A Great Day at Petru Rares High School!

I had an incredible day with students and teachers at Petru Rares High School in Targu Lapus, Romania. We talked about the Holocaust and the life of Max Steinmetz. To my students at Shades Valley, leave a message below with a comment or question you would like me to ask a Romanian student or teacher. Or, you could just leave me a message about how much you miss me. :)

Can't Wait to Meet All of You!

To Students in Targu Lapus,
I am really looking forward to visiting your town again VERY soon! I am posting a few pictures of my students. All of us at Shades Valley High School are excited about connecting with and learning with all of you. Please feel free to comment and introduce yourself.

For Students in Targu Lapus

Hi,

This is a short video of Holocaust survivor, Max Steinmetz, reading the names of his parents, brother, and sister. All of them were born and lived in Targu Lapus, Romania. Max is the only one from his family who survived the Holocaust.

More Discussion

Hello Everybody,
Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts so far. Your comments are very insightful. Here are a few more questions to discuss together:

1.  When Max and his family were rounded up in the ghetto and put on trains, they were taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau. What went through your mind as you read what happened to him and his family?
2.  Had you already heard of Auschwitz-Birkenau? Tell me what you already knew about this place.

To students in Targu Lapus:
1. We talked about what happened to the Jews in Reghin. The Jews in Targu Lapus were sent to Dej, where there was also a ghetto. From there, they were also sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Have you ever heard about this?
2.  I am very curious about the differences in the ways WWII and the Holocaust are taught in each of our countries. Students in the US usually learn about these topics in English and History classes in middle school and high school. Tell me more about how you learned or were taught about the Holocaust.

A Greeting from Max to Targu Lapus

Thank you to those who have responded to the last post. If you haven't posted yet, that's ok. I would still love to hear your thoughts. I'm posting a short video of Max saying hello. :)

Hello Everybody!
Hope everyone is doing well. How's it going with the book so far? My class (or most of them) have read through Ch. 6, where Max's family was sent to the Szaszregen Ghetto. I think a good place to start our discussion would be to think about the following questions:
-  Describe Max's relationship with friends and neighbors in Targu Lapus before 1933.
-  What overall points should the reader gain after reading about Max's family and town?

I'm always impacted by Max telling about how relationships with his friends began to change and his family finally decided to leave Targu Lapus. He talks about how his family never believed that what they were hearing about in places like Poland would happen in their town.  What are your thoughts on this?

To the students in Targu Lapus, I'm really curious about the following things:
1.  How familiar are you with stories about the Jewish community in Targu Lapus before WWII?
2.  Had you ever heard of the Szaszregen (Reghin) Ghetto?  A large number of Max's extended
     family stayed in Targu Lapus. Have you ever heard stories of what happened to the Jews in
     Targu Lapus?

I can't wait to hear all of your thoughts!  Also, my class will be posting a picture soon. Please take one of your class and post! :)

More later!!

Ms. McDonald

Hello Petru Rares High School!!!

Hello Everyone!

I am sure by now that Ms. Ciupe has told you about our plans for our classrooms. :)  I am writing to you from Birmingham, AL, USA.  This blog has been up since last year, so feel free to go back and look over some of the things we did last year.

My class and I are really excited about working with and getting to know all of you!  Please respond to this post and say hello.  I will make sure my students do the same. 

More later!  :)

Ms. McDonald