Getting Enrolled
The majority of students at the school range in age from 13 to 18, with some outliers being as young as 9-10 or as old as 19-20, depending on academic and personal needs. NO ONE simply applies to Xavier Academy. Everyone who attends here is specifically invited by the staff of the school, after careful consideration. No one is ever forcefully enrolled here, and no one is ever 'sentenced' to come here by any court of law. (It is possible that someone could arrange to have attendance at the school count as an outpatient treatment facility on a probation system, but that would be a special circumstance and should be cleared with GAME staff AND school staff BEFORE ever being RPed.)
The staff of the school, through contacts of their own and utilizing those established by Xavier, keep their 'ears to the ground' for metahuman kids. This can include gleaning things from blog and vlog posts, crowdsourced videos, police reports, news stories, and even Cerebro scans, and putting them together into a picture that indicates the possibility of a young person with metahuman abilities. Certain other students may be referred directly to the school's staff for evaluation via allies and contacts of the school, including various heroes (Power Woman and Moon Maiden, Batman and a few other Justice League members have RPed things relating to this, and others are possibilities), politicians and figures of influence around the world.
Once a potential student has come to the school's attention, they investigate the student's situation as thoroughly as they are able, using every resource at their disposal. Their immediate and primary concern is the student's safety: if he or she is in a dangerous living situation - abusive, lacking proper food and home care, etc. If the student is deemed to be at-risk (see above), then the school will immediately step in, offering the student a safe place to get away from that situation. This will generally be a safehouse, not connected in any legal or physical way with the school. Only once the student's safety can be assured will the rest of the process commence.
The investigation will be very thorough, and some might call it invasive. It will include detailed background checks, medical tests, interviews, and telepathic scans. If the information is out there to be found, generally it should be assumed that they will find it. This information will be kept strictly confidential; it is gathered to help best evaluate the possibilities for the student and the safety of the school.
If a student can be shown to pose at least minimal threat or risk to other students, and it is believed the school's environment can prove a benefit to the potential student's development, then an offer is made. The potential student's parents or guardians will be involved in this process, but only if they are not a threat to the potential student's safety. If so, other arrangements can and will be made. The student's will is paramount: NO STUDENT WILL EVER BE FORCED INTO THE PROGRAM. So too, if the student wants this, the disapproval of parents or guardians will generally not be allowed to get in the way. It is the student's future, after all.
School Year
The Academy is a year-round school, with the new academy years beginning at the start of September every year. There is no months-long summer vacation for the Academy. Instead, the school has many more holidays, and longer breaks, throughout the year. Even so, the academic year of the Academy is 30 days longer than the state-mandated minimum of 180 days. Winter Break is 6 weeks (roughly the start of December until mid-January). Spring Break is 2 weeks (somewhere in mid- to late-April). A fall break of 2 weeks occurs in late October. And a Summer Break of 4 weeks occurs in late June through July. New students, when possible, start orientation in August, with a month to take preparatory classes and get settled in before the new academic school year begins in September.
School Uniforms
Xavier Academy requires students to wear school uniforms at all times while in classes, or while attending school functions including extracurriculars, though exceptions of various forms are made for those deemed to be 'athletic' events; generally, other uniforms are required at those events. Students are welcome to wear what they wish - within reason - outside of these times, though most generally simply relax the uniform standards.
The school uniform consists of a white button-down shirt or blouse (short or long-sleeve), black blazer with the school's X crest on the left breast pocket, and black slacks for gentlemen, black slacks or black skirts for ladies. Skirts should generally conform to a rule of no more than two inches above the knee, though in practice anything that does not violate the 'finger length' rule is accepted enough that no formal reprimands or requirements to change will be enforced. Black socks are worn, unless black or nude (of a shade appropriate to the wearer's natural pigmentation) hose are chosen, and black loafers or pumps with no more than a one inch heel. Ties are required, though silk scarves in appropriate colors are permitted in lieu, either red with gold, or gold with black or red. Guidelines for jewelry and makeup are minimal, simply requiring 'reasonable good taste which is not distracting to good order and discipline.'
