Salem Institute


 * Full Name: Salem Institute of Magic0crest.jpg


 * Location: Outskirts of Salem, Massachusetts


 * Sister Schools: Salem Hall of Mundane Studies  and Salem University of Mystical Learning

Salem Institute is a magnificent eleven-story cathedral located just outside of Salem, Massachusetts where 13-17 year old witches and wizards are taught the finer workings of magic. The school and its grounds are Unplottable and completely invisible to Muggles.

Prior to attending the institute, most young witches and wizards attend Salem Hall, where between the ages of 8 and 12 children learn what Muggle students learn: reading, writing, science, and arithmetic. After all, arithmancy or potion-making without math skills would be quite difficult, and writing skills are certainly necessary to complete the long essays some professors assign. The elementary school supplies young witches and wizards with the skills they'll need before learning magic.



Years
Each year has its own crest (see right), advisor, Quidditch team, Quodpot team, Cheerleading squad, Spirit Points and Student Board. Students are divided, like most Muggle schools in America, by what grade they are in, rather than personality traits or blood status, like other magical schools.

Exams
P.I.N.T.s (Proficiency In Non-magical Topics) are taken in the final year at Salem Hall before moving on to the institute. E.M.U.s (Examination in Magical Understanding) are taken at the end of third year, and S.T.O.M.P.s (Standardized Test Of Magical Proficiency) are taken at the end of fith year. There are also three degrees you can earn from the university: bronze (2-year), silver (4-year), and gold (6-year). Each of these is obtained after students pass their S.A.T.s (Specialized Arcane Trial) in all core required classes.

Schedule
Before fourth year, students are required to take Charms, Flying and Exercise, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions and Alchemy, and Transfiguration, but can choose up to four elective classes for a total of ten. (Technically, the schedule allows for all 17 classes to be taken, but usually ten is the limit because that's already quite a workload.) Once a student enters their fourth year, any unwanted classes can be dropped, but they must bear in mind that fourth and fifth year classes are dedicated to STOMP study so an EMU must have been achieved in order to continue. (Also bear in mind that a person can take the EMU and STOMP even if they did not take the class.) Classes alternate every other day, for a total of eight class periods daily, and an additional night class reserved for Astronomy.
 * Breakfast: 6:30am-7:00am
 * 1st Period: 7:15am-8:15am
 * 2nd Period: 8:30am-9:30am
 * 3rd Period: 9:45am-10:45am
 * 4th Period: 11:00am-12:00pm
 * Lunch: 12:15pm-12:45pm
 * 5th Period: 1:00pm-2:00pm
 * 6th Period: 2:15pm-3:15pm
 * 7th Period: 3:30pm-4:30pm
 * 8th Period: 4:45pm-5:45pm
 * Dinner: 6:00pm-6:30pm
 * 9th Period: 11:30pm-12:30am

Climate
The climate in Salem is warm during the summer, when the temperature tends to be in the 70s, and very cold in the winter, when temperatures are in the 30s. The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 82.1 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month is January with an average minimum temperature of 20.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual average precipitation in Salem is 45.51 inches. Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is November with an average rainfall of 4.5 inches.

Travel
Apparating and Disapparating within school boundaries is not possible due to the magic that protects and conceals the area. Attempting to Apparate or Disapparate into or out of protected locations will result in severe splinching and you'll be forcibly ejected from the area.

Only a select few fireplaces in the school are hooked up to the Floo Network. Namely, the faculty and administrative offices. Any grate may be opened to the network by the principal.

Portkeys into or out of Salem Institute will not work unless directly authorized by the principal. This is the main method of transportation students use to and from school and are heavily regulated. A portkey is sent to every student on September 1st and set to transport at times ranging every five minutes between 2:30-3:30 EST into the school's entrance hall. Likewise, on the last day, portkeys are handed out and transport students home right after the Farewell Feast. These portkeys are only good for one use. Once a student has reached their destination, the object immediately pops back into a bin in the principal's office and loses its magical abilities; they must then be re-enchanted by the principal. This is also the method of transportation used when students go home for the holidays. No one is granted a portkey to or from the cathedral at any other time unless it is cleared by both the Ministry and the school. Even then, it must be a matter of extreme importance.

Surroundings
Salem Village is the nearest magical community, hidden right inside Muggle Salem. It's a rather large area, consisting of four districts, and can be reached via a path through the woods around the institute or by the Muggle route through the back door of an ice cream parlor.

Witches' Alley is the shopping mall in the magical section of New York City, but there is no direct way to get there from school. Many students will go on foot to Salem Village and take the Floo Network, while upperclassmen who have earned their Apparition license may take a much more direct route.