One Book, One School (2011-2012)

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
by Immaculée Ilibagiza, with Steve Erwin

This is my story, told as I remember it...and I remember it as though it happened yesterday. It's a true story; I use my own name and the names of my family. this is the story of how I discovered God during one of history's bloodiest holocausts. I wrote this book hoping that others may benefit from my story.

- Immaculée Ilibagiza

Immaculée Ilibagiza Visits O'Connell During Catholic Schools Week

The school community was thrilled to welcome Immaculée Ilibagiza, author and subject of Left to Tell, during Catholic Schools Week. She gave a presentation to the public on the evening of Feb. 1, and returned the following day to address our student body during a morning assembly.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SLIDESHOW OF IMMACULEE'S VISIT.

READ OUR STUDENT CORRESPONDENT STORY IN THE ARLINGTON CATHOLIC HERALD.

WATCH EXCERPTS OF IMMACULEE'S EVENING PRESENTATION.

 "One Book, One School" Program 2011-2012

Summer reading is a common phenomenon for most students, but this year, the faculty and staff at Bishop O’Connell High School also left the school last June with a summer reading assignment tucked under their arm. For the first time, the O’Connell school community is participating in a One Book program. 

One Book programs, traditionally sponsored by schools, libraries, and even cities, are about ten years old in this country. The purpose is to promote literacy and community at the same time by encouraging an entire community to read and discuss a single book.

A cohort of O’Connell faculty members led by faculty members Janis Sposato and Michael Mothes selected Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza as the first book in the school’s One Book program. This book, which has been successfully used in other high school One Book programs around the country, tells the story of the Rwandan genocide as experienced by a young woman of extraordinary faith.

Students have joined the faculty and staff in reading the book, and family members have also been encouraged to participate. In addition to classroom discussions and project in various departments around the school--including theology, social studies, English, math, science and the arts—several school-wide events are being held about topics raised in the book.

 “The book opens up so many areas of discussion on spirituality, faith and forgiveness,” said O’Connell President Katy Prebble. “Our entire school community will benefit greatly from this program.”

Community Gathering and Guest Speaker (Sept. 27, 2011): David Solomon, National Student Director for STAND, the student-led division of the United to End Genocide. READ MORE...

Publisher's Resources

http://www.lefttotell.com/

Learn more about Immaculée Ilibagiza

http://www.immaculee.com/

Book Discussion (with more resources)
from Villanova University

http://www46.homepage.villanova.edu/john.immerwahr/Intro/Left%20to%20Tell%20Study%20Guide.pdf

The Rwandan Genocide

From PBS:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/

From the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1288230.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3246291.stm

http://www.rwanda-genocide.org/

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum:

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007216

Timelines:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3580247.stm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/rwanda/etc/cron.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/evil/etc/slaughter.html

More Audio and Video Resources

Immaculee Ilibagiza on CBS News (10 min.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKXHK74qLdg&feature=related

Immaculee Ilibagiza - Presentation to Villanova University, Jan. 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPos131P7R8

Genocide: Worse than War - 2 hours (PBS)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7cZuhqSzzc&feature=related

History - History Channel (3 min.)

http://www.history.com/topics/rwandan-genocide/videos#rwanda-background-to-genocide

Firsthand account, Guardian Reporter (3 min.)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2008/dec/18/rwanda-genocide

Teacher Tube 4 minute history

http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Rwanda_Genocide&video_id=194830

Time Video: Juliette’s Story (4 min.)

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,18648580001_1889593,00.html

Other Movies

The Diary of Immaculée
Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Raindrops Over Rwanda – SnagFilms - http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/raindrops_over_rwanda

Further Reading on This Topic

Rusesabagina, An Ordinary Man.   The book that inspired the movie, Hotel Rwanda.

Kidder, Strength in What Remains.  Civil war and genocide in Burundi.

Hillenbrand, Unbroken.  WWII Pacific Ocean survival.