News from Lockerbie Academy - Thursday 24 September 2009

“Lessons from Auschwitz “ Project

On the 15th of September Hayley Jardine and I represented Lockerbie Academy at the yearly “Lessons from Auschwitz” trip to Poland. This is a trip funded by the Holocaust Education Trust to allow as many pupils as possible to experience the horrors of the Holocaust. As the bus approached the main entrance, a little after midday we were struck by a contrast between the bleak , red brick buildings of Auschwitz, and the crowds of tourists from all over the world, queuing up to enter. They didn’t seem to belong here, but then, nobody really does. We, as day-trippers, walked voluntarily through the gates of Auschwitz, underneath the sign that says “ Arbeit Macht Frei “ or “ work will set you free” , but most of the millions of prisoners who made this journey in war time never knew freedom again. We spent some time trying to grasp what everyday life was like for prisoners , viewing a selection of blocks where they had lived, worked and died . We saw a variety of personal effects – from false legs and glasses, to human hair and a single tiny mitten , torn and faded, which moved many to tears. At nearby Auschwitz – Birkenau, the ruins of the gas chambers, which the Nazis tried to destroy still remain as a testament of the millions who died here.

As night fell, we each lit a candle of remembrance. Walking back down the railway that brought so many to their deaths, I felt oppressed by the sheer scale of the atrocity that had happen here, and saddened for the wasted lives whose legacy is still ,and always will be, with us all.

Kate Shenton S6

Amy Kirk – Prospective Candidate for Scottish Youth Parliament

My name is Ami Kirk, aged 15 and I am hoping to become the next member of the Scottish Youth Parliament on behalf of Dumfries and Galloway. I am hoping to be elected as I think I will make a good youth MSP as I am committed and would like to make young peoples lives better by finding out what ways they believe will work to help change the perceived bad image of young people and getting them to relate to how they can help their lives by getting their opinions heard. I think I would be good at representing them.

I think you should support me as I am different. I am interesting and not afraid to say what I feel to get a point across. I wish to try to help raise awareness of the youth parliament as I believe this will therefore help improve lives as more will be achieved as more suggestions can be made.

Young people of Dumfries and Galloway will be able to vote from the 2 – 13 November. Your support for me will be appreciated.

S6 Yearbook Committee

This year’s S6 Yearbook Committee has been set up and will follow the style of the last few years using The Homework Diary Company to professionally produce their book. This years group meet on a Monday and the team comprises of:

Members of the Committee will be contacting local business for advertisements, but if any local business would like a half or full page advert please contact Mr Ferrie, Depute Rector (Senior) at school.

Fishing Club

The Fly fishing club runs Tuesday after school in room A203. There will be a 5 week introduction to basic fly fishing to cover casting knots and flies. Regardless of weather the 5 week course will run on a Tuesday after school. Those who attend will be invited on a fishing trip in October. There is no need to buy any fishing tackle as the school will provide rods, reels and lines. There is no charge to attend the course.

This course is ideal for those who want to try fly-fishing to see if they like it before parting with any money. On completion of the course a certificate of competence will be awarded to those who have attended.

German Student

Hello, my name is Boris Jankowski. I am a student at the University of Duisburg-Essen. I live in Essen and I am on a placement as a language assistant.

Essen is the 8th largest town in Germany and has a population of 579,759. In my free time I like to do sports like boxing, inline-skating and jogging. I also like to draw, go to concerts and spend time with my friends.

I am working at Lockerbie Academy two days a week and the other three days I am at Langholm Academy. I am working with pupils who are studying German helping them to improve their spoken language skills. I find the pupils very polite and friendly and I am enjoying working with them. I intend to become a teacher in a vocational school in my home area.

Dates for the Diary