Harry Potter Fans With No Life

Josh Elliott, CTVNews.ca
Published Wednesday, January 21, 2015 8:42AM EST
Last Updated Wednesday, January 21, 2015 2:26PM EST


Call it the Riverview Middle School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Students and teachers at a Riverview, N.B. school have transformed their halls, their cafeteria and their curriculum in tribute to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the 'Harry Potter' series of books and movies.

Teachers dress like wizards, students play 'magic' games, and everyone gathers in the cafeteria at lunch under Hogwarts’ house banners.

It's all part of a one-week themed makeover based on the wildly popular series of books and films.

Riverview Middle School also captured plenty of Internet attention this week, with a photo of the cafeteria that went viral on the link-sharing site Reddit. The cafeteria attempts to recreate the iconic dining hall from the films, complete with banners in the rafters, a series of long tables for the students, and another long table perched on the stage for teachers.

"Staff turned my local middle school into Hogwarts for the week," says the caption on the photo, which was posted on Monday and had more than 1.5 million views by Wednesday morning.

Teacher Armand Doucet said the 'Harry Potter' theme was an obvious choice to get everyone at the school excited and involved.

"It's the number one best-selling book of all-time," Doucet told CTV Atlantic. "It's an easy one that the parents know, the children know, so it's an exciting book for us to be able to bring into all the classes."

Teachers at the school have found inventive ways to work 'Harry Potter' into their lessons this week. Doucet, for instance, had children dissect owl pellets in class.

Student Emily Green says she's noticed an obvious change in the students since the Harry Potter week began.

"People are excited to be here, they're excited to learn. The teachers are excited," she said.

Mother Christine McCarthy says she's keen for her child to be a part of it.

"This is amazing for her to be able to do this," McCarthy said. "Her older sisters are so jealous."

Students will get another taste of the Harry Potter magic on Friday, when actress Ellie Darcey-Alden joins them to talk about Harry Potter via Skype. Darcey-Alden played a young version of Harry Potter's mother, Lily, in a flashback in the last film, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II.'

"I think it inspires the students to work harder because of the motivation and the fun in the week," said student Jude Taylor Bourque. "Harry Potter in school just goes together really well because it makes it really fun."


Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/harry-pott ... z3PW4YzOjM

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Too cool!
I wonder if they allow non-students, or give tours.

Nice to see our bespectacled friend isn't being forgotten.
Hope they will be posting additional pictures.

Thanks, Howler.

The video was way cool ... and the one girl (possibly Hermione in disguise) spoke more maturely than most adults do (holy crap). Unless it was a very short teacher ??

And they get to video chat with an actor from the movie ... awesome!
I also hope there are more photos!

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I too picked up upon her behaving more like 38, than 8.

yup - well said - 8 going on 38

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Is she your next PM, Howler?

It just may be in her future ... sounds like she could control a country.

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I'm thinking that a Harry Potter fan, could count on your vote.

LOL - probably!
I would have to find out who her favorite character is before voting though.
I think she may have Hermione or McGonagall as her fav's right now, but what happens if she becomes like a death eater in the future ... (yes, I do over think everything)

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