Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is an important occasion to remember and reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust and the lessons it teaches us about prejudice, discrimination and the need for tolerance in society. At Habs Girls’ School we marked this significant day with a thought-provoking student-led assembly centred around this year’s theme – For a Better Future.

The assembly provided a powerful platform for students to engage with history in a personal and meaningful way. Through the sharing of personal accounts and family stories, students demonstrated the enduring relevance of Holocaust remembrance in current times. Their words served as a stern reminder that memory is not just about recalling the past but about informing the present and shaping the future.

The power of learning to shape the future

During the assembly, Tamara (L6 MO) reinforced the power of education and learning about the past to shape the future:

“One of the best ways in which we can take action for a better future is through learning. Whilst racism and hatred don’t always lead to atrocities like the holocaust, they often lay the foundations for it. Building upon centuries of antisemitism, the persecution of Jewish people in the Holocaust began in 1933 when the Nazis came to power, with the Nuremburg laws passed in 1935 denying the rights of citizenship to anyone who was Jewish within Germany. We must learn from these events about the dangers of discrimination in order to create a better tomorrow.”

These words resonate strongly with the theme this year. Remembering the past is not just about solemn reflection – it is about ensuring that we are learning from their suffering to build a more inclusive future.

The student voice representatives from each year group also lit a memorial candle, followed by a minute’s silence to pay respects.

The Jewish Society (JSoc), then continued the opportunity for students to learn, share experiences and feelings by hosting a lunchtime session. Anyone could attend to share their thoughts, or simply listen to expand their understanding and knowledge, providing a safe space for students to connect, contributing to that all important better future.

The testimony of a Holocaust Survivor 

We were honoured to welcome Holocaust survivor, Hedi Argent MBE, to our school. Hedi’s testimony gave students an invaluable first-hand perspective on the atrocities of the Holocaust and reinforced the importance of remembrance.

One particularly striking part of her talk was a visualisation of the six million Jewish men, women and children who perished in the Holocaust. Hedi asked the audience to stand and explained that if we were to hold a minute’s silence for every victim, we would have to stand in silence for eleven years and four months. This powerful moment reinforced the unimaginable scale of the atrocity.

Hedi also emphasised that genocides do not begin with concentration camps but with words, names and divisions that fuel discrimination and ostracisation. Her message is just as relevant today as it was eighty years ago, reminding us of our duty to challenge prejudice wherever it appears.

Through Hedi’s testimony, we are encouraged to face the truth of history rather than turn away in shame. Our generation has the responsibility to ensure these stories are never forgotten, so that no one can deny what happened, and history never repeats itself.

At Habs Girls’ School, Holocaust Memorial Day was not just a moment of remembrance but a reaffirmation of our commitment to inclusivity, empathy and education. As we move forward, we carry with us the stories of those who suffered and perished ensuring that their memory fuels our efforts in shaping a better future for everyone.

Senior school assembly
Candles lit by student voice representatives from different year groups
Habs Girls and Boys joint JSOC gathering
Hedi Argent - Holocaust Survivor
Hedi Argent - Holocaust Survivor