Hello, 

I am so delighted that you have decided to sign up for our annual trip to Krakow. I promise that the experience is going to one you will remember for the rest of your life - for brilliant reasons, but for terrible reasons too. This is why I have built this web page. I really want this trip to be as informative, fascinating, impactful and, no exaggeration, life-changing as it can be for you. In order for you to get the most out of this trip, you need to prepare. 

Prepare in terms of your knowledge - the more words, places, facts you are familiar with before we go, the more you will understand about what you are seeing , the more questions you will have, the more fascinating the trip will be for you.

Prepare in terms of emotional readiness - whether anyone can truly be "ready" for what you will see and hear on this trip is questionable. However, beginning to process the magnitude of the events surrounding the Holocaust before you go will help you to be prepared for what you will uncover. It will also mean that you engage immediately - hit the ground running - so to speak, with the importance of what you are discovering. 

Preparation should be a shared experience - I really want you to bring your families with you on this learning journey.  Obviously, sadly, they can't come with us literally, but they can learn with you before you go, and share in your reflections once you return. I urge you to engage other members of your family in your preparation - watch films and documentaries together. Swap books. Listen to podcasts in the car together. Talking about your learning with another, and having an adult to ask questions of about what happened will make an enormous difference.

So, please do throw yourself into your pre-trip learning, it really will make a massive difference. And remember - you can always seek out any RS or History teacher if you need more recommendations or have questions. 

Good luck! 

Ms Lothian

Head of Religious Studies