Off Campus Policies
All students in good academic and disciplinary standing are permitted to leave campus at any time, so long as they do not miss classes and assigned study sessions. Shuttle services are provided to reach Salem Center, and trains are available there to reach New York City, meaning most students can reach NYC within an hour of leaving campus if needed. All students must be back on campus no later than 11:30pm. Those encountering problems are required to call in - cell phones are provided for this purpose on an as-needed basis - and immediate dispatch will be sent to bring said errant students home. Those failing to be back by curfew will face a disciplinary review proceeding to determine if further action is warranted, which can include temporary suspension of off-campus privileges. Students are strongly encouraged to travel in groups, or at least pairs, but this is not a requirement.
Academics
The academic programs at Xavier Academy are - frankly - second to none; they are amongst the best in the country, if not the world, for high school curriculuum. Students receive highly individualized instruction, addressing specific weaknesses and interests, while not only meeting but exceeding the highest standards for each grade. The school is fully accredited, so its coursework meets the most rigorous standards and is received favorably even at world-class institutions such as Harvard and Oxford, just to name a few.
Languages
The Academy requires every student to complete coursework and tests proving basic competentcy in English, and a second language. For some, this means learning English as a new language. For others, this means learning a second language. But everyone must meet this requirement. One-on-one tutoring sessions are available.
Technology and the Classroom
The Academy makes use of the most advanced instructional aid technologies in the world. Every student is issued a top of the line StarkPad, connected to the school's secured and safety-monitored wireless networks, with apps and software customized to assist each student in approaching his or her coursework and overcoming specific challenges or handicaps, including but not limited to linguistic challenges, degrees of autism, and forms of dyslexia. In general, the courses are taught on a level usually associated with advanced ollegiate coursework: it's not about memorization (unless it really is about that), but instead about synthesizing answers when all of the note materials are freely available (open book, open notes, open internet).
All students are also provided with a school account on their servers, including 10tb of data storage, 2tb of email storage, and assured automated and encrypted backups. It should be noted that students are NOT assured of their privacy: the school administration clearly and explicitly reserves the right to examine any and all data and activity on their networks and attached devices for the good of the school and its student body. However, that information is assured not to be passed to anyone outside school staff.
Physical Education and Powers
All students - without exception - take a course every semester of every year they are in attendance at the Academy that qualifies as a physical education credit. This can be simple 'group gym,' and that is especially encouraged for students who do better in social settings. But individualized coursework is encouraged and provided, including studies in martial arts, swimming, wilderness exploration, hang gliding, dance and more.
In addition, every student - also without exception - has one course every semester of every year in Powers. Most students actually end up taking two courses: one in study, and another in application. (Coursework, and actual use and control.) These courses usually start out with the study courses being open, group courses to give every student exposure to a wide array of information and knowledge to help guide and shape their future thought, while application courses start out individualized, focused around understanding and control of one's basic abilities. Over time, the movement is generally towards individualized instruction in coursework, and towards group instruction in application, enabling students to actually witness and experience the powers of others to aid in their understanding. Note that this is NOT combat training to create future superheroes. This IS, however, training to assure students who leave the school have largely mastered at least the control and understanding of their abilities, and have a good groundwork for future development and an understanding of what they can do with these powers while fitting in with society at large - the very cornerstone of the school's mission statement.
Part and parcel of the applications courses will be work in a huge, cavernous chamber beneath the school grounds - easily the size of two football fields in total area, and with at least a 50 foot ceiling - affectionately called the Danger Room. The advanced technologies of this room - including non-hard-light holograms and visual projections, robotic stand-ins, and a wide array of robotic attachments - assure that this is a safe place for the practice and application of the powers of the student body. That training does include self-defense training, which also includes the use of one's powers, and defense of oneself without powers, either because the powers could fail, or because their use could threaten one's ability to maintain one's ability to blend in constructively to the world outside the school.
