Feb 10, 2023
The challenge and merit system recognizes contributions to learning and School life, particularly work undertaken beyond ordinary course requirements.
The challenge and merit system recognizes contributions to learning and School life, particularly work undertaken beyond ordinary course requirements. Apprentices and Magisters may earn merits for their Lodge through approved activities, achievements, and challenges. The system also recognizes specified academic accomplishments. Its purpose is to encourage pupils to apply their learning, develop their abilities, and contribute to their communities.
The Lodge Champion Boon
Every Apprentice and Magister receives the Lodge Champion Boon on their first login to the School website each term. The Boon is initially active for fourteen days. While it remains active, an essay returned with a grade of 95% or higher earns one merit for the pupil's Lodge, subject to the Lodge award effects described below.
Each essay submission resets the countdown to fourteen days from that submission. If fourteen days pass without a submission, the Boon expires. Once expired, it can only be restored through the Lodge Prefect. A Prefect may provide a free reset under the Lumos Award conditions, or perform a paid reset at a cost of fifty demerits.
Regular submission therefore helps maintain the Boon, while the merit itself depends on the assessed quality of the essay. Pupils should plan their study around sound work and steady progress, with the Lodge benefit accompanying that effort.
Lodge awards and their effects
Lodge awards recognize collective achievement and meaningful participation across the School. All Lodge awards are granted through the shared judgment of the Headmaster and the Master of Pupils, taking account of the context, the Lodge's work, and the wider School community.
The Lodge Cup
Earning the Lodge Cup extends the Lodge Champion Boon by one additional week for every member of the winning Lodge. The extension applies across the Lodge population and is added to the currently active Boon duration. This carries the benefit of the Lodge's achievement into its members' continuing study.
The Lumos Award
The Lumos Award allows the Lodge Prefect to provide a free Lodge Champion Boon reset on a per-member basis. It gives the Prefect a means of helping an individual member renew their participation after the Boon has expired.
The Lumos requirements are:
The Prefect must have access to Second Life.
The Prefect must hold at least one Lodge meeting each month.
The Lodge must provide three distinct presenters at each Moot.
At least four distinct Lodge members must participate in at least one Lodge challenge during the term.
The Lodge should collectively earn at least ninety academic credits during the term.
The Lodge must have a Berserker team.
Lodge challenges must be posted each month.
The Prefect must complete the Leadership class.
At least three Lodge members must earn merits from the List of Common Merits.
The Prefect must maintain the Champion Boon throughout the term.
The Wizard's Cap
At the officially recognized midpoint of the term, the Lodge holding the Wizard's Cap receives a full refresh of all active Lodge Champion Boons within that Lodge. Following the refresh, the Lodge receives a limited-time enhancement during which the 95% Boon threshold awards two merits instead of one.
This Lodge benefit operates at the term's midpoint, providing renewed support for the Lodge's academic participation. It does not change the separate individual recognition described elsewhere in the Handbook.
The Berserker Trophy
A Lodge that earns the Berserker Trophy receives two Boon merits for each essay meeting the 95% threshold for the remainder of that academic term. The benefit continues through the term unless replaced by subsequent governance action.
Combining award benefits
Lodge award benefits are designed to stack when a Lodge holds more than one award at the same time. Their effects combine to recognize concurrent achievements.
For example, a Lodge holding the Cup, Lumos Award, and Berserker Trophy may have an extended Boon duration, enhanced merit awards, and the ability for its Prefect to provide free individual resets. If it also holds the Wizard's Cap at mid-term, it receives the Lodge-wide refresh and temporary enhancement in addition to those existing benefits. These combined effects recognize coordinated work across several areas of Lodge life.
Types of challenges
Individual and Lodge challenges
The List of Common Merits below identifies activities that an individual pupil may complete. Prefects also post regular Lodge challenges on the Lodge forum or website space. A Prefect should post no more than four challenges, or four merits' worth of challenges, per month for the Lodge.
Most challenges should be worth one merit. An occasional more demanding challenge may be worth more. Wherever possible, the work should ask pupils to undertake, reflect on, and report an experience. A challenge should give the pupil something meaningful to practise or examine.
Published term Lodge Challenges
The four term opportunities described in Lodge Challenges are a separate published programme for shared Perk Points. Accepted work earns the source Merit Challenge's individual merits, while reaching its target of different accepted contributors grants one shared Perk Point once. These term slots are distinct from the Prefect's regular challenges and monthly guidance above.
Department challenges
Faculty may authorize departmental Merit Challenges within the established guidelines. These challenges concern a department's field and are offered to the whole pupil body. The established rotating schedule of School-wide departmental challenges provides regular opportunities from different departments.
A departmental challenge should normally be worth one or two merits. Faculty may delegate the work of preparing or administering a challenge to a teacher or teaching assistant within the department, within the established arrangements. Additional departmental challenges may be offered beyond the rotating schedule, but are not required.
Open challenges
Any Faculty member or the Captain may post an open challenge in the all-Lodge Commons forum. One or two challenges per month is a reasonable frequency, and each should be worth no more than one or two merits.
