and Student Life
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| Mission: to empower young kithain through providing educational opportunity and encouraging the development of practical skills as well as self confidence, awareness of current social problems and respect for others. The Academy is dedicated to a spirit of cooperation across all lines of kith, Court and station, and to providing an environment for immersive learning and self-directed study. |
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The freehold of Winterlong Manor is a school for the fosterage and continuing eductaion of childling kithain. In addition to learning basic academic skills taught at any mortal school, such as writing, reading, history, geography and mathematics, Winterlong acquaints young kithain with music, art, gardening, environmental studies, craftsmanship and resource-management. Childlings are also instructed in the ways of the Enchanted World, the Escheat and the necessary balance between Glamour and Banality, changeling history, etiquette, diplomacy, and even Arts of Glamour. While some teaching occurs in a classroom setting, the students are given a lot of unstructured time in which to pursue their own interests, as well as tasks around the freehold. Such chores are distributed impartially; sidhe spend just as much time cleaning pots in the scullery as commoners. br> Students are awakened at seven-thirty, and expected to make themselves presentable and appear in the Dining Hall for breakfast, which is served at eight. Winterlong does not subscribe to anything so Banal as a school uniform, although each childing is expected to be clean and tidy. Following breakfast, students separate into classes based on relative age, and proceed to the appropriate clssrooms to begin the day's work. Morning coursework is directed to mundane studies. A certain amount of routine is imposed to equip childlings with the ability to handle life in the Autumn World, to encourage self-discipline, and to avoid bedlam. Classes begin at nine, and continue until eleven. This is followed by an hour in which students are allowed to continue with their mortal studies in a self-directed way, either alone or in groups. At noon, the school gathers for luncheon in the dining hall. Afternoon classes, dedicated to artistic pursuits and lessons of the Enchanted World, begin at one. Depending upon the day's activities, these may be held in the classrooms, library, or even outdoors. Structured work continues until three, when students are provided with a free hour, and served a light snack. At four, they are directed to their afternoon chores which occupy them until five. They are then permitted another free hour, until the school meets for dinner in the dining hall at six. Dinner is the most formal meal of the day, and begins with students and faculty joining together in singing the school song. When this is done, and before food is passed along the table, a student chosen for their outstanding accomplishment that day is served first from the best portion. This "hero's portion" is never awarded to the same student two days in a row. The honor is awarded for excellence in any field, and may be betsowed upon any student chosen by the faculty. After dinner, the students are allowed free time to study or play until eight-thirty when they are once more assembled, this time in the library before the balefire hearth. Here, Lady Lillian herself chooses a story from the books upon the shelves, which she reads aloud to the group. Sometimes she cooles longer tales, which she presents in serial installments evening by eveing over a week or two. By nine, the students are sent up to bed. Older children are permitted to read or study for another half hour or so, but the younger ones are generally ready to sleep. Field trips, weekend events and vacation-time at home provide students with opportunity to interract with the mundane world. Should a childling show signs of Bedlam (they are monitored closely), some arrangement is made to return the student to mundane surroundings until a cure can be effected. |
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