With the hope of consolidating some valuable vocabulary and spreading a little Northwest North American pride at the same time, our Cinquièmes recently participated in what I affectionately call “The Bigfoot Challenge,”  a timed vocabulary exercise.

In addition to the continuing integration of more diversity into our curriculums, we take a moment every year to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which kicks off our celebration of Black History Month.

A truly great day was had by the three Troisième classes at the Musée de la Grande Guerre on December 3. The students were split up into three groups and each group had a guided tour and a workshop.

We were thrilled to have an in-person Holiday Sale this year! The various section food booths sold delicious, typical culinary treats, while their crafts stands were loaded with artisanal and handmade items. Thank all our wonderful parent volunteers who put time and effort to make the event such a special one!

American Section families showed their generosity this past Thanksgiving weekend, with numerous families and students donating their time at the National Food Bank collection's at nearby grocery stores. All the food collected goes directly to Le Seve food bank in Saint-Germain-en-Laye Bel Air.

Thanksgiving celebrations took place both in and out of the classroom. Lower School students enjoyed many traditional Thanksgiving-related activities and learned what it means to be thankful. 

Our fabulous parents baked-up hundreds of servings of traditional Thanksgiving desserts, which were shared with our French and section colleagues on all three campuses. 

The Section recently participated in a tree-planting ceremony in Chambourcy's Désert de Retz, commemorating Thomas Jefferson's visit to the gardens, with all its folies, during his time as US Ambassador to France. During the memorable event, which reunited many local dignitaries, students delivered a speech on Jefferson's life and performed The Star-Bangled Banner and La Marseillaise. 

Students in Sixième class were recently asked to imagine that the school's library was set to be named for a hero of the American Revolution. Whom should the school's Board select? In addition to offering students the opportunity to hone their budding research skills, they were also given the opportunity to defend their choice, while working on their oral skills--by presenting their choice of candidate through a spirited debate in the classroom. 

American Section students of all ages enjoyed some Halloween fun in the days before the Toussaint vacation. Students from PreK through Quatrième were treated to Halloween parties, while the Upper School students were thrilled to receive treat bags of Halloween candy. 

In their study of The Catcher in the Rye, Troisième students  were asked to pretend that they were psychologists, and were tasked with unearthing the experiences that led to Holden Caulfield's mental crisis and to explain the traumatic factors in his youth that led to an eventual breakdown. 

Thank you to the many American Section families who participated in the annual Opération Fôret Propre on October 9! Over 3,1 tons of trash was collected at the various collection sites in Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Fourqueux, one ton more than in 2020. The Fourqueux organizers were extremely grateful that the American Section chose to participate in their corner of the forest!

Students from the class of 2022 joined their parents and teachers for a long-awaited celebratory "Terminale Welcome Cocktail" last weekend. This traditional kick-off to the Senior year was much appreciated by all. 

Our Quatrièmes enjoyed a full-day outing to the Fondation GoodPlanet recently. The focus of the day was a better understanding of the environmental issues our world faces today, as well as finding solutions to living a more sustainable life. 

Life seemed to take on a return to near-normal as a multitude of American Section students and their families attended our traditional 'Back-to-School' Picnic at the Centre Aérée La Forestine in Aigremont. Thankfully, the weather was gorgeous and it was altogether a beautiful community gathering, the first since Covid-19 changed our way of life. 

We took advantage of the beautiful fall weather to take cap and gown yearbook photos of the class of 2022. There was also ample time for some fun candid shots and lots of laughter to mark the start of what promises to be a memorable Senior year.

As part of their study of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, the Troisièmes made a life map of five important moments in their life thus far: international moves, disastrous haircuts, broken bones, the arrival or departure of loved ones, embarrassing accidents... and exercise that allowed for both introspection and creativity.

As a living history exercise and a way to commemorate the 20^th anniversary, many of our Middle Schoolers were encouraged to interview someone about their 9/11 experience. Though our students were not alive on that infamous day, their daily lives, along with teenagers all over the world, are affected by the events that happened that Tuesday morning. 

Close to 50 parent volunteers, representing students from Mat.2 through Terminale and from all three of our campuses, gathered this past week for the Homeroom Parent training session in the Lycée château.

The Terminale Welcome assembly, held on the first day of school, was a fitting occasion to share words of wisdom with our students and to present a series of awards discerned by the Upper School faculty.

After over 18 months of virtual get-togethers, it was pure pleasure to welcome many of our new families to the Section to an in-person gathering!