This year we were fortunate enough to mark the 80th Holocaust Memorial Day with the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) on 27th January. 

15 students were invited to join the AJR for a tree planting ceremony in Hyde Park. This was part of a memorial campaign that has planted 80 trees across the country in memory of the millions persecuted and murdered in the Holocaust.

Halima, one of our Year 9 students that came along, wrote this about her experience.
"Going to the tree planting ceremony on 27th January was an amazing and unforgettable experience as it helped me understand the importance of Holocaust Memorial Day. It was such an interesting day as it helped me become more aware of the lives of people who were affected by the Holocaust.
It was already a privilege to go on this trip and on top of that, I and a few others were chosen to speak with two Holocaust survivors. Eric and Jaques were not in the camps as they were hidden as children but got separated from their families, as their loved ones were sent to the concentration camps. Speaking to these survivors was absolutely fascinating. It was memorable to meet an actual person who has lived and struggled in such a harsh period of time and has sadly been affected by this.
Overall this trip made me realise why Holocaust Memorial Day is important, which is because this day should be a day when people remember the lives lost in these tragedies. It should be a day when people educate themselves on this matter so that history does not repeat itself and so that we as a society can have a more free and hopeful future." - Halima Noukri, Year 9.

It was a rare and wonderful opportunity for our students to be a part of a memorial ceremony where there were survivors present that some of our students were able to talk to. 

Alongside this, we had a Year 8 assembly with Dr Bea Lewkowicz from the AJR. She explained how she has been working closely with Holocaust survivors to record their stories and create an archive of refugee voices. Students heard about members of her family, as well as stories of survivors, and had the opportunity to ask questions. We are grateful for her time, which really opened students’ eyes to different ways the Holocaust impacted individuals.

Ms Swain, Teacher of Humanities and Transition Coordinator