Superintendent Cyndy S. Taymore
360 Lynn Fells Parkway
Melrose , MA 02176
For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Melrose Middle School Student Organizes “We Remember” Assembly
MELROSE — Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Principal Brent Conway is pleased to announce that seventh grade student Bennett Serisky hosted a “We Remember” assembly to honor those affected by genocides.
Held on April 24 at 7:45 a.m., the seventh grade class gathered in the MVMMS auditorium to listen to the stories of several people who had family members who survived the Holocaust.
Serisky first met the relatives of Holocaust survivors at Melrose’s Temple Beth Shalom, and after hearing their stories, wanted to give them the opportunity to share them with a larger audience.
“I wanted to do it because I wanted to help other people learn about genocide and why we have to stand up to it,” Serisky said. “I had heard their interesting stories and felt my classmates would benefit by hearing from them.”
Working with Principal Conway, Serisky organized the presentation to coincide with Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Additionally, Serisky researched and presented on other genocides, including the Cambodian genocide, Bosnian genocide, Rwandan genocide and the Syrian crisis going on today.
To conclude the assembly, students held up “We Remember” signs to emphasize the lessons learned.
“This was an incredibly powerful presentation and Bennett did an amazing job not only organizing the speakers, but researching and putting together a historical slideshow for students,” Principal Conway said. “Thank you to the members of Temple Beth Shalom who came in to share their stories with the seventh grade class.”
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