Riverview Middle School transforms into Harry Potter school

An unusual cast of characters were at Riverview Middle School Monday, but anyone familiar with the Harry Potter series of books would have recognized the faces.

Students and teachers put in months of works to transform the cafeteria and classrooms into one of fictions most well-known schools, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Erin Whelan is a Grade 8 studentwho was in over the weekend to help out. When she saw the cafeteria, she was thoroughly impressed.

I was just like, this is amazing. I didnt think it was going to go this far, she said.

One hundred volunteers worked over the weekend to make the magic happen.

Headmaster Dumbledore, a teacher known as Armand Doucet on most days, has been planning the transformation since October.

Not a detail was missed in the cafeteria. There were 250 candles lighting the ceiling and there were even gargoyles and candelabras, as well as portals installed in every washroom.

And at the end of the night we thought to ourselves, We hope theyll love it because we saw it and it looked brilliant, said Doucet.

The students were not disappointed.

To see them come in and just their faces lit up and how excited they were this morning, gave us the energy necessary to carry on this week, said Doucet.

While the exercise is certainly getting kids excited about going to school, they are learning New Brunswick curriculum, so students are learning.

Students will be taking part in Harry Potter games and events throughout the week.