Locals cross Platform 93/4 into amazing ‘Hogwarts in Caledon’

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

The Hogwarts Express made a stop in Caledon on Saturday (Oct. 26) to bring Harry Potter fans together at Kings College School. 

For the second year, Kings College School hosted a Hogwarts event for all the fans of the seven-book series, written by J.K Rowling, to attend. The event was organized by the Parent Association, as well as student and parent volunteers. 

“When I first came here to look at the school for my daughter, immediately I thought ‘this is like Hogwarts!' It's very English, dark and gloomy looking. So, when we were looking for fundraising initiatives I thought you know what, why don't we do something along the lines of doing a Hogwarts in Caledon,” says Georgina Cerisano, President of the Parents Association. “And that's how the thought came to be.”

The school was transformed head to toe into the style of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including several wizardry classrooms like potions, magic wand making, herbology, sending letters to Harry through magic mail and it even had its very own Chamber of Secrets. Teachers dressed up as Hogwarts professors for the event, such as chemistry and physics teacher Robert Mitchner, playing the powerful role of Albus Dumbledore and Barbara Lord herself as Professor Minerva McGonagall, who sorted Hogwarts students into their Houses. 

The Hogwarts in Caledon was introduced last year with the theme from the first Harry Potter book, the Philosophers Stone. 

“We did more potions, and of course the sorting, that kind of stuff. From last year, it evolved to take things outside. Last year we had a mystery room and this year we have a scavenger hunt and we're allowing people to explore the entire grounds of Kings College,” explains Cerisano. “Every year we're hoping to progress in terms of the movies.

Mrs. Barbara Lord and Mr. John Eta founded Kings College School in 1993 in hopes to provide high achievement education for dedicated students. For 25 years, Kings College School has been an educational facility for students to not only achieve academically, but in life skills as well. The school only holds up to 50 students at a time, which allows for more personalized and focused relationships with students, facility and the parents. 

“We start in grade three and go all the way to Grade 12. We are university preparatory school, and basically what that means is that we will work with our children and give them the appropriate tools that they need for the next step after school, which is university,” says Sandra Donovan, Director of Admissions. “Academically we challenge our children, we also work with them socially and emotionally, and we work with them to develop their leadership skills so when they leave Kings they are a well-rounded person.”

Kings College School is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. 

“We function as a family, so the students, the teachers, and the families all have to work together in order for the children to succeed. This our 25th anniversary!” remarks Donovan. “This is the second year that they have put this event together. It was their way of showcasing the school and bringing the community together. We find that Caledon and Bolton and surrounding areas is a very unique area, and we just wanted to bring the entire community together and we thought Hogwarts would be a great way to do that.”