Employee Spotlight: Meredith Seymour

This is a new feature for our Yorkie eNews where in each issue we will feature new and veteran employees.

Meet Meredith Seymour, Social Studies Teacher

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Meredith Seymour, Social Studies Teacher

What impresses you most about the students at York House School?
What impresses me most about students at York House is when their curiosity has been piqued by something that they’ve heard in a class, or from their peers, and they have gone out of their way to seek out more information about it. They show that they want to learn more and to understand how things work, how the world operates, or what motivates people. Their intellectual curiosity can be inspiring.

What impresses you about our community overall?
I’m always impressed by the high levels of parent support for the school’s programs, like our scholarship program. Parent involvement and support helps support teachers, students, and staff in the work we do at the school.

What are you most looking forward to at York House in the coming months?
I always look forward to the Vancouver Model United Nations conference in January that YHS has participated in for many years. This year, we’re taking a large delegation, with a lot of newcomers to MUN, and it’s great to see students challenge themselves to speak in a committee, or to take a controversial position, and to see the sense of accomplishment written across their faces once they’ve done it!

What is something that people might not know about you that you would like to share?
I am a stationery-sticker-post-it note-fanatic and I love visiting paper shops and stationery boutiques whenever I travel. The best spots I’ve encountered so far are in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and, of course, the local treasure Paper-Ya, in Granville Island.

Holocaust Survivor Robert Waisman Speaks to Gr. 11 & 12 Students

Gr. 11 and 12 students with  Holocaust Survivor and Speaker, Robert Waisman.
Gr. 11 and 12 students with Holocaust Survivor and Speaker, Robert Waisman.

In April, a group of Senior school students had the privilege to hear from a special guest speaker, Holocaust survivor Robert Waisman. Mr. Waisman shared his story of survival with our Social Studies 11 and History 12 students.

A former president of the Vancouver Holocaust Society, Mr. Waisman is a well-known speaker on the Holocaust. He has recently worked with the German government on their Holocaust Memorial Day events, and has addressed the BC Legislature.

IMG_7736*In September 1939, when Mr. Waisman was eight years old, the Nazis invaded Poland. He was taken to a munitions factory where he worked stamping initials on anti-aircraft shells. Later he was moved to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, where he was one of the youngest prisoners.

On April 11, 1945, the American army liberated Buchenwald. Mr. Waisman was one of 426 children who survived from this camp. He has a vivid memory of being liberated by the American army, and recalls one young soldier in particular — the first black person he’d ever seen. Nearly 40 years later he was reunited with this soldier, named Leon Bass, and they became good friends.

IMG_7743*Mr. Waisman and his sister (who he was reunited with years later) were the only survivors from his family. His parents and four siblings had been killed by the Nazis. After the war, he lived in France for a few years before eventually immigrating to Canada. He now honours the memory of those who were murdered by speaking about the Holocaust.

Special thank you to Aria, Gr. 11, and the Druker family for organizing Mr. Waisman’s visit. To learn more about his extraordinary story, visit the links below.

Gr. 11 and 12 students with Mr. Waisman
Gr. 11 and 12 students with Mr. Waisman

Links:

“Holocaust survivor offers message of hope.” Anglican Journal, September 19, 2013.
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/articles/holocaust-survivor-offers-message-of-hope

“Holocaust survivor Robbie Waisman shares his story.” Global News, January 27, 2015.
http://globalnews.ca/video/1797510/holocaust-survivor-robbie-waisman-shares-his-story

“Holocaust survivor Robbie Waisman receives Caring Canadian Award.” Jewish Independent, February 28, 2014.
http://www.jewishindependent.ca/holocaust-survivor-robbie-waisman-receives-national-honor/

“Holocaust survivor shares tales of survival, redemption.” Yukon News, November 7, 2014.
http://www.yukon-news.com/life/holocaust-survivor-shares-tales-of-survival-redemption

Holocaust Survivor Robert “Robbie” Waisman Testimony. USC Shoah Foundation Institutehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P39LYLcL1cA