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Holocaust Memorial Day
Miss Shah writes;
Over the last few days, two assemblies have been delivered to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme for this year's HMD is 'Ordinary People'.
"Ordinary people were involved in all aspects of the Holocaust, Nazi persecution of other groups, and in the genocides that took place in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur. Ordinary people were perpetrators, bystanders, rescuers, witnesses – and ordinary people were victims."
Today myself and and our Anne Frank Ambassadors explained the Holocaust and gave examples of ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things.
Anne Frank
Safia talked about Anne Frank and how she lived for 2 years hidden away in Amsterdam during the Holocaust with her family, only to be captured and taken to Auschwitz where she eventually died.
Mabel and Isobel talked about their trip to Amsterdam with the Anne Frank Trust and their experience of the house where Anne Frank lived during the Holocaust. They also spoke of the memorial wall they saw which is a constant reminder of the pain and suffering ordinary people endured.
Miep Gies
The students went on to talk about Miep Gies, an ordinary person who chose to hide the Frank family and others from the Nazis, knowing the danger she was putting herself in. When the Nazi eventually captured them, Miep Gies hid Anne’s diary in the hope she would be able to return it to her. Miep gave Otto Frank (Anne’s father) the diary which he then decided to share with the world.
Arek Hersh
The group went on to talk about Holocaust survivor Arek Hersh who we are privileged to know in school. Arek and his wife Jean are still making a huge impact on so many people all around the world telling his story and sharing their message of kindness and respect for others.
Yesterday, Arek Jean and their daughter met the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Arek was presented with a Points of Light award which recognises outstanding individual volunteers and people who are making a change in their community.
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Thank you to Edie Stanek, Ashleigh Orchard, Jasmine Ingham, Rosemary Gore, Isabelle Woods, Safiyah Khan, Sara Sharif, Isabelle Oates, Emma Wilkins and Mabel Wilson for their contributions to the assemblies. You are a credit to Bingley Grammar School.
