Commemorating the Holocaust | Streatham & Clapham High School

Commemorating the Holocaust

3 February 2023
Steve Tanner

SCHS girls took part in a range of memorial and learning events in the week leading up to Holocaust Memorial Day. They attended a special talk with a genocide survivor, visited the Imperial War Museum’s new exhibition and performed a concert at Lambeth’s Memorial Service.

GUEST SPEAKER: DR AGNUS GRUNWALD-SPIER

Author, speaker, Holocaust survivor and GDST alumna, Dr Agnus MBE, visited the Senior School to speak to all pupils on Holocaust Memorial Day.

‘It was a moving insight into her family’s
experiences regarding the Holocaust’
Matilda (U5)
Dr Grunwald-Spier joined Sutton High School GDST at the age of 11. She is a founder trustee of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and holds two honorary doctorates. She has written three books including The Other Schindlers and Who Betrayed the Jews?

Her latest book is about the experiences of women in the Holocaust.

‘It was interesting to note that she focused just as much on her
current family. Particularly, how [having a family] was only made
possible by a pivotal moment when a Turkish official decided to
show compassion for mothers with children.’
Robyn (U5)
Jemima, Izy, Zoe, & Martina (L6) with Dr Grunwald-Spier
As well as speaking with the entire Senior School – watched also by Sutton High Sixth Formers via a video link – Dr Grunwald-Spier joined some of our U5 and Sixth Formers for an informal discussion over coffee.

UPPER FOURTH REFLECT ON IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM’S HOLOCAUST EXHIBITION

We asked our girls what impact the exhibition had on them.

‘It was interesting to learn about Jewish life was before the war,
and how quickly it escalated from segregation to genocide. I
think it’s important to learn about the holocaust and the horrifying
experience. It teaches people the impacts of racism so we
can have a safer future.’
Sarah U4
‘There were clips form a movie showing what
went on in a concentration camp and all of
the horrors, and I think that that was a good
thing to know about since you know how bad
it was but you just realise extent that it can go to.’
Percy U4

SCHS STRING QUARTET ASKED TO PLAY IN COUNCIL MEMORIAL SERVICE

Ella Coen (Graduate Music Fellow), Maddy (U4), Adrianna (L6), Ashali (L6)
On Sunday 22 January the SCHS String Quartet played at a special service hosted by Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Pauline George. The Mayor lit the memorial candle whilst Joan Salter MBE, child survivor and Holocaust educator, gave the keynote speech.

The quartet, made up of two Sixth Formers, an Upper 4th girl, and our Graduate Music Fellow, Miss Ella Coen, played Bordodin’s Second Quartet, Movement One.

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