Star pupils stand against prejudice and hatred on Holocaust Memorial Day
Across the country, 20,000 pupils in Star schools paid tribute to the millions of people across the globe who have lost their lives to genocide.
Pupils took part in commemorative lessons and activities to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which is honoured every year on 27th January to encourage people to learn lessons from the past and take steps to challenge hatred and persecution.
The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day was ‘Light the Darkness’. Households across the UK have been encouraged to show their support by placing lit candles in their windows to remember and reflect upon the lives of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, all victims of Nazi Persecution and those who have been murdered in subsequent genocides.
Pupils in Star schools took part in special ceremonies, recited poetry and heard powerful stories from genocide survivors.
Pupils from Eden Girls’ School, Waltham Forest feature in a new film – produced by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust – to demonstrate how Holocaust Memorial Day is marked by communities across the UK. The film – which can be viewed here – includes footage of Bosnian genocide survivor, Smajo Beso, speaking to pupils at the school about his experience of genocide as an eight-year-old child. In the film, pupils from the London school tell viewers how Smajo’s harrowing personal story helped them to connect their learning and deepen their understanding of genocide and its impact worldwide. The film highlights the range and diversity of the thousands of activities taking place around the country each year for Holocaust Memorial Day.
Junior pupils from High Crags Primary Leadership Academy in Shipley used a beautiful picture book, Erika’s Story by Ruth Vander Zee, to learn more about the Holocaust. The book uses poignant and moving illustrations to tell one woman’s account of the tragedy of the Holocaust.
Pupils from Small Heath Leadership Academy in Birmingham held a dedicated ‘memorial’ week in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day. Throughout the commemorative week, pupils reflected on the important messages and lessons to be learnt from the Holocaust. They have written moving messages of hope and shared their reflections on the atrocities of genocide by hanging Holocaust Memorial Day notes on the school’s wish trees.
Pupils from Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham and Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham East took part in an online event, which was delivered by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Pupils heard Holocaust Survivor Eva Clarke’s harrowing story of persecution and learnt about the lasting impact this dark time in human history has had.
Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE, Chief Executive of Star Academies, said:
“Holocaust Memorial Day is a key date in our school calendar where we encourage remembrance and reflection in a world scarred by genocide. Our pupils are involved in a range of thought-provoking activities to learn more about the past and are encouraged to take action to create a safer, brighter future. By honouring the survivors and never forgetting the atrocities across the world we will learn more, empathise more and do more to ensure history does not repeat itself.”
Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 27th Jan 2022 | Posted In: Latest News