A flash challenge ends when the first person answers it. The preferred arrangement allows any number of Apprentices or Magisters to respond before a stated closing date and time, giving more pupils an opportunity to participate.
Club and group challenges
A club's Faculty adviser or officers may post challenges for its members. Each should be worth one or two merits, with no more than one or two challenges per month as a general guide. Challenges should remain an occasional part of club life. The club's primary work should continue to serve the purpose for which it was formed.
Mega challenges
A Faculty member or the Captain may propose a large team challenge. These require substantial work, normally occur only a few times each year, and are often associated with an event or theme. They are posted in the School-wide challenge forum and operate within a defined period.
All mega challenges require advance approval from the Master of Pupils. The proposal must explain the tasks, opening and closing dates, scoring method, and other arrangements. These details must also accompany the published challenge. As a guideline, the award should generally not exceed ten merits for each team member.
Award timing and authority
Faculty members, Captains, and Prefects may award merits to Apprentices and Magisters within the applicable rules. Unless a particular entry below provides an exception, activities worth one or two merits may be recognized by Apprentice Leadership or Faculty; awards of three or more merits may be made only by Faculty.
Individual awards exceeding twenty merits may not be posted during the two weeks before the spring or autumnal equinox without express permission from the Provost or Headmaster. A large award may not be divided into smaller awards to avoid this restriction. No Apprentice should have their Apprentice membership revoked during that period, as doing so artificially inflates overall Lodge standings.
Faculty, Captains, and Prefects must post merits promptly after they are earned, rather than holding them for a later mass posting. Questions about these timing rules should be referred to the Master of Pupils.
Demerits
Members of Administration may issue demerits for School conduct. A demerit removes merits from the individual's Lodge and is a punitive measure to be used sparingly, particularly where lesser measures have failed to resolve the matter.
Conduct that may lead to demerits includes failure to follow Handbook rules, conduct unbecoming of a pupil, disturbing the peace, refusal to follow instructions, and failure to fulfil one's responsibilities. Within the School's disciplinary measures, demerits are more serious than a verbal or written reprimand and less serious than suspension or expulsion. Refer questions about this policy to the Master of Pupils.
List of Common Merits
Each entry states its value, evidence, and any special limits or awarding authority. Where an entry requires advance approval, seek that approval before beginning the activity. The general award-authority rules above apply unless the entry names a specific exception.
Significant character, conscience, or ethics: 1–2 merits. The action must be substantial and worthy of recognition. Routine help such as carrying groceries does not qualify; standing up for someone in a difficult situation or undertaking a sustained campaign may do so. Only Faculty may make this award. Evidence is required, ideally from a witness.
Sharing magickal work with friends or family: 1 merit. The event must involve substantial preparation, at least a couple of hours of activity, and learning. Advance approval and a summary report are required. The Prefect may award this once per term.
First aid, safety, swimming, or martial arts qualification: 2 merits. Qualifying achievements include passing a Red Cross First Aid, CPR, swimming, or lifesaving course, or passing a martial arts rank. Provide proof and post an account of the achievement in the Lodge forum. The Prefect may award this once per term.
Submitting creative work to a magickal market: 1 merit. Provide proof of submission. This may be awarded twice per term.
Creating a magickal tool: 2 merits. Provide a 250-word report and at least one image. Work completed as part of a Grey School class does not qualify. This may be awarded once per term.
Creating magickal garb: 2 merits. Provide a 250-word report and at least one image. The Prefect may award this once per term.
Publication in Grey Matters: 3 merits. This recognizes a piece published in the School's publication.
Publication in a non-GSW magazine: 3 merits. The creative work must concern an aspect of Wizardry. Provide proof of publication.
Creating a large magickal project: 4 merits. Examples include a labyrinth, medicine wheel, or magickal garden. Provide a detailed report and photographic evidence. The merit award varies with the project's complexity. The Prefect may make this award once per term.
A perfect final examination result: 1 merit. This recognizes a score of 100% on a final examination or its equivalent.
Reading a book: 2 merits. The book must be new to the reader and may be fiction or nonfiction. Post a 250-word report in the Lodge forum, addressing both the book's content and what the reader learned from it.
An extracurricular honor: 2 merits. The achievement must bring credit to the Lodge, such as another school's honor roll, success in sport, or another secular honor. This may be awarded once per term in each category, such as once for sport and once for an honor roll.
Helping to plan or host a magickal ritual: 1 merit. Provide a 250-word report and evidence of resulting magickal growth. This may be awarded twice per term.
Participating in a magickal group ritual: 2 merits. Provide a 250-word report. A personal ritual may qualify with the Prefect's advance approval if it is a special undertaking rather than routine daily practice. This may be awarded once per term.
Visiting a sacred site within the home state or province: 4 merits. The site may be historical or contemporary. Provide a 150-word report and at least one photograph. The Prefect may award this once per term.
Attending an outside magickal class, program, or workshop: 5 merits. The activity must be outside regular online Grey School classes. Provide a 250-word summary for each class attended.
