The purpose of Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under the Nazi persecution of other groups and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

Students are being encouraged to participate in HMD via a range of ways. Last week the History Department led a whole school assembly about the meaning of Holocaust Memorial Day; the Library has created a Holocaust Memorial Reading List and Reading Corner of fiction and non-fiction books and Year 7 students have been reading Friedrich by Hans Richter in their English lessons. 

Much is learnt about the Holocaust through the testimonies of survivors, and students have been learning about Leon Greenman, a British citizen and Holocaust survivor who became an important Civil Rights Activist following his release from Auschwitz. Students are able to enter the UCL Art Competition based around the theme of ‘One Day’ which changed Leon Greenman’s life. Our Year 9s will be learning more about Leon during their History lessons and in addition to this, the History Department have created a Leon 111 ‘One Day in the future Tree of Hope Display’ in our school Reception. This display and activity encourages students, parents and governors to learn about Leon Greenman and write messages of hope for a future with more toleration and inclusivity. The aim is to have 111 tags displayed on the tree to represent what would have been Leon Greenman’s 111th birthday this year.