The kickoff to the Names, Not Numbers project at Roslyn High School was held on November 27, 2023, in the high school library. The project, conceived by Tova Fish-Rosenberg, a world renowned expert on Holocaust education, provides students with a powerful and unique experiential educational experience, while supporting the New York State social studies standards.

Thirty students from grades 9-12 were accepted into the program. Formed into five teams, each will create a documentary of a survivor’s story. Over the course of the project, students will learn valuable historical knowledge and develop crucial life skills, including communication, empathy, and critical thinking. They will learn to ask meaningful questions, listen actively, and gain a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit. 

At the kickoff event, speeches were given by Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Michael Goldspiel and Roslyn High School Assistant Principal Carol Murphy, who will facilitate the project, along with Social Studies Chair Kristy Faulkner and Library Media Specialist Christine Parente. 

Tova Fish-Rosenberg attended the kickoff to impress upon students that the Names, Not Numbers project will provide them with a richer understanding of history and the profound impact it has on individuals and communities. Students were shown a sample documentary of what they will create, and learned interview techniques from retired CBS producer/journalist Jeff Salgo. A camera crew was also present to document the Roslyn students’ participation in the project. 


Tova Fish-Rosenberg speaking to RHS students at the Names, Not Numbers kickoff

Throughout December, students will attend four workshops on specific WWII events and the Holocaust to ensure that they are well versed in specific timelines before interviewing their survivor. In early 2024, the teams will interview their subjects and edit their documentaries. Those completed videos will become part of the larger Names, Not Numbers documentary, to be shown at an event at the high school in the spring. Survivors, their families, student participants and their families, and the larger Roslyn community will all be invited to the event.