On Tuesday 27th January, I accompanied a group of Year 9 students to attend Croydon’s annual Holocaust Memorial Ceremony, held in the Council Chambers at Croydon Town Hall. (The ceremony included the Croydon Pledge, candle lighting, a speech from the Executive Mayor, presentations from local schools, musical performances, keynote speakers, the formal signing of the Book of Remembrance, and the announcement of the winners of the SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) schools’ competition).
All of the students who attended had entered the competition, and several pieces of their work were displayed at the Town Hall. I am very proud to share that Maddison was the overall borough winner. Maddison wrote a beautiful and thoughtful poem inspired by the theme ‘Bridging Generations’, focusing on the importance of remembrance and ensuring that the stories of survivors continue to be shared. This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme serves as a powerful reminder that the responsibility of remembrance lives on through future generations and through all of us.
On Wednesday 28th January, our Year 9 students also attended a special Holocaust assembly. Calum Isaacs, from the organisation Generation 2 Generation, visited Woodcote to share his grandmother’s personal story of the Holocaust. His talk provided a powerful and moving insight into this important period of history. The students were fully engaged throughout and conducted themselves with great respect. It was clear how impactful Calum’s talk was, and it proved to be a valuable and memorable experience for everyone involved.
Mrs Litchmore, Head of RE
