Something weird and wonderful happened on the first day of archery class. Some of the teenage girls at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School arrived with copies of the book “The Hunger Games’’ in their hands. “And I’m like, ‘Oh you read about Katniss and how she’s good with the bow and arrow? “ says high school archery instructor Caitlyn Germain, referring to the courageous heroine of the blockbuster book and movie. The teacher was thrilled. It was a bulls-eye for gender equality. “Based on my experiences the girls are just as good if not better than the boys. So it boosts their self esteem and gives them the sense that they can do this,’’ says Germain. “It absolutely empowers them.’’ Proponents of the National Archery in the Schools Program believe that archery can help improve all students’ self-confidence, behavior, focus, and interest in going to school. Archery is currently in vogue. The Hunger Games has been the top-grossing movie for the past three weekends with over $302 million in box office receipts. Archery movies are not new.