Getting the museum ready for this year's tours

Our museum is off to a good start this year.  We have a small but eager group of students who are working hard on designing three new trees and a traveling exhibit.  Our traveling exhibit focuses on Nazi Propaganda and includes written and pictorial information as well as a special propaganda film made by John Wade.  This film will show students how visual and aural stimulation can influence one's perception when a strong bias is present.
Our first new honour tree of the year is for Henry Meyer.  Henry is originally from Germany and was a child of the Kindertransport.  He will also be speaking about his experience at this year's Yom HaShoah service, April 18, 2012, 7:00PM, Beth Israel Synagogue, Centre Street at Union Street.  We hope to see everyone there.
Our team this year is:  Stephanie Dong, Brittany Evans, Danielle Hartwick, Dietrea Holtz, and John Wade.  They are small but mighty and work extremely hard everyday.  If you are interested in a tour for your class or would like our traveling exhibit to visit your school, please email teacher Pamela Simon at simonp@limestone.on.ca  We look forward to seeing you this year.

John Wade is editing the propaganda film

Brittany Evans is sending invitations to schools

Stephanie Dong and Danielle Hartwick are priming the new trees

Dietrea Holtz is getting the trees ready for colour

The Open House - January 20th, 2011

It all began with a book, Hana's Suitcase. The first time we were read this book was in our Grade 10 History class with Mrs. Simon. We are now in our final year, Grade 12, and our inspiration has not changed. It has grown, like a tree. Like a tree in which we have used to depict the lives of our heroic surivivors.

Treasures and Testimonies first Open House was on January 20th, 2011. It was a huge success. We are extremely thankful to all that attended; whether they be a donor, volunteer, survivor or guest. We were happy to welcome guests like chair of the Limestone District School Board, Helen Chadwick, survivor, Jochebed Katan, Assistant Director and history teacher, Krishna Burra, chair of Limestone Learning Foundation, Phil Perrin, members of B'Nai Brith, Q.E.C.V.I.'s principal, Janet Sanderson,  Everyone was respectful of the delicate subject, the Holocaust. Every guest's attention was extremely appreciated.

The Open House marked the beginning of our memorable museum, however it also marked the end of a wonderful experience for many students in the Treasures and Testimonies program. We hope the we've paved a path for future students of the museum. We will never forget that one person can make a difference.


The students and Mrs. Simon were interviewed by Cogeco television.  Here is the link for the interview:
http://www.tvcogeco.com/kingston/gallery/k-town-source/2479-feature-stories/38559-holocaust-museum

- Brittany Whan-Peters, and the Treasures and Testimonies program

Irene Bessette

     Throughout my 2 years in Mrs.Simon's History classes I have had the privilege to speak on behalf of Irene Bessette. I told many people about Irene's life and her story, it really got to me and felt more like it really happened and its not just another story. I like that even though Irene is in her 80’s, I still can tell her story and express how she felt.

            In grade 10, I just walked into Mrs.Simon's, not knowing anything about the Holocaust. She has inspired me so much. Mrs. Simon taught me about Irene Bessette and our other Holocaust survivours. After this year when I go off to university I want to learn more about the Holocaust and teach others about Irene Bessette and other survivors.

                                                                                                                                            Cassie Allen

Treasures & Testimonies Museum

Being a part of the museum has been great. It has provided me with the information and facts about the Holocaust that I was unsure about. I’ve learned that what we see on t.v. is being showed for a reason, whether it’s to educate us about prejudice in the world, or to manipulate the minds watching it, into thinking certain opinions. Learning that we watch prejudical movies, that aren’t actually teaching us about the topic, has made me aware of the hatred within our world. I’ve realized that these survivors are incredibly strong to have been able to go through such a time and yet live to share it with the rest of the world and tell their personal story of what they went through.


I joined the museum because I like learning about different groups of people and how their lives differ from my own. It’s a nice feeling to know that you’re trying to make a difference in the world and helping to make it a better place for everyone. The students who are a part of the class are really friendly and our teacher is amazingly nice. She’s even invited the entire class to have Hanukkah with her for our first times; we’re excited for it. It’s emotional to hear the incredible stories of the Holocaust survivors who are so fragile now, and what they faced as a young child. It always touches my heart, and because of that, I want to do as much as I can to help get the stories across so people can understand how horrid their experiences really were, even though it’s unimaginable to understand what they went through. The real facts need to be brought to attention.

Throughout  My Years In History
       
It was my grade 10 history class with Ms. Simon that introduced me to the topic of the Holocaust, and the in-depth story of what really happened at that time. It was then that we, as her grade 10 students, started helping out on what past students of Simon’s had created, which is our Holocaust and Genocide Museum: Treasures and Testimonies. To myself as a student of Ms. Simon's, over the years  I have been very intrigued to learn more about the Holocaust, and her classes were the way to learn more. We provided tours for other schools to come in while we presented them with knowledge about the Holocaust as well as the testimonies of the survivors here in Kingston.

