Dragonbells Wizarding Primary School
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Dragonbells Wizarding Primary School is the only Wizard Primary day school currently serving students from the UK. While most young folk in the wizard world are educated at home, an increasing number of them come from households with two working parents, or with Muggle-born parents without the full background necessary to give their children the same level of home education prior to the traditional Wizard Secondary Schools.
The majority of the UK based student body are Half-bloods and Full-bloods from non-pure bloodlines, as British Pure-bloods still favor home education by the current matriarchs, as a manner of instilling the behavior expected of the members of that particular pure-blood family.
Although the student body is international, the classes are taught in English, and the students are transported to and from the school via portkeys in the form of etched glass paperweights with the school crest on them. Although there are four competing academic teams, the students school uniforms are not marked to reflect this, as the competition is purely academic in nature.
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History
Dragonbells Wizarding Primary School, was founded in 1945 by a coalition of Wizards and Witches looking to provide a primary education outside of the home for the increasing numbers of Wizard boys in Europe with mothers working outside the home. At the time, it was twinned with Witchbelles Primary School, which functioned in the same way for young girls. The schools operated in tandem, in two identical castles on a small unplottable island in the north sea, off the coast of the Netherlands. The student body was drawn from the United Kingdoms and Ireland, France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, and all classes are conducted in the English language.
By 1955, it was generally assumed that any student who successfully completed the curriculum at Dragonbells or Witchbelles was going to be admitted to whichever secondary school they desired.
German students, however, have not been admitted in large numbers since the reign of the Dark Lord Grindelwald when an alternative German language Wizard Primary school was founded in Austria.
Historically, the student body of each of the two single gendered schools was divided into two competing teams; in Dragonbells the Ridgbacks (Blue) and the Vipertooths (Black), and at Witchbelles the Doxies (Pink) and the Pixies (Yellow), which strove to outperform the other team academically and at various challenges on school activity days.
While Dragonbells had a curriculum based on the idea of further education and future career goals, Witchbelles' curriculum was originally somewhat diluted by classes focusing on household applications of magic, and etiquette lessons. Over time however, these elements were slowly pushed further into the back, and by 1972 the curriculum in the two schools were nearly identical.
In 1985, Dragonbells and Witchbelles were integrated into a co-educational school, and the original teams were abolished and replaced with the four that exist to this day; the Griffins (Red), the Kappas (Green) the Runespoors (Black), and the Sphinxes (Yellow). The Griffins and Kappas are educated in the west castle, once Witchbelles, and the Runespoors and Sphinxes are educated in the east castle, once Dragonbells proper.
In late 2009, it was suggested that to help ensure the higher education of all Dragonbells students, the school might start offering OWLs level courses to British nationals displaced in the wake of the closing of Hogwarts, however backlash from parents afraid that this may reduce the number of slots for Primary students has stalled any chance of that happening in the near future.
Staff
Headmaster
The Headmaster or Headmistress of Dragonbells is the chief of it's staff, selected by the school governors to fill the role, and given responsibility for managing the overall affairs of the school. The Headmaster never acts as a Team Head, as they are supposed to be impartial to the four teams, and does not, as a rule, teach classes.
The Headmaster's Office is located in the foyer of the West Castle, the original Dragonbells Headmaster's office.
Deputy Headmaster
The Deputy Headmaster or Headmistress is selected by the Headmaster from among the Staff. Unlike the headmaster the Deputy Headmaster is not precluded from being selected as a team head, and is expected to teach classes.
The Deputy Headmaster's office is located in the foyer of the East Castle, what was once the Headmaster's office of Witchbelle's Primary School.
Team Heads
Team heads are selected by the Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster from amongst the Staff. While there is no restriction on the appointment of a Professor who attended a school other than Dragonbells, alumni of given team are precluded from being selected as a head for any house other than their own.
Teachers
Teachers are hired and fired by the recommendation of the Headmaster with approval from the school governers. Historically the governors have exercised a great deal of influence over their selection in order to ensure that the best possible teachers are selected, with an emphasis on being able to deal with and engage small children in the classroom. Childcare experience is sometimes favored over qualifications with a subject owing to the importance of the safety of the student body.
Teachers are assigned a desk in the teacher's study of the castle in which their classes are held, but have no private offices.
School Librarians
The Head School Librarian is selected by the school governors, and is responsible for the care of the library and it's books. She may submit requisitions for library books to the governors, but the school governors retain final control over the content of the library.
There are Deputy Head Librarians for East and West Castle, selected by the head librarian, who manage the day to day operations of the libraries in each building.
School Nurses
There are four school nurses on staff at Draonbells, two assigned to each castle's infirmary. They are required to have only minor first aid experience, but it is expected that they have extensive experience in caring for children, either as Nannies or parents. Their primary duties involve checking for fevers and tending to playground injuries and then caring for ill or injured children until their parents arrive to take them home. In cases of extreem emergency children are portkeyed directly to St. Mungo's Hospital in the UK, Saint Bernadette's Wizard Hospital in France, or the National Wizard Hospital of the Netherlands, depending on the child's nationality.
Keeper of Grounds and Buildings
The Dragonbells Keeper of Grounds and Buildings is hired by the Headmaster for the job of maintaining, both the grounds, and the castles. It is a busy and thankless job, with no office, but instead a series of utility closets to which only the Keeper has the keys.
Transportation Coordinator
The School Transportation Coordinator, appointed by the school governors, is in charge of coordinating the school portkeys with the transportation authorities of the countries from which students are attending. It is also his or her responsibility to deal with porkteys which arrive sans-student due to truancy, or missing the time window.
