This piece has been adapted from the Heights Schools Foundation's Spark of Light series. 

Feb. 25, 2021 -- Many students in the CH-UH District have been learning online this school year and it's been challenging. But many points of light shine through as teachers innovate and connect. Take Heights High teacher Mark Sack ('76), who coordinates the 'Lessons of the Holocaust' program. Thanks to Sack's efforts, in January, more than thirty students volunteered their time to "Zoom" with Holocaust survivor Toby Levy. Levy shared the story of her family who hid in a small area of a barn in Poland for two years, during which time nearly all of the Jewish people in the town were killed. She shared what it is like to be living in the pandemic now as well. These impactful experiences stay with students for the rest of their lives.

Owen, a Heights High student shared, "Most importantly, from Holocaust survivor Toby Levy, I learned to be grateful for what I have, and to never let that gratitude go away. This class has taught me so many great lessons that I will carry with me even past high school, and I have Mr. Sack to thank for the opportunity of being in this class." Another Heights High student, Daniella, shared "The second way I saw Sack's class was generally about his genuine attempts to relate as much of Holocaust history to current events. This semester offered numerous examples that were related back to problems which arose in the past.