Presenting a magickal class, program, workshop, or ritual: 3 merits. Provide the complete ritual or class outline as evidence. The Prefect may award this once per term.
Maintaining three months of daily magickal practice: 4 merits. Obtain advance approval for the plan from both the Lodge Prefect and the Captain. Practice must take place on at least six days of each week. Keep a daily journal or log and provide a final summary report. The Captain may award this once per term.
Attending a magickal festival: 2 merits. Provide a 100-word report. This may be awarded once per term.
Completing a relevant course at another school: 3 merits. The course must have strong relevance to Grey School study, such as Mythology, Latin, or Folklore. Provide evidence of a passing grade of C or higher and a 100-word forum report. The Captain may award this once per term.
A month of outside study or discipline: 3 merits. Obtain the Captain's advance approval for the plan. Provide a 200-word report and verification from the teacher or mentor. The Captain may award this once per term.
Completing a certification or credential: 10 merits. The achievement must be completed while enrolled at the Grey School. Examples include an initiation, Reiki attunement, educational degree, or trade certificate. Post a 250-word report in the Lodge forum and provide verification from the awarding teacher, mentor, school, or other authority. The Captain may award this once for each certificate or credential.
Visiting a sacred or historically interesting site outside the home state or province: 3 merits. Post a 250-word report and at least one photograph in the Lodge forum. The Prefect may make this award.
Visiting a sacred or historically interesting site outside the country: 5 merits. Provide a 500-word report and at least three images. The Captain may award this once per term.
Lodge spirit: 1 merit. This may recognize an activity, accomplishment, or attitude. Only the Captain may make the award and must explain why it was given.
Recruiting an Apprentice or Magister: 5 merits. The recruited person must actually enroll, pay tuition, and enter the School. The Head of Lodges may make this award.
Serving as a club president: 1 merit. Service must be active and consistent throughout one term.
Completing a Lodge project: 2 merits. Develop, lead, and successfully complete a project involving at least two other Lodge members. Obtain the Prefect's advance approval and provide documentation of the completed work. The project must be separate from one completed for Lumos or another regular School activity.
A significant role at an in-person School gathering: 2 merits. The Captain may award this twice per term.
Community service: 5 merits. Undertake a substantial service project involving at least four hours of activity. Provide a 250-word report and verification. The service must be independent of tasks or events used for Grey School classes, the Earth Day Challenge, or another School award, and must be undertaken for its own sake. The Captain may award this once per term.
Participating in another culture's festival: 2 merits. Provide a 250-word report. This may be awarded once per term.
Helping to organize a festival or other major event: 1 merit. Provide a 100-word report.
Creating an educational video: 3 merits. The video must be at least five minutes long and either presented to a group or uploaded to the internet. Provide a 250-word report and access to the presentation. Psyche members require parental permission. The Captain, Head of Lodges, Prefect, or Master of Pupils may award this twice per term.
Participating in a magickal group ritual at a vGSW Moot: 1 merit. The Captain or Vice-Captain must approve the award. Up to two awards may be earned per Moot.
Attending a magickal class or workshop at a Moot: 1 merit. Up to three awards may be earned per Moot.
Helping to organize a vGSW Moot: 1–2 merits. A supporting role earns one merit; a main organizer earns two merits.
Planning or co-planning a vGSW Moot ritual: 2 merits. Present the outline to both the Captain and the Head of Lodges in advance. One award may be earned per Moot. A planner may not also claim participation merits for the same ritual.
Presenting a class or workshop at a vGSW Moot: 2 merits. Present the class or outline to the Captain and the Master of Pupils in advance. Up to two awards may be earned per Moot.
Conclave merits
The following awards apply to Conclave participation. A pupil who attends more than one Conclave in a year may claim the eligible awards separately for each Conclave. All Conclave merits must be awarded by the Wizard in Charge, or WiC.
Participating in a magickal group ritual: 5 merits. The WiC's approval is required. Up to two awards may be earned per Conclave.
Attending a magickal class or workshop: 5 merits. Up to five awards may be earned per Conclave, whether the classes take place on one day or across several days.
Helping to organize the Conclave: 1–2 merits. A supporting role earns one merit; the main organizer or Wizard in Charge earns two merits. The WiC's approval is required.
Planning or co-planning a ritual: 5 merits. Present the outline to the WiC or Conclave organizer in advance. One award may be earned per Conclave, and the planner may not also claim participation merits for that ritual.
Presenting a magickal class or workshop: 5 merits. Present the class or outline to the WiC or Conclave organizer in advance. Up to two awards may be earned per Conclave.
Participating in an in-person Grey School overnight event: 6 merits. This is awarded by the WiC under the Conclave arrangements.
Other connected Lodge study benefits
The Guild Tower shared-study merit can add one Lodge merit to qualifying work submitted through GSW Mobile with current Guild check-ins. Its submission and assessment requirements apply separately from the Champion Boon.
Scholarly Distinction can award one weekly Tower Charge for an ordinary essay graded 100% while the benefit is active. It does not require the Champion Boon and does not replace the Boon's merit rules. Perk Points, Tower Charges, merits, and personal Campus Standing remain separate records.