This term, students are developing an understanding of the role of victims, bystanders and collaborators by exploring and responding to the events of the Holocaust. Our first weeks have seen students learn more about how the Jewish people were treated during this period of World War II. As we travel further through the unit, students will examine the story from a number of Holocaust survivors and experience signs of courage and hope that were present in this horrific event. Our assessment instrument this term is a persuasive essay and time will be spent consolidating each student’s writing skills with this type of task.

We are also spending time engaging with the Prayer of St Francis. Each lesson we consider how this prayer connects with what we have discovered in our study of the Holocaust.

The Prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.