Anne Frank: A History For Today
The International travelling exhibit, Anne Frank: A History For Today, came to Weston High School this May. The exhibition, which was developed by the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, educates viewers on the horrific atrocities that occurred in the Second World War through the eyes of Anne Frank. The Anne Frank House, which created the travelling exhibit, is now a museum that educates visitors on the Holocaust in the actual house that Anne and her family and friends hid during the Nazi occupation.
The Weston High School exhibit ran from May 7-20 and was open to middle schoolers, high schoolers and the general public. The exhibit was on display in the main lobby and WHS students could visit during their social studies classes and free periods. Middle Schoolers were invited for tours with their social studies classes and there was a general viewing night on May 19. All visitors to the exhibit were guided by student docents who were trained by experts to share the details of Anne Frank’s story.
This event came to WHS because of the efforts of Ms. Jennifer Klein, the Facing History and Ourselves teacher here at Weston High. Ms. Klein attended a professional development workshop over the summer of 2025 which focused on the unsung heroes of civil rights. She learned from the people in this group about the Anne Frank Travelling exhibit and thought that it was something the Weston community could benefit from.
Ms. Klein shared the idea of the exhibit with fellow staff members, including Principal Meghan Connetta and Ms. Shawna Johnson, the 6-12 Curriculum & Instruction Leader of Social Studies. The group decided it was important to move forward with the opportunity.
Ms. Johnson coordinated the event’s schedule to ensure that all middle school and high school students could attend. She also helped with the student docents. Each student who ran tours for the exhibit had to go through two intense training days, guided by two official Anne Frank tour representatives.
“Before, I didn’t really know much about Anne Frank, but through learning this much about her, I can recall every fact,” says student docent, Dylan Elgort ‘28. Motivated by her own family’s involvement in World War II and Jewish heritage, Elgort effectively raised awareness among her community and peers.
Docents not only grew their knowledge of Anne Frank, but they also worked on their public speaking and communication skills. Alexandra Walker ‘28 says, “This (experience) has raised my public speaking skills, and I feel much more confident now.”
Student responses to the exhibit were positive. “It was very eye-opening to learn that Anne Frank was a similar age to us when all of these horrific events occurred,” says Max Morrissey ‘27, one of the attendees.
Although it is uncertain if another event will happen like this next year, Ms. Johnson says, “I hope this was the initial spark…. This exhibit gave a lot of students confidence in themselves to share really difficult conservations, while also promoting empathy.”