Every year our year 8 Geographers take a full day to “junk model” sustainable cities out of recycled material. It raises awareness into how much of our day-to-day items are sent to recycling, and teaches students about the five key aspects of sustainable city design: waste management, energy, food production, green spaces and transport.

Students spent a day being decision-makers, applying their powerful geographical knowledge to make decisions which would impact the quality of the life of their residents in their city. The results were fantastic, and students had a wonderful day!

Jessica K said that the best part was “deciding all of the things I could put in the city, like a Tescos and a bookshop”, and Isla R said that the best part was “creating the city with all my friends, (and winning!)”. Students had to collaborate to decide what to include, much like a real-life governmental situation. Each class had a team who won, and well done to Eliana M, Emily W, Seren W and Emily N whose city is featured here!

After learning about the Holocaust this term in History, Year 8 students were privileged to be visited by a speaker from the Holocaust Educational Trust. Due to the Holocaust being around eighty years ago, we are not able to hear from survivors any more. However, a new generation of speakers are now sharing the stories of their families. On Tuesday Susan Bermange, daughter of Holocaust survivor Berek Obuchowski shared her story.  

Berek was eleven when the Nazis invaded Ozorkow Poland in 1939. Almost immediately, many of his family were selected and sent to Chelmo extermination camp. Berek and his sister were sent to Lodz ghetto where he spent three and half years. He was then transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau where he was separated from his sister; he never saw her again. After a few months he was sent on a death march towards Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. He stayed here until its liberation on 20th April 1945.  As he was now an orphan he was selected to come to Britain and stay at a rehabilitation centre in Windermere. After 3 months he left the camp finally settling in London. Where he met his wife and had 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Berek was significantly involved in Holocaust Education. With him sharing his testimony in schools and  other organisations across the UK for several years.  Susan has now taken over his legacy and we are the first group to hear her speak.

Students found the whole experience thought-provoking and when asked for feedback here are some of the things they wrote. 

Why is it still important for us to hear survivors’ stories ?

• It’s important for younger generations to know about these horrific events

• I think it’s important because it helps us hear about the real experiences of survivors and creates a real life link to the subject 

Why is learning about the Holocaust still relevant today?

• Because it was one of the most important events in history and affected the entire world.

• because it’s very significant and is MASS GENOCIDE

How has the experience of hearing from a survivor family helped you to learn more about the Holocaust?

• It helped me understand a more in depth someone’s experiences

• It tells us in the full truth of the working conditions and how they lived of the bare minimum to survive and they needed miracles to get out of there alive

What are you going to tell others about what you heard today?

• I’m going to tell them how the Holocaust was and how people survived 

• I’m going to tell others how horrible the experience was

Why is it important to tell others?

• So they can learn about it and so the stories are never forgotten 

• Because we should tell the story of people, and how they have lived and survived and even died  so their legacy lives on.