Seventh graders at Sanford Middle School recently wrapped up a meaningful interdisciplinary unit on the Holocaust, and they finished it in a pretty memorable way. Over the past several weeks, students have been exploring this important chapter in history through both their social studies and ELA classes. The two courses worked hand-in-hand to give students a well-rounded understanding of the Holocaust — from the historical facts and context to the deeply human stories behind them. To bring it all home, students had the chance to experience something truly special: a live performance by Russell Kaback called 25044: A Musical Story of Resilience. In the show, Kaback shares the story of his own grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, through music and storytelling. It's the kind of performance that sticks with you, and for our 7th graders, it served as a powerful capstone to everything they'd been learning in the classroom. We're proud of our students for engaging so thoughtfully with such a significant and weighty topic, and grateful to performers like Russell Kaback for keeping these important stories alive.

Sanford Middle School 7th Graders Wrap Up Holocaust Learning Unit

Sanford School Department

February 24, 2026

Seventh graders at Sanford Middle School recently wrapped up a meaningful interdisciplinary unit on the Holocaust, and they finished it in a pretty memorable way.

Over the past several weeks, students have been exploring this important chapter in history through both their social studies and ELA classes. The two courses worked hand-in-hand to give students a well-rounded understanding of the Holocaust — from the historical facts and context to the deeply human stories behind them.

To bring it all home, students had the chance to experience something truly special: a live performance by Russell Kaback called 25044: A Musical Story of Resilience. In the show, Kaback shares the story of his own grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, through music and storytelling. It's the kind of performance that sticks with you, and for our 7th graders, it served as a powerful capstone to everything they'd been learning in the classroom.

We're proud of our students for engaging so thoughtfully with such a significant and weighty topic, and grateful to performers like Russell Kaback for keeping these important stories alive.