistry. Students very rarely have to deal with written tests, and homework, when it isn't "keep this plant alive," is usually a brief reading. The class isn't a cake walk, though. Ms. Treetops covers a lot of ground, and oral pop quizzes are an almost daily occurrence — she doesn't like using paper. Thankfully, extra credit is readily available, because after hours help is always needed in the greenhouse.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Winter Carmichael
  • SENIORS: Audrey, Claudia, Elijah, Holland, Imogen, Maisy, Winifred
  • JUNIORS: Chanel, Fiona, Ian, Laszlo, Lydia, Mary Grace, Pax, Viola, Winter, Zadie
  • SOPHOMORES: Cedar, Hawthorne, Mia, Scarlett, Skip, Willow
✩

HERBOLOGY. BOWLING CLUB.

Peckenpaugh's got a leg up on other schools when it comes to Herbology, seeing as their instructor is part plant. Tansy Treetops is half-dryad and no nonsense. She sees little benefit in sitting in classrooms, memorizing bullet lists and writing essays, preferring her students get outside so they can literally dig into the subject matter. Ms. Treetops does not seem particularly interested in forcing her passion on Peckenpaugh's students — either you like Herbology or you don't. Her favorite students tend not to be the green thumbed ones, but the ones who refuse to give up in the face of repeated failure. Not that favor makes much of a difference. She is brusque, and seems to prefer the company of her plants to people. It's not quite all for show, but she's certainly an introvert who dislikes small talk. Still, Ms. Treetops enjoys having company. She delights in sponsoring Bowling Club and hosts morning and weekend yoga lessons for students and staff.

TANSY TREETOPS

HERMETICISM

All Years. Elective.

Hermeticism is not a class to be taken lightly. As the study of just what it is that makes magic work, students heading into their very first Hermeticism class should know they're in for a year of dense readings, complex equations, and high expectations. Ms. Altizer leads the students through lifting the veil on magic, so to speak, allowing them to discover why they have to say these words and wave that wand just so in order to make something happen.

The class is easily the most difficult non-advanced class at Peckenpaugh, and, while Ms. Altizer is happy to provide extra credit and tutoring sessions if students are struggling, she does not have the time or patience to coddle those just itching to get to the good stuff. Those that stick with Hermeticism through graduation will learn how to craft their own spells or change up familiar ones to suit their needs, but not without years of studying theory, vocabulary, increasingly advanced mathematics, and a pile of ethics. It isn't until about halfway through junior year that students can finally start getting their hands dirty, and the explosions that result from turning their math problems into real problems rival those coming from downstairs. Hermeticism is held on the second floor of the central classrooms building, just above the Potions Lab.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Claudia Vega
  • SENIORS: Claudia, Harrison, Howdy, Gertrude, Kermit, Lionel, Valkyrie, Winifred, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Chanel, Edgar, Honey, Laszlo, Lydia, Presley, Ramona, Tybalt, Zadie
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Cedar, Cicero, Gideon, Hawthorne, Kirby, Mia, Willow
✩

HEAD OF THORNTRAIL. HERMETICISM. ARITHMANCY. DEBATE CLUB.

No one walking into Clytemnestra Altizer's classroom thinks they're in for an easy time. Thorntrail's Head of House is a notoriously hard-nosed teacher — the one who permanently confiscates your fidget spinners, who's still teaching when the bell rings and forbids anyone from packing up even a minute early. Ms. Altizer has exacting standards for all her students, and expects them to adopt policies of working hard, studying regularly, and putting Mr. Berzelius in his place. In fact, legend has it the best way to get extra credit is by helping Ms. Altizer score another win in her never-ending war with the Potions teacher. It's easy to assume Ms. Altizer has never relaxed even once in her life, but there's a reason the unofficial Thorntrail motto is "Work Hard, Party Harder," and maybe someday students will find out why.

Ms. Altizer is endlessly proud of the passion and drive exhibited by Thorntrail, and expects to see at least one of her students make it into the history books — be it for better or for worse.

CLYTEMNESTRA ALTIZER

HISTORY of MAGIC

All Years. Elective.

History of Magic often finds itself with the reputation of being a terribly dry class; who wants to memorize dates and hear about dead politicians who don't even have musicals written about them? But Mrs. Dorkins does her best to really make history come to life for her students. A bright, personable teacher, Mrs. Dorkins tries to spice up her lesson plans with projects and trivia contests and reenactments!! — anything to keep the class's attention. That is, you know, when her own attention isn't wandering.

