BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Trolls, fairies and elves took over the woods outside Hopkinton Independent School in celebration of winter.

On Feb. 16, the school hosted its winter carnival, and because this year’s subject is international studies, middle school students decided to focus on Nordic folk culture.

Middle school students at Hopkinton Independent School are encouraged to participate in community service projects, said Cathy Chesley, the head of the school.

“Their goal is to sponsor an event twice a year, at least once for the general public. The purpose is to get children outdoors and having fun, especially in the winter,”  said Chesley.

“We feel it is very important to let kids see how much fun they can have outside. “It’s also a good opportunity for kids to learn and exhibit proactive leadership skills such as planning and organizing – it’s sort of a creative enterprise for them.”

Included in the festivities were a troll shop that sold charms and petrified tree cookies, a troll booth, fortune telling, a troll house with juice and cookies, and a campfire for telling tall tales.

Some students even sculpted a giant dog out of snow to represent Mei Mei, teacher Marek Bennett’s canine, who often visits the school.