There’s Magic in the Air at Carver: The Henrico School’s Pupils Get Some Harry Potter-Like Lessons in Wizard School
By Holly Prestidge, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Jan. 31–One week it’s muggle dueling. The next, it’s the care of magical creatures.
If true life mimics fiction, Henrico County’s Carver Elementary School is the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Throughout the school year, students in one of the school’s enrichment programs — called Wizard School — have been exposed to enchanting activities.
First, they mixed potions (oil, water and food coloring), got a taste of muggle dueling (fencing), and next week will learn how to care for magical creatures (a veterinarian will visit the school bringing wildlife, such as a wolf and a snake.)
Carla Weller is a Carver parent and a teachers’ assistant for students in the English-as-a-Second-Language program at Carver and Maybeury Elementary School.
Although she didn’t come up with the idea for the Wizard School, she expanded it somewhat when she started working at Carver.
She looked the part last week, wearing a hooded black cape, as she led the children into the multipurpose room to learn about muggle dueling.
Jeff Snider, head coach at the Richmond Fencing Club, and Tom Lucente, also a coach, were on hand to provide a fencing lesson.
“I’ve never been called a dueler,” Snider said before spending an hour going over the various swords, clothing and movements required in fencing.
Then, the children had an opportunity to test their skills on a dummy. And a brave Lucente.
“It’s really fun, but it’s tiring, though,” said Ryan Noe, 10, a fifth-grader, adding that the footwork — retreating, advancing and lunging — are the hardest parts.
But another fifth-grader, Shane Dip, said “retreating and lunging were the easiest for me.”
Alex Fodor, a second-grader, waited in line to practice on Lucente, who was wearing full fencing gear. He said the best part of the day was attacking the dummy.
“This guy moves,” Fodor said, referring to Lucente. “The dummy just sits there.”
The enrichment program is one hour once a week.
Weller said she enjoys adding special activities into the mix.
“I’m a crafty person,” she said, adding that the kids enjoy it “because it’s all hands-on.”
Contact staff writer Holly Prestidge at hprestidge@timesdispatch.com or (804) 649-6945.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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