11th Irena Sendler school in Poland

Janina Zgrzembska, daughter of the Righteous, participated in the ceremony. She emphasized the fact that her mother “never felt she was a hero and never wanted to be called that way”. Sendler’s daughter also reminded that the Righteous “loved children and schools. She said that children and young people are her personal Nobel prize – the award she never received”.

Several hundred people participated in the ceremony. They all gathered in the hall of the 3^rd High School Complex in Słupsk – the 6^th Secondary School is part of this complex. During the ceremony a brass band performed in historical uniforms, and colour parties of all schools in Słupsk were presented. The 6^th Secondary School also received a new banner with the image of the new patron.

Irena Sendler, honored for rescuing Jews with the title “Righteous Among the Nations” by the Yad Vashem Institute, was chosen as the school patron in 2009 by the students, their parents and teachers of the 6^th Secondary School. Since then the school has been preparing for the ceremony.

On the occasion of this event the school authorities announced: “We will instill in our children such values as tolerance and sensitivity to other people. We will teach them these values regardless of their nationality, the color of their skin and their dwelling place. April 8^th, the day when our school was named after Irena Sendler, will probably become the official school holiday”. More about the ceremony on the website of the 6th Secondary School in Słupsk. 

Another event commemorating Irena Sendler was held on April 19^th, 2011: the monodrama “Mur” (“The Wall”) was staged at the Jewish Theater in Warsaw. The play was directed by Maciej Wojtyszko and written by Ryszard Marek Groński.

The author explains: “I felt that we do not know and remember enough about the people who risked their lives to rescue others. Irena applied dressings on people’s souls. The children she took care of were deeply injured. They needed warmth, respect for their childhood and truth”.

Irena Sendler, Righteous Among the Nations, activist of the underground Council to Aid Jews “Żegota”, working in the Welfare Assistance Department of the Warsaw Administration, saved together with her collaborators about 2,500 children during the Second World War.

In 1965 Irena Sendler was awarded with the title of the Righteous Among the Nations for rescuing Jews during the Second World War. More about Irena Sendler on the portal “Polish Righteous”.