Our core values - most notably compassion, justice and wisdom - came to the fore when a very special Holocaust Assembly, organised by our Year 9 students who have been studying this important and tragic episode in World History.

We were privileged to welcome three guests, Mrs Crower-Smith and Mr Mike Febrey who accompanied his brother, Mr Donald Febrey, our guest of honour. Mr Donald Febrey was a member of the medical corps who liberated Bergen Belsen Concentration camp in April 1945.

Observing the way in which our Year 9 students bore witness to the atrocities and the sensitive, respectful way they conducted themselves throughout the entire memorial assembly was possibly the proudest moment of my teaching career and certainly one which I will never forget. As our visitor observed "This was one of the most moving, appropriate and inspirational service I have ever had the privilege of attending. What fine people. What a wonderful school. What blessed hope for our future. We are safe in their hands". We are indeed. (Written by Headteacher Mrs Hollinghurst in the Summer Newsletter)

YEAR 9 ASSEMBLY - Introduction by: Lily and Tom (10 mins)

Lily –   77 years ago today the Nazi Party became the absolute power in Germany and the fate of European Jewry was sealed.  Today we have gathered to remember the victims of the Holocaust, and to bear European Jewry was sealed. Today we have gathered to remember the victims of the Holocaust, and to bear witness that their             memories will never be forgotten.

Tom –   For the past six months we have all participated in the writing of the names of 11,000 child victims of the Holocaust.  This was just 0.01% of the 11.5 million victims that perished in the in the death camps of Europe.  We have recognised the lives lost and have come to understand how so many can be reduced to so little. By burning their names, we will understand how the ashes of so many can be so small.  But we will also be showing that they will never be forgotten.  We know their names now, and   we shall bear witness to the lives they did not get to live.

Lily -     We have all chosen to express our knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust in different ways, and using creative mediums that have allowed us to express our thoughts on this horrific event. Students have created scrap books, shoe boxes, art work, poetry and PowerPoint’s.

            Here are some examples of your work:
                            
            Poem… Read by Ed ‘Auschwitz Rose’
            Reading and Poems... Read by Cheyenne and Megan ‘Holocaust’
            Poem…Read by Ellie
            Poem….Lawrence and Lily ‘Lest we forget’
            Art Work Speech…Lily
            Poem,,, Tom
            Speech…Mrs Smith

All to file out onto hard courts, representatives from each form to bringforward all the stones, paper etc

to be put with names or in cot.

Speech…given by Lily about the significance of the 63 second silence
            Mrs Hurst lights names – silence immediately after      
            Ellie… “This is for all the lives lost”
            Lily… “This is for all the families that never existed”
            Tom… “This is for the brave soldiers who liberated the camps”
            Ed… “This is for all the paramedic and medical teams”
            Lily…”This is for the memories that will be at the forefront of our minds for eternity