NCTS Student of the Month for February 2015 -- Jada Parker

Jada exhibits the IB Learner Profile of Inquiry.  She enjoys exploring new ideas and activities. She approaches each new learning experience with curiosity and inquiry. Jada’s positive approach to learning is appreciated by her peers and teachers.  

 

NCTS Student of the Month for January 2015 -- Leah Lott

Leah exhibits the IB Learner Profile of Open-Minded.  She understands and appreciates the perspectives, values, and traditions of other individuals and communities.  Leah seeks and evaluates a range of points of view, and is willing to grow from the experience.

 

70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz

Seventy years ago today, Auschwitz, the largest concentration camp and killing center of the Holocaust, was liberated by Soviet troops.  Responsible for the deaths of over 1.1 million people, Auschwitz spanned over many camps, including Auschwitz I (main camp), Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the reception center) and Auschwitz III-Buna/Monowitz (forced labor camp).  Because of its size and destruction, Auschwitz became a symbol of the Holocaust.  For this reason, the world observes International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January 2015.

 

In observance of this day, the students of NCTS watched clips and interviews about Auschwitz, including drone footage of the scale of the camp(s) - Click to watch video - and an interview between Elie Wiesel (Night) and Oprah as they walk through the camp, discussing his experiences as a prisoner there - Click to watch video - .  Students were then asked to describe how they would feel if they were to walk through Auschwitz today:

“I think, walking through Auschwitz today, probably I would imagine things while I was walking, and feel their presence still there, yelling for help or something.”  ~Esther

“I would feel like, if I was there, I could have done something…or I could have tried.  If I were to see Auschwitz today, I would look at it as lost souls.”  ~Armon

“Walking into Auschwitz today, I would feel some kind of guilt, because I wish I was there to help do something about what happened there.”  ~Camryn

“If I walked into Auschwitz today, I honestly don’t know how I would feel, but I know what I would feel wouldn’t be good.”  ~Justin

“If I had to walk into Auschwitz, I would feel like I wasn’t even there.  I would feel as though my stomach dropped and my heart would ache.  Just knowing the fact that millions of people died there makes me feel sick.”  ~Neva

“After watching the video, all I could think was, ‘Why? Why would somebody kill so many innocent people?’  I don’t think I would even be able to go visit this place.  I wouldn’t be able to walk where somebody took their last breath.  I wouldn’t be able to walk where somebody had once walked to their death.”  ~Myah

Welcome Back!

Semester 2 begins!  Check back for updates on what students are doing and accomplishing throughout the second semester of NCTS!