The class is most similar to your standard non-magic history, social studies, and geography classes, though History of Magic touches on important events in both Magic and Muggle past, how they might have influenced each other, and the direct effects they have on life in the present day. While Mrs. Dorkins really works to keep the class dynamic and interesting, the homework is where the tedium sets in. A big proponent of the importance of critical reading, Mrs. Dorkins assigns a lot of reading, and expects a detailed response by the next class. History of Magic is held on the first floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Elijah, Valkyrie, Winifred, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Chanel, Mary Grace, Presley, Uriah
  • SOPHOMORES: Mia
✩

HISTORY of MAGIC. CURRENT EVENTS. PRINT & YEARBOOK.

Sarah-Jane Dorkins wants to be your friend. An animated, chatty sort of teacher, Mrs. Dorkins is known to inject her lectures with a lot of personality and flash, and she's also got the hot goss being whispered by everyone on campus. While deeply passionate about her subject, and a big fan of instilling a love of history in as many teenagers as she can manage, Mrs. Dorkins is also very distracted and scatterbrained. Presentations have been sidelined several times because of a sick cat or misbehaving son, but she always gets back on topic eventually! She just needs a minute to handle this crisis. After a recent separation from her husband and her son's graduation from Peckenpaugh last year, Mrs. Dorkins has declared that she has no choice but to focus entirely on her job now, so get ready to do so much critical reading, kids!!!

SARAH-JANE DORKINS

HOME MAG-EC

All Years. Elective.

Sometimes you just need to know how to sew on a button or boil water, and that's where Home Mag-Ec comes in. One of Peckenpaugh's most practical classes, Mr. Potkin helps students learn the ins and outs of cooking, cleaning, sewing, and how to keep yourself to a budget. Or, well, he tries, anyway. After the sudden departure of the previous Home Mag-Ec teacher, Mr. Potkin finds himself in a bit of an unconventional spot in a less conventional classroom, both creating and learning lesson plans on the go.

The class itself is somewhat loosely structured, following in the footsteps of muggle Home-Ec classes. When not watching Mr. Potkin struggle to answer a question on recipe conversion, students are usually asked to follow along with a practical lesson, or they are allowed to work on personal projects with more encouragement than actual guidance from Mr. Potkin. There’s never much in the way of homework or tests, mostly group work to demonstrate their skills and project updates, with extra credit always available to whoever takes pity on their teacher and helps clean up after. The class is generally considered to be an easy A, but those planning to leave the nest very soon might need to help point Mr. Potkin in the right directions if they want to be truly prepared for the real world. Home Mag-Ec is held in a large classroom on the first floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Harrison Hartshorn
  • SENIORS: Claudia, Gertrude, Harrison, Joshua, Jupiter, Kermit, Maisy
  • JUNIORS: Armani, Desmond, Tybalt
  • SOPHOMORES: Cicero, Gideon, Skip, Willow
✩

PERCIVAL POTKIN

MUSIC

All Years. Elective.

There's more to Peckenpaugh's Music program than making sure sports fans get their recommended dose of Louie, Louie. A pep squad is great, of course, but Madam Beridze is here to mold kids into well-rounded musicians, and her class is as much about the academic side of musicianship as it is about picking up an instrument and playing. In fact, freshmen, in particular, do very little actual playing; instead studying music theory, history, sight reading sheet music and even the science behind their (often strange and magical) musical instruments.

Once past the hurdle of first year, all students meet together in Madam Beridze's classroom, regardless of year. As sophomores, students choose to join Marching Band, Concert Band or both. Marching Band members get a slick uniform, march in parades, perform half-time shows, and are just as important as cheerleaders when it comes to inspiring school spirit. Concert Band members are more focused on the classics, and spend more time practicing for the school's talent showcases, or providing musical accompaniment for choir or musical performances. Music is held in the auditorium on Central Campus.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Gertrude McGilliguddy
  • SENIORS: Echo, Holland, Gertrude, Kermit, Maisy, Winifred
  • JUNIORS: Aristotle, Desmond, Fiona, Uriah
  • SOPHOMORES: Atlas, Skip
✩

MUSIC. BAND DIRECTOR. PERFORMING ARTS CLUB.

Birdie Beridze is a legend in the small world of magical musical theater. As the creative mind behind the classic (and tragically underrated) Broadwiz show, Pillywickle!, the talented Madam Beridze has been showered with accolades for her singing, acting, dancing, composing — there's even an award on her shelf for that time she won a freestyle rap battle. This gal's got it all. The bonafide theatrical icon might have grown up in Elflock Falls, but her life beyond the borders of this small town has been filled with petty scandals, high-profile drama, and glamorous affairs. Madam Beridze is a tenacious woman with an abrasive sense of humor and grand visions for her students. She refuses to be be hampered by paltry public school funding. Years of throwing together no-budget shows with no-talent casts has given her the tools to work with even the most hopeless cases, so the talent-impaired need not despair; as long as you're willing to work hard, Birdie's got a job for you.

