The National Holocaust Centre and Museum
As part of our WWII work, we had the privilege of visiting The National Holocaust Centre and Museum. We had the opportunity to experience what life was like for Leo Stein, who was a Jewish boy during this period of History. We embarked on a journey of his life, showing where he lived with his family and also the impact the German’s had on his life, his family, their business and how he eventually became an evacuee.
During the visit the pupils met a survivor of the war. Joan Salter is a child survivor of the Holocaust. Born Fanny Zimetbaum in Brussels on 15 February 1940 to Polish Jewish parents, she was three months old when Belgium was invaded by the Nazis.
She shared with us her account and experience during the war and how she came to have 2 families. An American mother and father, who fostered her after she was moved to an orphanage in the USA. As well as the pressures of being reunited with her birth parents.
Pupils also had the opportunity to ask questions.
The upper school teaching team were incredibly impressed with the way the Year 5 and 6 pupils conducted themselves throughout the day. Their super behaviour, respect for their learning environment and thoughtful question was noted. It was a pleasure to have taken them.
The team who worked with us on the day were equally impressed and I’m delighted to show below the email they sent to Mr Robertson. Well done Year 5 & 6, you have really done us proud!
Dear Mr Robertson,
I am writing to thank you for enabling the visit of your year five and six pupils to the National Holocaust Centre and Museum to take place on the 24th June. Their learning in the Journey exhibition was conducted by myself and my colleague Linda, and we were both highly impressed with their superb approach to the day. The fantastic ideas of the students, their level of knowledge and their excellent questions all contributed to a highly thought-provoking and reflective session. The willingness of the pupils to engage with questions of identity, respect and care for others- and their maturity in addressing these difficult issues, was also excellent. There were outstanding individual ideas and questions raised and the willingness of all the pupils to contribute clearly and confidently to ensure that they learned as much as they possibly could from the day, was absolutely fantastic.
Please accept my thanks again for enabling such a wonderful visit to take place.
With very best wishes,
Louise Stafford
The National Holocaust Centre and Museum.
