News & Weekly Letters

A few days ago, I was watching this extract from The Truman Show with the students in my philosophy elective. Truman has decided to drive beyond the bridge at the town’s limits and set off toward freedom. The screenwriters, who have up to that point dictated his entire life, throw outrageous obstacles in his path in a bid to force him to return to his scripted life in Seaside, Florida.

Six years ago, when Philippe, Laurence, and the other members of the search committee that was formed to find a successor to Yves Rivaud offered me the job of head of school, they presented me with a twofold challenge: to make The École the best school possible for the children who come here, of course, but also—something much rarer—to make it a place where their parents feel at home as well.

In his novel 1984, George Orwell imagines a political regime that imposes its authority in part through language. Newspeak, the official language, is designed to reduce and control vocabulary and reflects the desire of the ruling power to limit its subjects’ ability to think. By restricting citizens’ capacity for language, by raising up certain words and trampling others underfoot, the Oceania dictatorship ultimately seeks to weaken people’s ability to reason and to think critically.

As promised in last week’s letter, I’d like to share the high school placements for our 19 8th Grade students today. This year’s results are truly exceptional and reflect not only the students’ hard work and dedication, along with that of their teachers, but also the commitment of their families. A stressful few months are coming to an end, and now the only thing left for each student to do is choose the school that fits them best.

February Break was an opportunity for me to hit pause on my regular routine and take some time to think. In moments like this, I like to retrace the path I’ve taken and the decisions I’ve made since I took over as head of The École in 2020. It helps, as I prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, ensure that the steps I take now are a logical continuation of what has gone before and are taking us in the right direction. Retracing that path, telling that story, is also a reminder that everything we hope to put in place ultimately takes shape through our colleagues.