SCHOOL’S HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL EVENTS

Joanna visited the school to give a talk to year 10 History students and post 16 Philosophy and Ethics students. Students sat and listened as she outlined her life story; how she was captured with her family how she survived the camp, as well as explaining what happened in her life next as an orphan flown over to Britain in 1945 in a bomber aircraft. Students also got an opportunity to ask her questions about her life, her faith and her views on the world today. One said, “It’s hard to put into words what it felt like listening to Joanna. She didn’t seem to have any drama about her, her account was factual and clear but the content was so shocking. To be potentially the last generation to be able to hear from a survivor is significant as well. It’s us that need to continue the story.”

On Friday 27 January pupils from the school participated in a Holocaust Memorial Day service in Wimborne Minster. The service featured music composed by Ruth Fazal. Ruth wrote this music in response to artwork, poetry and stories from survivors of the Ghetto in Terezin. 15,000 children passed through the gates of Terezin Ghetto in Czechoslovakia. Of these only 100 survived. Ruth had kindly visited QE the day before the service. Speaking to pupils from years 9 and 10 proved a valuable insight into the life of a professional composer.

During the service six candles were lit in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the holocaust. The first candle was lit by Erica Prean who came to England with the Kinderstransport and the fifth, representing youth, was lit by the head boy at QE.

The QE Trio, Eilisa Love (voice) Samuel Josephs (violin) and Jonathan Scouse (piano), then gave a moving performance of ‘Dos Elnte Kind – The Lonely Child’ a lullaby composed by Yankly Krikski in the Vilna Ghetto (Lithuania) arranged by B Jose. The song describes the child ‘Sorele’ looking for her mother.

The service was brought to a close with the Year 9 Chorus performing Isaiah 55:12 ‘You Shall Go Out With Joy’.