Holocaust Memorial Day

Posted at 1:19 pm on 1st February, 2018

Wellacre commemorates nationwide Holocaust Memorial event 

On Saturday 27th January the nation commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD), the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

At Wellacre, in the days leading up to the anniversary, all form tutors delivered a session on the theme of THE POWER OF WORDS.  This  theme asked students to think about how words have been used for good, and for evil. Students discussed ‘What power do our words have?’ and they considered how they can support people in our society today and use the power of our words for good.

The students reflected on previous learning on the Holocaust from both their History and English lessons, as well as from past assemblies and guest speakers. They all heard and reflected on the life story of Holocaust survivor Henry Wermuth as well as  the poem ‘Butterfly written by Pavel Friedmanin the Theresienstadt concentration camp on 4 June 1942. On September 29, 1944 he was deported to Auschwitz where he died.

Year 9 have been studying the Holocaust in History lessons over the previous few weeks. This curriculum content is designed to coincide with the HMD. They study reasons for antisemitism pre-dating Nazi Germany, the growth of persecution through the Nazi era, life in the ghettos and the ‘Final Solution’. In the coming weeks, we will study liberation, and compare the Holocaust to modern genocides, reflecting on lessons to be learned as human beings across the globe.

Mrs O’Neil, Leader of Humanities, said:

“Year 9 will continue work in lessons, which will link to HMD and there will be additional enrichment work around the Holocaust with Year 7 and 10 Subject Leaders.  This is a sensitive but important topic for our students about prejudice and persecution, so commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day in tutor groups encouraged open reflection and discussion.”