The current head of this 'special' branch of physical education is Professor Masters, aka Taskmaster.
Secrecy
And now, a few words about secrecy and Xavier's school. There are some questions that come up invariably on any game where Xavier's is on-grid and active as a school. These questions will be addressed below, to the best of my ability.
Who knows about the school?
Current and former students and staff of the school, as approved by membership in the +Team, or by elements of their approved game backgrounds and traits, know about the nature of the school. Certain particular major heroes and figures in the metahuman community know about the school (examples would currently include Power Woman, Moon Maiden, Batman, and possible some other members of the Justice League). And certain key figures in the DEO and other particular federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies know. This information is NOT open knowledge, even in organizations like the CIA or the FBI, or even the DEO, though one imagines it might be a tad more widespread in the leadership of the DEO than other organizations, given their mandate. THAT IS IT. No one else knows. They may come to know via RP. But we will be doing our best to keep that to a minimum.
Can I tell 'X' about the school?
The answer: No. You may not tell someone about the school, without prior explicit approval from myself or a member of game staff. You cannot tell them that another student or a member of school staff is a metahman. You cannot tell them that the school teaches metahumans. You cannot tell them that the school is a safe place for metahumans. You can tell anyone you like what school you attend - that is a matter of public record. But you cannot tell anyone that Xavier's as a school has anything to do with metahumans. (If you want to tell them that you are a metahuman, that's your choice and your problem. If you tell them that the school is about metahumans, that's my problem, and I erase memories and control minds. Think about it.) Failure to abide by this rule will result in my having to appeal to staff for retcons or the right to violate strict consent in order to erase memories to protect the school. I don't want to do that. Don't make me.
Can I invite 'X' / bring 'X' by the school?
The answer: No. You cannot bring someone to the school without prior explicit approval from myself or a member of game staff. The school has a very liberal policy for off-campus visitation. And if necessary, off-campus safehouses can be ICly arranged on an as-needed basis. You cannot reveal to them that the school or anyone connected with the school arranged for any such safehouse, or medical attention or whatever else is required. But we can and will provide it if asked. That means that you need to @mail me, so that I have a record of the request and can RP accordingly.
Can I recruit 'X' to the school?
The answer: To an extent, yes. If your character meets someone, gets to know them, and believes they would benefit from the school, they are welcome - in fact, encouraged - to pass that information along to school staff. (That means @mail me.) The current and former students and staff certainly qualify as contacts and associates of the school, under the recruitment guidelines in the appropriate bbpost. After that recommendation, school staff will thoroughly investigate the character in question, just as described. If they are deemed suitable, RP will procede and they will be offered a place in the school. But again, all knowledge of the school they obtain will only happen when the school staff deems it appropriate. And be forewarned: your recommendation DOES NOT assure that they will get in. Nevertheless, any such request made ICly will be responded to ICly. No one will simply be ignored.
The Ultimates is a special, secret project which is not general knowledge around the school. The team is comprised of select individuals deemed appropriate in skills, powers, mentality and willingness, assembled by Headmistress Frost and with Fairchild as faculty advisor and team field leader, with the express stated purpose of protecting the school, its students, and other metahuman children from the use and abuse by those who would dare, anywhere around the world. It is expected and deemed likely that the members of this squad may operate at times for other purposes, as each has been specifically selected because he or she has a tendency to 'get involved' in such matters in the world outside the school. It is expected that the Ultimates will operate with as much secrecy as possible, to protect the secrets of the school, and even of the existence of the team.
OOC: As an example of what is intended here, consider the Ultimates a bit less canon X-Men, and a bit more WildCATs. What they do, where they go, who they fight, when where and how they fight are secrets that basically no one should know, for the protection of everyone involved. This doesn't mean that no one can ever know about the team. Certainly, there will be those around campus at Xavier's who will know, or at least suspect. And there will be those the team encounters outside of the school, on missions, who will know some group exists. But they cannot ever know the group's connection to the school, or any individual member's connection to the school.
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