In Year 4, we have been learning about Jewish children who either escaped to Britain with their parents before the outbreak of World War Two, or who sought and found refuge here as part of the Kindertransport scheme.  We’ve also worked hard to understand how minorities can be persecuted for being different, and how this can cause individuals to become refugees and separated from the people or places that they love.  Through listening to the story of 88 year old Holocaust survivor, Ruth Rogoff, we learnt something of RESILIENCE and POSITIVITY needed to overcome such events.

 

 

We are so proud of Year 4 – not only did they write so eloquently to Ruth via The Holocaust Exhibition and Learning Centre, but they have received a reply from her.  And she then really enjoyed seeing a screenshot of them hearing her response in the follow-up lesson:

‘I thank you from the bottom of my heart for telling us your life story, so that we can learn never to be intolerant and bully people who are different’ – Alba, 4C

‘I am very proud of my country because it is often seen as a safe place for refugees’ – Zara, 4E

‘I think that it is very important for refugees to share their stories, so that we can understand what really happened in the past’  – Eva, 4E

 

 

‘I can’t tell you how moved I am with the empathy these children have shown… I am also very impressed with the way they write and their command of language at what is a very early age… (You) have every reason to be proud of England and the generous and kind country it is to all who find sanctuary within its boundaries… Not only are you – my darling girls – caring and clever, you are also beautiful. I shall treasure this photo and look forward to meeting you all. Life has been very hard for children for nearly a year and I pay real tribute to your wonderful parents who have helped and supported you. Lockdown is not natural, because we love to be together with other people… You have to believe that this experience, horrible though it is, will make us all stronger and we will now appreciate the blessing we have in our families and teachers. Your teachers also need special praise because digital teaching is so hard and there was no real warning or special preparation for them – I think your teachers have been heroic. Keep reading and dreaming of wonderful things. Very soon, when you are older, you will be able to experience the magic of travel and the wonders of an amazing world.’ – Ruth Rogoff, Israel