I’m writing to you this week from Chicago,* where Benoît and I are attending the annual AEFE (French Government Agency for French Schools Abroad) seminar in the company of heads of schools and directors from the other 61 AEFE-accredited schools in the USA and Canada. Some highlights include a speech by the French consul, a progress report on the joint strategic plan, and a wide range of workshops, particularly one about keeping a network like ours relevant when its schools have such diverse backgrounds and identities.
You might recall that last year, our 5th graders traveled to Canada with Camille, Coach Soden, and Miriam to participate in a Flag Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee tournament. This year, now that we can plan projects in advance without (fingers crossed) worrying they will be canceled by COVID, we fully intend to participate in more like-minded projects. This seminar comes at the right time as we are meeting our colleagues and comparing notes on potential projects. We’re looking forward to returning to New York full of ideas for our Elementary and Middle School classes for the rest of the year.
The seminar is also important for me on a personal level, as this year it is being hosted by the Lycée Français de Chicago, whose Head of School, Eric Veteau, was my boss when I was first starting out as a deputy head at the Lycée français de Shanghai. I have very vivid memories of the intense, passionate, and exhausting years we spent working together, and I have to admit I tend to be quite critical of my own actions when I look back on that time. Having spent years actively searching for an opportunity to grow, I wasn’t entirely ready when the chance finally presented itself. Frankly speaking, I was a bit out of my depth, and being new to the job, I thought asking for help was akin to confessing to weakness.
During difficult and complicated moments, it is vital to be able to count on a mentor and have someone to turn to who can put things in context or give a quick answer to a pressing question. I underestimated the importance of that help when I was starting out – I thought I could figure everything out by myself – but even today, not a single week goes by that I don’t ask myself what Evelyne (Eric’s predecessor) or Eric would do in my place. Over the years, I have become my own type of head of school, but that evolution would never have been possible without their support, generosity, and openness.
It is precisely those kinds of relationships – built on respect, closeness, and encouragement – that we seek to create at The École with our newly reconceived Middle School mentorship program. The students and their mentors (whom I would like to thank here for the quality of their work and their commitment to the program) meet every Wednesday afternoon to discuss, share, and learn. Because it’s never easy to ask for help, but we can’t always figure things out by ourselves – especially in Middle School!
Wishing you all an excellent weekend!
PS: Thank you to everyone who replied to my letter last week. I’d like to share a little game that Kate (mom of Beatrix in Kindergarten and Hudson in 6th Grade) inherited from her mother. It’s called KIF, and here are the rules: talk about your day at school by describing something Kind you did (K), something Interesting you learned (I), and something Funny that happened (F). QFD, thanks, Kate!
* So I am escaping the New York rain and floods! Thank you to the entire team and all our parents for the flexibility and understanding they demonstrated today!