Pupils learnt about the historical settlement of Jewish communities in Slovenia and how the Holocaust destroyed over 90% of Slovenia’s Jewish population. Pupils researched the accounts of citizens of their hometown who had helped save Jewish children during this time, including Zora Piculin, a nanny who successfully hid and cared for a young Jewish boy for the duration of the war.

Pupils learnt about historic individuals who showed immense courage and compassion through their actions, and discussed how they could express their feelings to these people through symbolic acts. They learned how to express their own feelings too and why they believe it is important for us all to keep these stories alive in our memory.

Pupils of all ages took part in various activities. They read Holocaust literature and factual accounts of courage and compassion and wrote poems in response. They wrote letters of remembrance to children caught up in the atrocities of the Holocaust and made paper lanterns to create a classroom memorial. They also planted yellow crocus bulbs in memory of all children killed during the Holocaust.

After taking part in the various activities, students came together to create paper doves and flowers and discussed why it is important to keep these stories alive in our memory and how we can show compassion in today’s world. The school has made a commitment to run similar activities every year on Holocaust Remembrance Day.