Michael Kelso-Franczak, Lower KS2 Phase Leader & Class Teacher
Having lived in the Netherlands, I was always moved by the sight of schoolchildren from the Arnhem area commemorating the WWII battle that took place on their doorstep by laying flowers on the graves of fallen British and Polish paratroopers every September—thus gaining an appreciation of the scale of sacrifice, which ultimately allowed them to live in peace, freedom, and prosperity.
I felt that adopting a local site of remembrance—the former grave of 5 insurgents of the ‘Parasol’ Scout Battalion, linked to the Warsaw Uprising—would provide our students with a lasting link to the local community and a better understanding of the history of the city in which they live, and the price it paid for wanting to be free.
A short, student-led film, shot to raise awareness of our patronage, has gained significant traction online, with over 3,500 views across our social media platforms. We hope that with community donations and the support of the ISP Changemakers project, we can renew and maintain the memorial site in perpetuity, as well as fund a number of projects within the school linked to the memory of young people who participated in the Warsaw Uprising.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
