Rural Alabama School Gets Visit from Fantastic Beasts Cast and Warner Bros Cash

[Coldmute]

Cast of 'Fantastic Beasts' visits school in Cullman County

Parkside made national headlines after teachers Jacy Douglas, Tracey Jones, and Karen Moon decorated the 7th and 8th grade hallway and classrooms to resemble Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series.

Cast members Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Zoe Kravitz, Ezra Miller, and Callum Turner spoke to students and presented a $25k check to the school. Students also received new backpacks full of supplies. Principal Richard Orr says he can't believe it.

Alabama school’s Harry Potter

Each student at the school got a Fantastic Beasts-themed backpack filled with goodies and school supplies.

“It’s exciting enough to be part of a film franchise, a world, that came from these books that really does go around the world. And to be in a situation like this where it’s had a grassroots influence on a community and turning people’s lives around and changing their lives, is incredibly exciting,” Jude Law told reporters before the assembly.

While the decorations certainly make the school day a little more fun and interesting, the school has seen other benefits more important than visual appeal.

English teacher Jacy Douglas said they’ve seen more students become more interested in reading after the middle school hall transformation began last year. Douglas and math teacher Tracey Jones decided last year to decorate their classrooms like Hogwarts.

Miller said other schools should take note.

“It’s time for a bunch more schools to do this,” he said. “Why not cater to children’s interests in the way we educate them. That’s what’s important part about learning is learning to love learning.”

Figured a little heartwarming story that is relatively local to me would be nice in contrast to the typical doom and gloom. Don't care if it's just a promotional stunt, I doubt most of those kids really know or care, this is just exciting for them.

[Ganerumo]

Well ain't that wholesome.