Students in Digital Audio II and the Digital Audio Practicum arrived for class expecting microphones, mixers, editing software, and the usual mysteries of audio production.
Instead, they found themselves preparing for a much more important question:
Which House do you belong to?
In a ceremony that could only be described as educational, theatrical, and completely magical, Professor Benjamin Griffin introduced a special method for organizing this year’s production teams: the Sorting Hat
One by one, students were called forward, seated in a ceremonial chair, and placed beneath the electronic Sorting Hat. Dramatic music filled the room as the Hat considered each student’s fate before announcing one of four Houses.
Some students were sorted almost instantly.
Others left the Hat apparently struggling with a very difficult decision.
And whenever an unexpected House was announced, the room erupted in laughter and disbelief.
But being sorted was only the beginning.
Before officially joining their new House, students were required to take the House Oath, pledging to respect the microphone, work with their classmates, properly save and back up their audio files, and—perhaps most importantly—never declare, “I lost my audio file,” after spending three hours recording it.
Following the oath, each newly sorted broadcaster received an official Certificate of Sorting from the Ministry of Broadcasting, formally welcoming them into the magical world of audio production.
The certificates featured official Ministry seals, broadcasting crests, magical correspondence, and the signatures of Professor Benjamin Griffin and Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Head of the Ministry of Broadcasting.
Students were told that their House would become much more than a name on a card. Throughout the year, Houses will work together on radio dramas, sports broadcasting, voice acting, podcasts, production projects, and other audio adventures.
The ceremony even included official Ministry correspondence explaining that, after “extensive consultation with the Ministry of Broadcasting,” certain administrative changes might be necessary.
In other words...
The Hat chooses the House.
Professor Griffin chooses the production teams.
Sources close to the Ministry say this arrangement has been carefully designed to preserve the ancient traditions of magical sorting while allowing Professor Griffin to make whatever adjustments are necessary for the educational success of the Academy.
The Digital Audio program is one of the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings exclusively taught at the Killeen ISD Career Center, giving students the opportunity to develop hands-on skills in broadcasting, audio production, voice acting, sports media, storytelling, and other industry-focused areas in a career-centered learning environment.
For now, the Houses have been sorted, the oaths have been sworn, the certificates have been issued, and the microphones are waiting.
The magical broadcasting year has officially begun.