Helping students find magic in the everyday.
The Silverthorn School of Magic is a magical, UU curriculum for elementary and middle school youth, that was created by Cynthia initially based on a program created by the Rev. Alice Anacheka-Nasemann at the Unitarian Church of Marlboro and Hudson. It has grown to become an imaginative and immersive experience that creates a whole magical universe for students to explore, play and grow in. Inspired by the Harry Potter stories, kids get to look at the world through the lens of magic and possibility.
You can find out more about how Silverthorn will be integrated into the 2022 – 23 church year on our 2022 – 23 Curriculum Page.
Scroll down to see the Silverthorn Houses.
Curriculum Focus
- Helping students explore their spiritual beings, along with their potential for resiliency and compassion.
- Exploring and learning about the magic of the natural world.
- Learning how Unitarian Universalists bring their own magic into the world.
The Silverthorn School is similar in structure to other magical schools like Hogwarts but with one important difference. Silverthorn blends practical magic with the magic of Unitarian Universalism to create a school that helps students prepare for the challenges of the modern world mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Silverthorn Coursework:
Students will study a variety of courses during their time at Silverthorn, including:
Charms
Herbology
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Potions
Divination
Care of Magical Creatures
History of Silverthorn
The Silverthorn School (its full name is the Chapin-Silverthorn School but the Chapin is often omitted – see below) was jointly founded by prominent Unitarian educator, school founder, and Minister Augusta Jane Chapin (1863 – 1905) and magical educator Tilda Silverthorn of the Ilvermorny School of Magic. Due to the International Statute of Secrecy (1692), designed to keep the magical world separate and hidden from the non-magical world, Augusta Jane Chapin’s work within the magical world had to go completely unknown to the muggle community. Finally, now in the 21st Century, Silverthorn believes the world to have progressed enough to make public the magical work of Unitarian Universalism.
The Silverthorn Houses
Like other schools, Silverthorn sorts its students into one of four Houses, although in Silverthorn the houses are named for prominent Unitarian Universalists:
Ballou House
Named for Hosea Ballou (1771 – 1852) a founding Universalist Preacher. The house colors are purple and white, its mascot is a unicorn and the house virtues are kindness and love.
Brown House
Named for Olympia Brown (1835 – 1926), the first ordained woman in the US. House colors are red and gold, its mascot is a phoenix and the house virtues are persistence and determination.
Collymore House
Named for Errold Collymore (1892 – 1972), a prominent New York civil rights activist. House colors are orange and green, its mascot is a dragon, and the house virtue is courage.
Potter House
Named for Beatrix Potter (1866 – 1943), naturalist and children’s author. House colors are blue and yellow, its mascot is a hippogriff and the house virtues are imagination and creativity.