BIRDIE BERIDZE

OUTDOOR MAGIC

All Years. Elective.

All right indoor kids, time to get off your butts and run some laps. Outdoor Magic is Peckenpaugh's answer to Phys Ed — an active, recreational gym class where students can burn off their excess energy and combat childhood obesity.

Students in Outdoor Magic will learn all about flying, from the basics of getting in the air to advanced broom racing techniques, the art of lifting heavy things on purpose, and how to throw a mean snowball. But it's not all line drills and dodgeball; Mr. Youngblood knows a lot about the great outdoors and how to not die in it, and many of his more hands-on classes focus on wilderness survival magic, underwater spellcasting, and any number of magic and non-magic techniques that will help in sticky situations. And sometimes they just watch a movie, because the teacher needs to take a nap. Outdoor Magic meets at the Athletic Facility in the East Quarter, but their adventures take them all over campus.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Valkyrie Horvat
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Audrey, Gemma, Howdy, Imogen, Joshua, Jupiter, Merlin, Valkyrie
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Edgar, Fiona, Ian, Lydia, Mary Grace, Patrice, Pax, Uriah, Wyatt
  • SOPHOMORES: Bijou, Kirby, Scarlett, Skip
✩

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. OUTDOOR MAGIC. APPARITION.

Wyborn Youngblood is as backwoods as they come. A rough ‘n' tumble redneck from somewhere in the hills, he's something of an expert when it comes to scraping by in unfavorable, unlikely, and sometimes illegal circumstances — an expertise he passes right along to the kids! He's often crass, more than occasionally irreverent, and it can be hard to tell when he actually likes someone, but he's shown a real soft spot for those who throw his words right back at him. As Outdoor Magic teacher and Peckenpaugh Athletic Director, Mr. Youngblood spends a lot of time yelling at kids to run more laps and leave him to his hangover, and he can be something of a polarizing teacher — you either love him, hate him, or you're convinced he's a bear in a human suit.

WYBORN YOUNGBLOOD

WIZARD LITERATURE

All Years. Elective.

Students in Wizard Literature could probably stand to spend a bit more time studying the classics, but Mr. Crockett's more interested in the feeling a compelling story evokes than in poring over the Greats. His syllabi reflect that, pop culture smashes showing up alongside critical darlings and plenty of pulpy adventure novels and corny romances sprinkled in between. Throughout the year, students also tackle a variety of creative writing projects — short stories, non-fiction essays, poetry, and scriptwriting.

The obvious muggle counterparts to Wizard Literature are English and Lit. Really, barring a few literally magical semi-sentient books studied in junior and senior year, it's one of the least magical courses Peckenpaugh offers. Mr. Crockett checks that his students are keeping up with assigned readings with weekly quizzes. Topic focus varies by year. Freshmen in Wizard Lit study a broad variety of texts. Sophomore WizLit is Literature & Performance, emphasizing plays and poetry. In Junior year, students study the American classics, and seniors are assigned mostly contemporary works. Wizard Literature meets on the third floor of the central classroom building.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Claudia, Echo,Holland, Lionel, Maisy, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Fiona, Ramona, Uriah, Viola, Winter
  • SOPHOMORES: Bijou, Gideon, Scarlett
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WIZARD LITERATURE. CREATIVE WRITING/BOOK CLUB.

Montgomery Crockett always looks a little exhausted (maybe it's all the fanfiction he has to read for Creative Writing Club), but students know him to be kind, patient and approachable. A soft-spoken introvert, reining in an excited classroom is not among his strengths. At the same time, he is an animated and engaging teacher who's easy to listen to when he does have your attention. More than deep literary analysis, Mr. Crockett loves a good yarn — he's equally happy listening to others and spinning his own stories, making him a low key favorite of Peckenpaugh's most imaginative students.

MONTGOMERY CROCKETT

AESTHETIC MAGIC

All Years. Advanced Study.
Potions Required. Herbology Recommended.

The magical answer to muggle art class is Aesthetic Magic, where art quite literally comes to life. The class differs from its mundane counterpart in that a great deal of time is spent on materials; students learn to mix enchanted paints, what to add to developing chemicals to create magic photographs, and how to turn a clay bust semi-sentient, among other things. Mr. Potkin can find something good to say about just about every project put in front of him, and, sure, maybe that doesn't always cultivate real growth, but students always leave the class feeling good.

