Harry Potter-themed event also includes art auction for hurricane victims
The Maes family poses for a photo shoot at this year’s Harry Potter-themed Schoolarama at Dolores Elementary School.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Elementary school physical education teacher Brooke Elder became “Harriet Potter” for the Schoolarama.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
The hallways at Dolores Elementary received a magical transformation, including the appearance of Platform 9 3/4.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Some literary hallway decor at the Dolores Elementary Schoolarama.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Kindergarten teachers Kristin Pejsa, left, and Lisa Mummery teamed up for a potions-making activity at the Schoolarama.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Kindergarten teacher Lisa Mummery guides students in making “veritaserum” and “Polyjuice Potion.”
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Each classroom also collectively made a piece of artwork to be auctioned off in support of an elementary school impacted by Hurricane Michael.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Art teacher Kevin Vaughn melts some crayons to create impressionistic artwork in the style of Leonid Afremov.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Student artwork being auctioned off at the Dolores Elementary Schoolarama.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
The school’s gymnasium turned into the Hogwarts Great Hall, with families eating barbecue at house-themed tables.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Kyndal and Ayden Winter get crafty making Hufflepuff-themed bracelets.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Keely Ficsher helps Brinlee and Bodie Fischer make miniature flying broomsticks out of corncobs and craft sticks in a third-grade room.
Erika Alvero/The Journal
Witches, warlocks and Muggles united at Dolores Elementary School Thursday night for the annual “Schoolarama.”
The event – as you might guess – was Harry Potter-themed, and allowed families to mingle with teachers, children and parents while partaking in “magical” activities.
“It’s about community engagement,” said elementary Principal Gary Livick.
Each year, the Schoolarama has a different theme, from superheroes to Dr. Seuss. They alternate between more academic-oriented years and more strictly “fun” events, Livick said – this was a fun-focused year.
Parents and students snaked through the elementary school, making potions with the kindergarten teachers, flying mini-broomsticks out of corn cobs and sticks in the third-grade room, and writing poetry using words drawn from the Sorting Hat in the second grade classroom.
“It’s really exciting because we get so many families,” said kindergarten teacher Kristin Pejsa. She and her partner teacher, Lisa Mummery, guided visitors through a potions-making activity after conducting a trial run with their kindergarten students.
Each class also collectively created a piece of artwork that was up for auction, with proceeds going to support Southport Elementary School in Panama City, Florida, which was impacted by Hurricane Michael this fall. The artwork included a variety of mediums, ranging from photography to painting to crayon pieces.
In total, the Dolores school community raised just over $1,100 to support the Florida elementary school, both through the art auction and through donations collected at the event’s photo booth.