Students
Students are selected by application process only. As such there are generally no Muggle-born students at Dragonbells. Students are evaluated based on parent reported knowledge of critical base subjects (taking turns, toilet compliance, letter and number recognition) and then by an interview with a panel of teachers including the Deputy Headmaster. Some weight is given to legacy students, especially those with a sibling as a current student, and a letter of recommendation from an educator from any other recognized school, including several Muggle infant schools (as some half blood students attend them) can go a long way into helping a student get a place.
Once a student has been accepted to the school they are generally guaranteed acceptance to the secondary school of their choice, however since the closing of Hogwarts a startling percentage of British students have been unable to find placement after Dragonbells.
Class Representatives
There are 20 Class Representatives, elected by their peers when students return from Yule break. They each represent one year of one Team, or approximately 20 students. The Year One students, thus have no representation until they have been in school for a few months. Class Representatives attend Student Committee meetings every second Wensday and are responsible for such things as organizing Formal nights, and formation of clubs.
Prefects
Prefects are selected by their team heads only from the Year Six students, and can be identified by the lapel pin worn on the left corner of their shirt collar. They are responsible primarily for watching the doors during recess to prevent students entering without authorization, and for tasks such as accompanying a younger student to the nurse, and helping new students find their way in the halls. Unlike Prefects in Secondary schools, Dragonbells Prefects hold no authority on their own, and can only report students to the staff for misconduct, as any student can. They, however, are expected to do so.
Classes
Classes at Dragonbells are selected for the student. There are no electives, and students progress thru their years only based on their ability to complete the coursework from the previous. A student who is held back too many times, may loose their slot.
Reading and Writing
Students start learning to read in Year one, and by Year Four, are writing book reports on stories they have read. Although the school has an international clientele, this class is taught only in English, and students are expected to be fluent in English.
Mathematics
Students begin with counting, and simple addition and subtraction and are expected to be able to perform basic algebra by the time they leave after year Six.
Geography
Students begin with European geography, which is stressed at all levels, but are expected to learn to locate countries all over the world by the time they have completed their education.
History
Students learn the history of the world from a magical point of view, with some mention of major Muggle world events which had effect on Wizards as well (such as the Salem Witch Trials, and the Spanish Inquisition) as well as events which correlated to one another, (The Rise of Grindelwald during World War II.)
Arts and Music
In early years students are encouraged to create art, and sing along with the teacher, later classes introduce concepts such as perspective and the color wheel to the art curriculum and introduce the basic understanding of written music.
Physical Education
Students learn basics of sports, including wizard sports such as Pedditch, which is much like Quidditch, but is played on foot, using soft bludgers and omitting the snitch, and universally accepted children games, such as tag and dodge-ball.
Magic Theory
Starting in Year Three students begin to learn magic in the theoretical sense. While they are not taught to perform magic, they learn about how it is expected to work
Uniforms
Students are issued uniforms which have changed very little since the school's inception, the majority of the changes have been in the definition of acceptable socks for female students, as their initial freedom with such choices led to some very distracting clothing choices.
The uniforms are to be worn at all times on school property, including during extracurricular activities, with the exception of Formal Dinner nights, when children are encouraged to wear their Sunday best.
Required Female Dress Code
Shirts must be white polo shirts with Pan Collars or Scalloped Collars, and may have a breast pocket if so desired. Skirts, or skorts must be knee to mid-calf length, pleated, and charcoal grey.
All shoes must be clean and dark in color, no light colored or white trainers, and socks are to be either white, charcoal grey, or a shade of pink. Students in years One and Two may wear ankle high socks, however from year 3 onward, knee high socks are required. Subtle embroidered patterns on socks are permitted, but no loud patterns or magically animated embroidery is allowed. Small bows are permitted on the cuffs or ankles of socks, however large bows, bells and pom-poms are forbidden. What constitutes a 'large' bow remains at staff discretion.
The girls robes and hats are pink in color. Their robes are to be fastened at the neck under the collar whenever in class. They may be unfastened or discarded during recess and lunch periods and during extra curricular activities, especially those for which robes pose a danger of entrapment. The girls hats have a brim, and are to be worn only at formal events, and on the first day of a term.
Required Male Dress Code
Shirts must be white polo shirts with Standard or Pan Collars, and may have a breast pocket if so desired. Shorts, allowed only durring summer months, must be knee to mid-calf length, and charcoal grey. Trousers, work in winter months, must also be Charcoal Grey and must cover the socks when the student is standing. If a boys trousers are too long, a teacher may assist him in cuffing them to the proper height.
All shoes must be clean and dark in color, no light colored or white trainers, and socks are to be either white, charcoal grey, or a shade of blue. Tube socks are not allowed with shorts. Subtle embroidered patterns on socks are permitted, but no loud patterns or magically animated embroidery is allowed.
The boys robes and hats are blue in color. Their are to be fastened at the neck under the collar whenever in class. They may be unfastened or discarded during recess and lunch periods and during extra curricular activities, especially those for which robes pose a danger of entrapment. The boys hat do not have a brim, and are to be worn only at formal events, and on the first day of a term.
Optional Uniforms and Accessories
In the winter months, students may wear their own traveling cloaks on school grounds. They may be any solid color and may not have sleeves. Students may also wear school jumpers in the winter, over their shirts, these can be purchased from the school the same way as robes and hats.