While Aesthetic Magic at Peckenpaugh is a bit more intensive than your standard muggle art class, it nevertheless covers much of the same content. Students study art history, learn techniques, and work on projects in a variety of mediums both magical and mundane. Mr. Potkin's homework usually amounts to asking kids to work on their projects and show regular progress, but from time to time he will request an art history paper or a quiz on magical ingredients. Aesthetic Magic is held in a large, open classroom on the second floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 7 / 15 available)
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Maisy
  • JUNIORS: Lydia, Tybalt, Uriah
  • SOPHOMORES: Cedar, Hawthorne, Skip, Willow
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AESTHETIC MAGIC. HOME MAG-EC. CULINARY CLUB.

No one believes in their students as much as Percival Potkin, a kind-hearted and encouraging instructor who never seems to run out of patience with these kids. Mr. Potkin is a classically-trained artist, but he notably does not spend as much time dwelling on painters of the past as he does encouraging ingenuity and gushing over the accomplishments of his current and former students. Like a bald Bob Ross, Mr. Potkin truly believes anyone can create art, and there's no such thing as a mistake in his world — only happy accidents and the unintentionally abstract.

PERCIVAL POTKIN

DIVINATION

All Years. Advanced Study.

Divination is often seen as a soft science, a charlatan's craft, or, at best, something that should be left to those with the Sight. But Dr. Huang thinks Divination's biggest problem is the narrow scope. Every person has a psychic energy, he explains at the start of every year; you just need to learn how to read the signs, and find what instruments vibe with your energy specifically. Divination students are asked to try a variety of techniques, from Aeromancy to Zygomancy, and meticulously chart their experiences.

Class sessions will usually be split into two sections: lectures and practice. A quiet, unassuming man, Dr. Huang lights up when he starts to talk about Divination, and it makes even his driest lectures endearing. And his lectures cover a wide array of topics that he considers germane to their craft, such as history, symbolism, astronomy, metaphysics, philosophy, even architecture and psychogeography. The practical half of the class is usually less structured, and students use it to try out new techniques, consult with the teacher and other students on their progress, or take a nap and claim they're working on dream interpretation. Divination is held on the third floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 7 / 15 available)
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Audrey Poke
  • SENIORS: Audrey, Gemma, Valkyrie
  • JUNIORS: Armani, Patrice, Viola, Wyatt
  • SOPHOMORES: Mia
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DIVINATION. ARITHLETES.

Dr. David Huang might not be a Seer-with-a-Capital-S, but he knows it takes more than that to channel the future. A lifelong student of the Divining Arts, and author of the not-quite-best-seller Something to Scry About: One Scientist's Search for the Sight, Dr. Huang is known in the community for his reasoned, scientific approach to the subject. Around school, kids are more likely to just know him as the bordering-on-germaphobic teacher who won't shake hands or open doors without a tissue or pair of gloves. He's not a big fan of the latter reputation.

DAVID HUANG

NON-HUMAN LANGUAGES

All Years. Advanced Study.

Mr. Trullinger might've bit off more than he could chew when he proposed a Cryptolinguistics course. It's an extensive field, difficult to tackle effectively at the high school level. Nevertheless, Peckenpaugh's board saw the potential and approved a lesson plan. Now, the Non-Human Languages Advanced Study sees its debut in the 2019 academic year. A highly experimental course, Non-Human Languages is practically an independent study, albeit one supplemented by weekly lectures. Its freeform style feels more like something you'd find on a college campus, but guys? It's going to go great! Just sit back and enjoy the ride while Mr. Trullinger takes you on a still-in-progress academic adventure.

Students enrolled in Non-Human Languages learn broad Linguistic and Cryptolinguistic concepts while studying languages both common and obscure. As is Mr. Trullinger's style, guest lecturers are common, and the class is always entertaining if not necessarily successful in achieving what it's set out to do. Each student is expected to select a language of focus during the year, and much of the (heavily curved) final grade is determined by a Linguistic paper on that language. Fluency is, of course, neither expected nor possible in that short time, but learning the basics of a language is encouraged provided it is one that can be spoken, at all. Non-Human Languages is taught on the third floor of the central classrooms building, in the Magizoology & Cryptozoology room.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 10 / 20 available)
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Anthony (Sylvan), Echo (Sylvan, Appalachian Mushkin), Elijah (Sylvan), Joshua (Mermish)
  • JUNIORS: Felicity (Kentaur), Mary Grace (Gobbledegook), Pax (Gobbeldegook), Poppy (Sylvan), Presley (Nightwaltz), Zadie (Mermish)
  • SOPHOMORES: Bijou (Loveland Croak)
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GEORGE TRULLINGER

PRE-HEALER STUDIES

Juniors & Seniors Only. Advanced Study.
Charms, Herbology, Potions Required.

