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."
With files from CTV Atlantic
