This autumn, a group of Rosmini College Year 10 – 11 Japanese students travelled to Japan.

Rosmini’s Head of Japanese, Mrs Kuniko Crosby said: “This educational trip provided the opportunity for the students to speak Japanese in an authentic situation. The trip included a visit to a Japanese high school where students stayed with a Japanese family and attended school. The students also participated in Japanese martial art activities. They also visited sites of cultural and historical significance in Iiyama, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Hiroshima.”

Holocaust Talk

On Monday 7th May Holocaust survivors Bob and Freda Narev came to talk to Rosmini College Year 9 students, plus additional classes from Year 11, Year 8 and Year 7, about their experiences. Bob and Freda were both children during the Second World War. They shared their stories with the boys and answered questions.

Bob told of the treatment of his father at the hands of Nazi soldiers, as well as his and his mother’s experiences in the camp, Theresienstadt. Freda as a young girl was “given” to a Catholic family who cared for her during the war until her older sister came to get her. They both left Europe and came to New Zealand, where they met at a Jewish Youth Group.

Bob and Freda told the students of the importance of not being a bystander: "Don’t stand by and do nothing." Rosmini College English teacher, Mrs Paula Pierce said: “This was an opportunity for students to learn firsthand of the discrimination against Jewish people during this time. Many of the Year 9 classes are currently studying WW2 literature, for example, ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ and ‘Hana’s Suitcase.’ We were so blessed to have had the opportunity to hear, meet and speak with Bob and Freda. Amazingly, Bob still has the yellow star which was sewn onto his coat as a young boy!”

ANZAC Day

Members of Rosmini College’s Young Vinnies attended an ANZAC Day service at the Hillcrest RSA. The students were thrilled to meet the Mayor of Auckland City, the Hon. Phil Goff.