Students looking to pursue a career in the Healing Arts have their work cut out for them. Fortunately, Healer Greatheart knows exactly what tools they will need to succeed. Unfortunately, it's not always in line with what administrative types have in mind, as Healer Greatheart has a habit of (sometimes literally) tossing approved lesson plans out the window and going her own way. Pre-Healer Studies is a tough class with a tough teacher, but the end result is a well-rounded, hands-on education unlike any other Pre-Healer program in WizAmerica.

Pre-Healer Studies shares similarities with most non-magical life sciences, such as biology, anatomy & physiology, and organic chemistry, but anyone looking to make it in this field will have to master more than just a few disciplines. There's a lot of complex magic future Healers need to learn, even if half of it is ineffective and overcomplicated bullshit (according to the instructor). Classwork will delve into important first aid charms and the crafting of commonly used potions, with a considerable amount of energy directed toward medicinal herbology. Not only will students learn the most effective way to juice a ginseng root, Greatheart expects Pre-Healer students to help her maintain the medicinal plot in the greenhouse — and they should know that they will be graded harshly if even a single feverfew plant starts to wilt.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 10 / 15 available)
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: (open)
  • SENIORS: Claudia, Holland
  • JUNIORS: Ian, Laszlo, Winter
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SCHOOL HEALER. PRE-HEALER STUDIES.

Healer Althea Greatheart is a force to be reckoned with. A passionate, stubborn woman with a hot temper and expansive knowledge of the Healing Arts, she has developed quite the reputation for insubordination in the past. It's all in good faith, though; Healer Greatheart is fiercely protective of her patients, and considers it part of her job to shield them from the bad opinions of mainstream medicine. Greatheart grows her own plants for potions, poultices, and other alternative medicines, and while they smell and taste terrible, they're also incredibly effective. There's a plot set aside in the Greenhouse just for the infirmary and Pre-Healer students, but Healer Greatheart also keeps a small collection of her favorite plants on a windowsill in the infirmary, and overnight visitors too often hear her airing her grievances to them every morning.

ALTHEA GREATHEART

SYMBOLOGY

All Years. Advanced Study.
Hermeticism Required.

The quill is mightier than the wand in Symbology, where students learn to turn spells into script. Under the guidance of the intimidating Mr. Stirling, the class studies the building blocks of written magic, learning to interpret, activate and even create their own written spells, sigils and glyphs. While Symbology is certainly useful for sprucing up your journal entries, this Advanced Study is not for those just looking to add some flare to their magical social media accounts. Symbology is a broad field, challenging to begin with, and Mr. Stirling runs a tight ship. No disruptions. No excuses. That said, no subset of Symbology is less than any other in his eyes. Mr. Stirling will address sigil use in make up routines with the same gravitas he'd use to dissect a complex, dangerous glyphed curse. All he asks is that his students show the same respect.

Symbology incorporates Ancient Runes and bears similarities to Language Arts, Art and Calligraphy, but it is actually most closely analogous to a Programming course. Not unlike coding, Symbologists use written language to weave spell parts together, creating desired effects in the form of sigils and glyphs. Mr. Stirling doesn't like to burden his classes with homework, but Symbology necessitates a great deal of repetitious practice. Take home work most commonly involves copying and breaking down sigils and glyphs into their smaller parts. More rarely, short essays or papers on usage, safety and history of the medium are assigned. The first two years of Symbology deal largely in theory and memorization of the building blocks that the upperclassmen then use to dig into sigil and glyph-making. Symbology is held on the second floor of the central classrooms building.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 8 / 20 available)
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Adrian Gildersleeves
  • SENIORS: Gertrude, Harrison, Howdy, Lionel, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Chanel, Honey, Ramona
  • SOPHOMORES: Cicero, Gideon, Kirby
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JOURNAL NETWORK ADMIN. SYMBOLOGY. FILM CLUB.