I have now been in Ms. Simon’s classes for 3 years, and I have had the honor to speak on behalf of one of the Kingston’s survivors, Marion Meyer. I have done multiple tours, and told many people the story of Marion’s experience during the terrible time of the Holocaust. During this time I have learned a lot about her and her life, and also have heard the stories of the other survivors. I graduate in June 2011. When I graduate, this class and museum will be the main things I miss about my high school experience here at Q.E.  I have Mrs. Simon to thank for opening my eyes to the topic of the Holocaust and educating me on this major point in history, and for the experience of being a docent of Q.E.C.V.I.’s first ever Holocaust Museum.
   
                            Kyle Wilson

Hmm . . . Where to start? My experiences with this museum have been incredible. From feeling a special connection to the museum to taking students on a tour of the museum, I have learned a lot. This museum has helped me be more understanding and accepting of other people and other cultures. It has made me feel more accepting as a person. I have learned not to judge people because of something that other people have said. I have learned to just accept people for whom they are and to be open to new things. I have been able to realize that learning about the museum has helped me teach other people the things I have learned.

When we took my father’s gr.7 class around the museum in 2009, I was able to teach the children about not only the Holocaust but also how to be better people. I achieved this because through their realization of the hatred of humans, they began to understand the impact they have not only on the people around them, but also people they do not know. That was one of the greatest feelings I have ever had because I know that through my personal experiences, I was able to change someone else’s life.

Logan Weaver

The Boy In Striped Pajamas

            The movie, The Boy In Striped Pajamas brings tears to my eyes and chills down my back every time I watch it. This movie really touches me because there is no way I could go through all the things they went through, it would be so much pain. Thinking about how many young children went through this brutal experience. Nobody should ever have to go through anything like this. Yes, life isn’t fair but this is just horrible; what all these great people went through.

            The little boy in the movie who was in the camp was so young that he had no clue why he was actually there. Bruno, the little boy who lived near the camp,  had no idea what was going on, even  though his father was involved in the whole situation. Bruno’s father was putting people into the camp. I could not imagine having to go through this. It would hurt to know that my own father is pretty much killing people just because of their beliefs.

            This movie really touches me and a lot of other people because all these people had to live a horrible, unfair life just because of what they believe in. Everyone has the right to believe everything they want. No one should be judged or put down just because of what they believe in, or how they feel about situations. Just because some people are ‘different’ doesn’t mean they should go through this either. No one deserves to go through all this pain and horrible experience just because of the kind of person they truly are.

                                                                                                                                          Cassie Barcier

Lazlo Kornstein

            When I first was assigned to explain Mr. Kornstein’s tree, I thought that I had to read some information about him. But when I actually met him all my feelings changed. He told me his story and I almost cried. I never knew that one person could go through so much trauma. When I read that he escaped seven times, I thought to myself, how can one man be so brave, to risk his life seven times.

            I feel honoured to have had the oppournity to have met Lazlo Kornstein. Since meeting him, I have a whole new outlook on life.

                                                                                           Tiara Orr

My Connection To Esther’s Tree
        I first felt connected with Esther Lightstone’s tree when I chose to represent her in the museum. I picked her tree specifically because it’s my favorite colour; green. The tree really helps children learn about her story and the Holocaust. The beautifully made tree gives information, as well as displays photographs as well as Esther's personal story.
       When Esther was in hiding from the Nazis, she was forced to hide in the woods. She did not have any shoes and had to wear her father’s boots. She had told herself if she ever survived that she would make sure she always had beautiful shoes. To this day you’ll notice her shoes are amazing all of the time.
       I feel very honored and lucky to learn about Esther’s life and to help carry her story on. It is important to be educated about serious issues that happened in history. All the colourful trees of survivors help show children in a gentle way about prejudice.

- Brittany Amey

“The Butterfly” – My Experience

            “The Butterfly” is a famous poem written by Pavel Friedmann during the Holocaust. Although he was 21 when he composed the poem, it is often associated with childrens' art from that time period. Pavel Friedmann was born on January 7^th, 1921. He was deported to Theresienstadt on April 26^th, 1942, and wrote the poem on June 4^th, 1942 while in the concentration camp. Pavel Friedmann died on September 29^th, 1944 at Auschwitz. He was 23 years old.

            I memorized “The Butterfly” to read to visitors at the “Treasures and Testimonies” museum. My teacher, Mrs. Simon, showed the poem to me. I had never heard it before, but once I saw it, I knew I had to memorize it. It was just so beautiful. I felt I owed it to the young man who wrote the poem. He didn’t get to live his life, but his voice can live on forever.   

 -Erica Bracey