by George J Elbaum

Saint Hilary School is a faith-based school with 272 students in grades K-8 and a clear motto “Educating the whole child in a community of faith”.  Student body is 72% White, 14% two or more races, 10% Hispanic, and 4%, Asian, Pacific Islander & all other.  A parent’s description taken from the school’s website gives a good view of the education and broader learning that students get at Saint Hilary:

“My children have been at SHS since Kindergarten, and to say they have thrived is an understatement. The school nurtures the whole child, with an environment that encourages learning wrapped within the Catholic faith. The school makes no apologies for what it is – a faith-based school with high academic standards and a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Manners are important, as are many values that seem to have slipped in recent times. Almost 100% of 8th Grade students get into their first choice of high school, and feedback from the high schools is that St Hilary students are very well prepared. There is a robust parent volunteer program, which for a new parent gives them a unique bird’s-eye view into their child’s classroom and the school overall.”

The audience for my presentation was 33 students in 8th grade literature, history and religion class. Parents and aides also joined so there were about 40+ people total. The school has a solid curriculum on the Holocaust and WWII, wherein the students read The Book Thief in 7th grade and Night in 8th grade, and do considerable research and writing on the Holocaust and WWII.  In parallel, the religion curriculum includes lessons on crimes against humanity which are taught all year long.

Arrangements for my presentation were initiated by Sadie Simon of the JFCS Holocaust Center and the event’s organization, including traveling with the students to JFCS in San Francisco for my talk, was organized by teacher Jawanda Smart.

Notes from Students 

A few weeks after my talk at Saint Hilary School I received 26 Thank You notes from the students, and as is our custom, my wife Mimi and I read these together after dinner, excerpted statements that most resonated with us, and these excerpts are shown below.

• There are no words or actions that could take the past back, but because of people like you we could prevent it in the future.
• You are a humble, strong, and awesome person.  I will never forget the experience you have blessed me with.  Thank you.
• This was definitely a meaningful experience for the whole class.
• I have heard about the Holocaust, but the stories are not the same as hearing your real life experience.
• I pray for you and for those who experienced this terrible event.
• Being able to hear from someone who has experienced this horrible time in the world changes everything.
• It was very selfless of you to re-experience the pain you went through so that our generation can learn and listen to the horrible suffering that happened.
• You have changed many people with your experience in WWII and I am so lucky to be one of them.

Below is a wonderful Origami note from Sawyer.