A heartfelt thank you to everyone who volunteered, baked, grilled, set up, cleaned up, and brought such wonderful energy to this year’s Lycée en Fête! With support from our amazing community, the day was filled with delicious food, vibrant culture, and lively entertainment from all 14 international sections.

Sponsored by the American Section, VOX is the Lycée's a capella group, reuniting talented singers from all 14 international sections. Their recent year-end concert was a huge success. Bravo to all. 

Our 5th graders recently participated in al three-day trip to the Branféré animal park, located in Brittany. One student commented: "It was also the first time I traveled with school, which made the trip even more exciting. It was really fun to meet new friends. This was definitely the best field trip so far. Branféré is the most amusing and memorable place I've ever been to."

Our Pre-K and First Grade classes enjoyed a special visit from the Ferme de Tiligolo. Students were introduced to a variety of farm animals including goats, ducks, rabbits, and even a baby pig! They learned about where eggs come from, how a goat produces milk, and how to care for animals on the farm. The children also had a chance to pet the animals.

Our Cinquiéme students  traveled to Amsterdam for our annual trip which is centered on the themes of diversity, sustainability, and tolerance. Before departure they read The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, and kept their own journal before and during the trip. It was an unforgettable experience, full of meaningful interactions and memories.

One of the most anticipated events of the year in Lower School is project week, a period when regular activities are suspended and students explore a common theme through hands-on activities. This year, Project Week celebrated one of humanity’s greatest inventions—books. Far more than words on a page, books are vessels of knowledge, imagination, and inspiration. They preserve our histories, ignite curiosity, and shape the stories of tomorrow—many of which may already be forming in the minds of our young writers.

Sixième students recently participated in team building activities as part of their advisory program. The goal was to include others in finding solutions in challenging situations, but it was mostly a good time for all. 

Last weekend's Première trip to the Somme was thoroughly enjoyed by students and chaperones alike. Day one was dedicated to WWI history, with visits to the Historial de la Grande Guerre in Peronne and Thiepval, as well as the Thiepval and Newfoundland Memorials. Day two's excursion was all about student wellbeing. We spent the day hiking across the Baie de Somme, from Le Crotoy to Saint-Valéry-sur-Mer. It was a much appreciated opportunity to spend time in out in nature and together.

As always, our stellar volunteers created unforgettable dances for our Middle School students. Sparkly, celestial decorations adorned the walls and the students definitely leaned into the themes (Starry Night for the 6e and 5e, Venetian Ball for the 4e and 3e).

There were beautiful dresses and dapper suits, all expressing each student’s unique style. They all had a blast dancing the night away!

The entire Lycée International Quatrième class was entranced by a motivational speech from American Section alumna, Lena Kurbiel '24 this past Tuesday. Last year Lena took on an exceptional challenge; rowing across the Pacific Ocean in a transoceanic rowing race. When she crossed the finish line 37 days into the adventure, Lena became the youngest person in the world to have rowed across the Pacific.

Our Prom Night Gala, held at the Pavillion Henri IV, was a truly special evening. Guests received beautiful corsages and boutonnieres on arrival, and enjoyed cocktail hour with a fantastic silent auction. The three-course gourmet meal that followed was delicious. The evening also featured a spirited live auction and a raise the paddle, and concluded with a lively dance session, to the prom music of our youth.

Thanks to the generosity of our dynamic community, this will be one of our most successful galas ever! Funds raised will be used to fund strategic plan initiatives.

Every spring, we hold the "100 Days" for American Section Terminales, a combination pep talk and expression of gratitude that celebrates the time left until graduation. The Class of 2025 first listened to the words of wisdom proffered by Director Brian Brazeau and their Terminale teachers. Their families were present as well, in the form of heartfelt letters written especially for the students. And of course, there was a yummy snack and treat bags.

The American Section’s fourth Culture Fair was held this past Wednesday, and it was exceptional as usual. Each 4ème student presented a display board featuring some aspect of their family culture. A few highlights were some beautifully, naturally decorated Easter eggs, a canvas painted by all the passers-by at the fair, and a high chair that turned into a go-cart! The boards were exquisitely decorated and thoughtfully filled with precious photos, recipes, and interesting documents from the past.

This week's author visit was a resounding success! LeUyen Pham absolutely charmed our students and teachers with stories of her life as a Vietnamese refugee in the United States after the fall of Saigon, and how her love of drawing helped her find her place in American Schools. Students from Grade 5 to 7 (CE1 - 5ème) learned about the important role illustrations play in graphic novels and picture books. They were all thrilled to meet one of their favorite authors.

Last Saturday, thirty of our Troisième students took a day trip to London to see Oedipus Rex at the Old Vic, featuring Rami Malek and Indira Varma. While they noticed variations in the script and story line compared to the version they read in class, the essence of the story was the same, and the most concurred it was the best play they had ever seen. There was even a enjoyable bonus visit to the British Museum before they had to head back to Paris.

The American Section and ASP recently co-hosted the LIPA MUN Conference, bringing together over 60 students from international schools across Paris. This year’s theme was Africa, with discussions on violent extremism in the Sahel, desertification, and rising debt in Sub-Saharan Africa. We were honored to welcome guest speakers Jeff Hawkins (ex-US Ambassador to Central African Republic) and Courtney O’Donnell (US Ambassador to UNESCO), who shared valuable insights.
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It was a landmark year for American Section theater. Instead of our usual Lower, Middle, and Upper School productions, student actors of all ages came together for one spectacular production - School of Rock. They played three nights to a full house, creating atmosphere of rockin’ good fun that left the entire audience smiling and singing!

Congratulations to actors, stage crew and directors alike for their huge investment in this one-of-a-time production that will live in American Section history!

Thank you to the Sustainability Committee for putting together such an memorable morning for our Fourth Grade students. The children participated in the Fresque du Climate, learning about climate change and its consequences and brainstorming about the concrete steps they can take to improve our world. One of their great suggestions was to share it with all the other sections next year!

Our CM2 students attended a timely panel discussion this week... "What's it Like in Sixième"! Older students were on hand to share their wisdom with our future middle schoolers. As always, there were lots of questions about the activity and sport offerings, the cafeteria, getting in trouble, and getting lost. 

Parents, faculty and staff gathered for a festive and delicious evening at the Winter Wonderland Potluck Dinner. Tables were laden with such delectable desserts, festive salads and delicious mains, that nary a leftover remained after dinner. It was a wonderful, relaxed evening that highlighted what the Section is all about...community!