Powerful Student-Created Holocaust Museum Open For Tours In Newtown

NEWTOWN, PA — A powerful Holocaust Museum of Reflection and Remembrance, created by eighth-grade students at the Newtown Middle School, is open to the public through April 9 by pre-arranged visits.

The students in Erinn Demskis's English classes created the museum's moving exhibits after reading Elie Wiesel's powerful memoir, "Night," about his experiences as a teenager during the Holocaust, and reading the play version of "The Dairy of Anne Frank."

As part of their studies, they created unique, meaningful, and moving Holocaust memorial projects that are now on display in the museum.

"Their projects vary in style and form, but one thing they all have in common is that they were "created with compassion and feeling, and that really shines through," said Demskis.

Student-created exhibits inside the museum. (Council Rock School District)

Three students helped curate the projects into a museum - Adele Barber, Rachael Hofman, and Sophie O’Sullivan.

"Their attention to detail in designing and setting up the gallery makes for a powerful experience for our visitors," said Demskis.

According to Demskis, visitors to the museum will hear excerpts from Elie Wiesel’s interviews as
well as familiar music from the movie, "Schindler’s List." Eli Raskin created the museum's soundtrack.

The museum features computer stations where presentations loop all day long with movies and musical compositions, gamified 3D animations/tours, digital art, and slideshows. Three-
dimensional models, artwork, paintings, creative writing, and poetry are interspersed on the walls and tables throughout the museum.

To arrange a tour of the museum, which will be open to the public through April 9, contact Erinn Demskis at edemskis@crsd.org.

Student-created exhibits inside the museum. (Council Rock School District)