Once upon a time, Tulio Stirling served the Ministry of Magic as an Unspeakable. Or, at least, that's the rumor. Whatever his past, he seems perfectly content to be teaching Symbology and serving as Journal Network Administrator at Peckenpaugh now. Sort of. It's hard to tell with Mr. Stirling. He's a stoic man with a sense of humor about as dry as the surface of Mars. Does he think a joke's funny? Does he even like you that much? The answers to those questions may be unclear, but one thing's for sure: he has extremely high expectations for everyone he comes in contact with. Mr. Stirling's calm demeanor is equal parts intimidating and infectious, and he has a way of making his students feel like his confidence in them is not misplaced.

TULIO STIRLING

ALCHEMY

Junior & Senior Only. Specialized Study.
Potions, Hermeticism, Transfiguration Required.

Alchemy is a difficult class to describe. At its simplest, it is Advanced Potioneering, but leaving it at that is a disservice. It is a deeply philosophical, even spiritual sub-school. Some call it Potions' answer to Hermeticism, and that's not too far off. Under Mr. Berzelius, students study the minutiae of potion making: how phases of the moon affect ingredient potency, how slight changes to recipes can wildly alter results, the effectiveness of different delivery methods. There's also the aforementioned spiritual element. The complex potions brewed in Alchemy require harmony of mind and body, and Alchemy students will spend time meditating and learning to control their emotions — because their moods can impact their work. Come into the bi-monthly course on a bad day and what you're making may literally blow up in your face.

Often Alchemy lessons piggyback onto the standard Potions syllabus, studying in microscopic detail the recipes being utilized in the core class. Mr. Berzelius brings his trademark frat boy energy to the course, but in a smaller classroom with truly focused students, he's a great deal more patient, almost kind. Don't be mistaken, though, he still thinks it's quite funny when your potion explodes because your crush asked someone else to the dance. Alchemy is held in the Potions Lab on the first floor of the central classrooms building. Alchemy students may find themselves subjected to strange and unusual side-effects when their potions go haywire.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 10 / 15 available)
  • SENIORS: Harrison
  • JUNIORS: Chanel, Laszlo, Winter, Zadie
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ALVA BERZELIUS

ANIMAGUS STUDIES

Junior & Senior Only. Specialized Study.
Requires Transfiguration.

Who doesn't want to learn how to shapeshift? If the waitlist for Animagus Studies is any indication, there isn't a soul who hasn't at least daydreamed about the prospect. Peckenpaugh's most in-demand course is also the only one taught by Administrator Kwan, a famously engaging and entertaining instructor, and she brings her usual humor to the subject matter. The bi-monthly course is an intense exploration of Transfiguration, and many of the field's most advanced concepts are examined during the year.

Animagus Studies has no real world counterpart, but has a strong core of Mathematics, Biology and Philosophy. Class to class, students are expected to show comprehension of topics covered in previous lessons, homework is, otherwise, keeping a log book and meditating ten hours per week. Animagus Studies is by no means an easy course, however. Developing Animagus abilities is a mentally and physically taxing process. While there are some experimental predictive models, enrollees will not know their animal form for sure until their first successful transformation. Animagus Studies meets in a small classroom on the third floor of the central classrooms building. If you are signing up for Animagus Studies, please indicate your intended animal on your application.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 3 / 15 available)
  • SENIORS: Elijah (Fruit Bat), Jupiter (Eurasian Jay), Kermit (Elephant), Merlin (Bush Viper), Valkyrie (Red Fox), Winifred (Pomeranian)
  • JUNIORS: Armani (Squonk), Desmond (Newfoundland Dog), Felicity (Raccoon), Ian (Ring-tailed Lemur), Pax (African Wild Dog), Tybalt (Black Rat)
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ADMINISTRATOR. HEADMISTRESS. ANIMAGUS STUDIES.

A veteran instructor, Melody Kwan taught Magizoology and Cryptozoology for nearly two decades before assuming the role of Peckenpaugh's Head Administrator five years ago. It's clear she is an educator first, far more interested in her students and their growth than in the business side of running a school. Ms. Kwan is charismatic, friendly and easy going. Kind of a superhuman, she remembers names and birthdays, shows up to every recital, and is there to cheer at every game and competition. She's a notorious prankster and likes quizzing kids in the halls on various topics. It's kind of dorky, but she does give out the best candies for correct answers.

MELODY KWAN

ARITHMANCY

Junior & Senior Only. Specialized Study.
Hermeticism, Transfiguration Required. Divination Recommended.

The chalkboards wheeled out for Arithmancy are always jam packed with numbers, letters and symbols. Five boards minimum, each full to bursting with arcane information. All that writing? It's one equation. Arithmancy is not for the faint of heart. It is a form of Divination, yes, but it shouldn't be written off as mystical woo. Students learn of the power inherent in numbers, how they can be used to predict the future or tweak the effectiveness of a spell or potion. The subject matter is dense and difficult, impenetrable for many, but the rewards of understanding Arithmancy cannot be discounted.

