VMC students at the Holocaust Museum.
The Grade 8 IB students from Marymount Academy International, under the leadership of Marie Francis had an enlightening and immersive experience at the Montreal Holocaust Museum Wednesday April 10.
The students started the morning with a guided tour of the permanent exhibition. They asked reflective and thought provoking questions throughout the visit. After, there was time for a quick snack and reflection, before the students went on to their next educational workshop “Life in Hiding”. In this workshop, students discovered Eva Kuper’s story. Eva was born in Warsaw in 1940, shortly after the Nazi invasion of Poland. A few months after her birth, her family was confined to the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw. After her mother was deported, Eva and her father managed to escape from the ghetto. They survived the war in hiding. Through watching a video excerpt of Eva’s testimony and interacting with reproductions of artefacts that belonged to children and teenagers who survived the Holocaust in hiding, students discovered what life was like for them under the Nazi Occupation and reflected on the difficult choices they had to make.
All Grade 8 students at Vincent Massey Collegiate embarked on a historical and Holocaust educational outing organized by Spiritual and Community Animator Veronica D’Agata, in collaboration with teacher Lev Berner.
The students had the opportunity to visit the Montreal Holocaust Museum to learn the history of the Holocaust, all while reflecting on the destruction caused by prejudice, racism, and antisemitism. In addition to exploring the permanent exhibit, students participated in a workshop called “Life in Hiding”, where they discovered Eva Kuper’s story. It was a very moving and inspiring visit. The students also visited the Pointe à Callière museum to discover the history of Montreal and its birthplace, Fort Ville-Marie, as they encountered ruins and artifacts left behind by various peoples who have occupied the site over the years.
Overall, it was a very interesting and interactive experience.
