News & Weekly Letters

When you are a French person living abroad–and this is true of all nationalities–you realize pretty quickly that the locals often have a stereotypical image of you. Through cinema, literature, sport, politics, or the economy, everyone already has a clear vision of what it means to be French. For example, French people smoke cigarettes in the street, wrapped in designer scarves, shielding them from the cold. French people complain, philosophize, rationalize, and read books written in tiny font. French men open doors for women while clenching a rose between their teeth (true story: when interviewing a Taiwanese family applying for the Lycée français de Taipei, I asked them why they had chosen a French school. Their answer: so our daughters can marry French men.)

Last week, I wrote about how I wanted to read more during winter break–and beyond–which served as an excellent starting point for the wonderful Reading Week that has just drawn to a close at The École. A huge thank you to all the parents who dropped in as guest and mystery readers–there was excitement in the air all week! Thanks also to our Reading Week Team, Dara, Maya, Sara W., and Sophie, for coordinating this year’s event.

I naturally must begin by wishing you a wonderful 2025, full of the things and people you love. The new year started with a cold snap but also with a double victory for the Falcons in their first basketball games of the season. We are so proud of them and are looking forward to seeing them play in Madison Square Garden on Monday. I consider their victory an excellent omen for The École to kickstart what will be a busy year for us with the move on the horizon.

A very short update for you today! We wanted to share the renderings of some of our future facilities with you.

This week, I am writing to you from Toronto–I know I’m the envy of you all with these exotic trips to cold, rainy/snowy climes–where Sophie and I are attending the annual AEFE (the Agency for French Education Abroad) seminar. It’s a highly institutional but necessary gathering, which reaffirms The École’s place in a network of more than 600 schools around the world.