Arithmancy's closest muggle counterparts are Actuarial Science and Predictive Analytics. It is the most difficult subject offered at Peckenpaugh and Ms. Altizer hand picks students for the course from her Hermeticism all stars. While not homework heavy, the lecture time itself is mentally demanding. The course meets bi-monthly,and students typically leave the room feeling fried. Arithmancy meets on the second floor of the central classsrooms building, in the Hermeticism room. Students taking Arithmancy are able to take certain Divination slots on the pcal; they may also find their spells are less prone to failure.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 9 / 15 available)
  • SENIORS: Claudia, Gertrude, Howdy, Lionel
  • JUNIORS: Adrian, Edgar
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CLYTEMNESTRA ALTIZER

CURRENT EVENTS

Junior & Senior Only. Specialized Study.
History of Magic Required. Print Club Recommended.

Current Events is a great course for the civically-minded, for extroverts and for anyone who just wants to be in the know. It benefits from Ms. Dorkins's unique, high energy sensibility. Class topics are picked democratically and the atmosphere is casual and conversational. Provided they are respectful, students are encouraged to speak their minds, using WizAmerica's most prominent news stories to reflect critically on philosophy, culture, civics and history. In addition to studying contemporary news, students get a chance to develop their critical thinking and debate skills. It's a popular class for students looking to pursue careers in journalism, politics or social work.

Homework is little more than keeping up with the news through papers, magazines and, somewhat less frequently, the internet. In lieu of tests, Ms. Dorkins expects everyone enrolled in the class to do a final presentation on an event that happened during the school year. Current Events meets on the first floor of the central classrooms building. Students enrolled in Current Events will often be the first to know about breaking local news stories.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 12 / 15 available)
  • SENIORS: Anthony, Xenia
  • JUNIORS: Mary Grace
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SARAH-JANE DORKINS

OCCLUMENCY & LEGILIMENCY

Junior & Senior Only. Specialized Study.
Charms, DADA Required.

Occlumency & Legilimency is an intensely demanding course intended for students hoping to pursue careers in magical defense— Aurors, Hit-Wizards, and less well-known roles in the fight against dark magic. In bi-monthly class meetings, enrollees learn to shield their minds from Legilimency. Which is, of course, easier said than done. Occlumency requires not merely the mastery of emotions, but the total emptying of one's head, a difficult task for any teenager.

Students familiar with Mr. Purcell's soothing voice and lecture-heavy Dark Arts Defense course are in for quite a surprise. Occlumency is forty-five straight minutes of practice and practical application. While there some time is devoted to the history, ethics and significance of these ancient spells, in Mr. Purcell's estimation, if you're in Occlumency, you're there to pick up a skill, not study theory. Occlumency is held in the same room as Defense Against the Dark Arts, on the third floor of the central classrooms building. Students in Occlumency will develop the ability to resist some magical mind probing and altering effects.

STUDENTS (limited slot: 10 / 15 available)
  • SENIORS: Echo
  • JUNIORS: Aristotle, Patrice, Presley, Ramona
✩

LANCELOT PURCELL

APPARITION

All Years. Limited Course.
Must be 15 or older.

Apparating is one of the most popular ways to get around in WizAmerica, so you might as well learn how to do it right! Starting in Spring, any student over the age of 15 can sign up for a brief course on the art of disappearing into and then appearing out of thin air. Taught by Mr. Youngblood, at least a solid third of the class is taken up by a series of Red Asphalt-esque cautionary splinching videos before they even get to work. Students still need to go out and get a license before they start popping all over the place, but after all those videos there's no way they'd be dumb enough to try anything as dangerous as unlicensed Apparating, right?

Apparition is a special class offered in early spring to any student over the age of 15 who does not yet have an Apparating License. The course is anticipated to last roughly two weeks, with students able to head into Elflock Falls afterward to take their Apparition exam at any time. You do not need to list this class on your character's class list if you intend to take it and it doesn't count toward the maximum 9 classes limit. We will post sign ups for it later in the school year.

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WYBORN YOUNGBLOOD

MUGGLE TECH STUDIES

All Years. Study Hall.

In 2018, MACUSA President Jack Du Pont rolled out his Magically Opening Doors through Enhanced Muggle Studies (MODEMS) Initiative: an educational plan of action to use the "magic" of technology to bring WizAmericans closer to their non-magical compatriots. The initiative is powered by good intentions and better PR. Among its many (sometimes misguided) demands is a requirement that every magical student spend a certain number of hours working with "Muggle Tech" in order to graduate. It's something that would have been a lot easier to do without a drained Muggle Studies budget and a department staffed only by an absent-minded ghost, but, like many public schools nationwide, Peckenpaugh just had to get a little creative.

