Well done to Class 2 Connolly on their work on the American Revolution. Students were divided into groups and then carried out research on George Washington, the First and Second Continental Congress and the American Declaration of Independence. Students then presented their information on a poster and taught the class about what they had discovered. Every member of each group presented a specific section of their project. Some of the facts that were discussed were truly fascinating such as the ideas of the American declaration and how it would go on to inspire movements in France and Ireland, interesting facts about Washington as a child and how he went on to marry one of his close friend’s widow and how America achieved victory over the British. Well done girls!
Transition Year Holocaust Studies
As part of Transition year history students examine the Holocaust and the prejudice and persecution carried out in Nazi Germany 1933-1945. Students examined the three phases of Nazi anti-Semitic policy; humiliation, persecution and extermination through focusing on key events such as Kristallnacht, survivor testimonies such as Tomi Reichental, the persecution of other minority groups and resistance to the Nazi regime. Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on the Sunday nearest to 27 January, the date of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The event cherishes the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust and recalls the millions of innocent Jewish men, women and children and others, who were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis because of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliations or their religious beliefs.
To mark this event this year in St. Mary’s TY students created a noticeboard display and a prayer was said at the beginning of history class on Monday the 30th of January. Holocaust Memorial Day commemorative booklets were also distributed to history students. One of the key messages students were asked to reflect upon was how the Nazi persecution of the Jews was caused by racism, discrimination and hate and how in today’s world we must fight against these ideas. Martin Niemoller’s poem was also read out in class
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