Any student not in a class between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM is expected to head to the computer lab for "Muggle Tech Studies." According to the syllabus, Muggle Tech Studies is a self-guided class that allows students to discover magicless technologies at their own pace. It's not exactly a class, though; it's really more of an easy-to-ditch study hall.

There is some benefit to showing up to the lab from time to time — and not just for Mr. Qualls' (very) occasional lectures on fantastic and mysterious Muggle devices, like vacuum cleaners and Walkmen. This course has no homework, and the teacher is more likely to spend his time trying to understand this Zune than teaching, but it really is a good place to get some quiet studying done, and it's the most reliable internet connection on campus. Anyone who really wants to learn how to use a fax machine might be better off on Wikihow, though. Muggle Tech Studies is "held" in the computer lab adjacent to the library on Central Campus.

STUDENTS
  • TEACHING ASSISTANT: Lionel Lovelace
  • All students must suffer through Muggle Tech Studies.
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MUGGLE TECH STUDIES.

Caleb Qualls is a local through and through; he was born, he was raised, and he died right here in Elflock Falls! Before his death, Mr. Qualls was a truly excellent teacher, and an enthusiastic Muggle Tech scholar, but his knowledge stalled out sometime early in the America OnLine era. Hey, it's hard to keep up with the times when you haven't had a proper body for twenty years. Or is it thirty years? Mr. Qualls has a poor grasp on the current passage of time, and is never quite sure what year it is or which students he's teaching. While he has the occasional flash of retention of modern, useful knowledge, it's rare. He's been known to get stuck in loops when asked for assistance, and he's far more likely to accidentally get himself trapped in the iMac in the back of the room than actually be of any use.

CALEB QUALLS

THE LIBRARIAN

LIBRARIAN. GAMING CLUB.

Librarian Yassir Zahidi doesn't exactly rule his library with an iron fist; the "No Food" rule is widely ignored, the study rooms tend to get a little rowdy, and every year dozens of books go missing thanks to messy trunks and really cool waterfalls. It's not a totally lawless wasteland, though — while Mr. Zahidi is a reserved guy who doesn't have the stomach for discipline, he does have an uncanny knack for interrupting students the exact second they decided the coast was clear enough to light a joint or take a cart for a ride. Mr. Zahidi is not someone who seems to enjoy the art of conversation, be it with students or his coworkers, and he really only speaks up when they hit on one of his passions. Or when it comes to Magic: The Gathering, because he can build one hell of a deck.

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YASSIR ZAHIDI

THE COUNSELOR

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. SCHOOL THERAPIST.

Dr. Geraldine Quirke serves a dual role at Peckenpaugh as guidance counselor and school therapist. Talking to Dr. Quirke is a bit like drinking a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day; her voice is soothing, her energy warm and patient. She asks a lot of questions. A ton, actually, and often in response to inquiries directed her way. Dr. Quirke is a private woman who likes keeping a professional distance, and while she seems to know a great deal about her students, nobody seems to know much about her. Judging by the amount of lizard-related decor and framed photos of a bearded dragon in her office, it's safe to say she's a reptile fan, at least.

Dr. Quirke is intended to ensure that characters are able to get good help with career/academic advice and counseling, but these services are provided off screen.

✩

GERALDINE QUIRKE

THE GROUNDSKEEPER

GROUNDSKEEPER. FRIEND of DOGS.

And then there's Bub. Peckenpaugh is a large, beautiful campus and taking care of the grounds is a multi-person job. Or, it should be. Yet everything, from magical maintenance on Deeplurk's bridge to roof repair in the radio station, is handled by one ?man?: Bub. A superhuman, at least, if he is human at all. (He isn't.) Whatever Bub is, taxonomically speaking, he's certainly friendly. Quiet, too. No student has ever heard him speak, and teachers don't entertain gossip about him. That doesn't stop the rumors from swirling, though. Bub-related theories at Peckenpaugh are as many as they are absurd — that he's an automaton or alien and not just a magical being, that his supernaturally intelligent familiar Bonifacius is actually a dog animagus, that he's really just some regular dude who doesn't know what to do now that he's trapped with all these wizards. Whatever the truth of Bub's origins, we know one thing for sure: Bub loves Peckenpaugh, and Peckenpaugh loves Bub.

✩

BUB