News & Weekly Letters

I was struck once again yesterday by the wonderful energy of our community, gathered on the roof of 206 for the first Apéro of the year. It was pretty warm up there, but we had a lovely time, with the added bonus of no sudden downpour putting an end to the party. The evening was all the more welcome because my first few weeks (and Sophie’s) have been and will continue to be largely dedicated to something else entirely: the renewal of the school’s accreditation. For those who don’t know, The École is accredited by the French Ministry of Education, which means we are accountable to the French authorities, which is only fair, given the numerous benefits the accreditation brings, from allowing us to recruit certified teachers and access professional development opportunities, to belonging to an international network of French schools.

Even though we’re settling into new routines, we are still making discoveries in our new space. For example, yesterday evening, while fiddling with a button, trying to figure out what it was, someone accidentally set off an alarm during After-School. The good news is that everyone who was in the building immediately took the necessary steps. It was the second time an alarm rang out yesterday at 115t—earlier in the day, the whole building had a fire drill. Again, everyone did as they should. Proof that, unlike me—who still barges into Mireille’s office every five minutes thinking it’s mine—everyone is finding their bearings in the building.

Summer is a time of reflection for those of us who work in the offices of a school. It’s the season to tackle projects that have been long-postponed for want of time, and it gives us the opportunity to take a step back from regular tasks and rethink, reimagine, and plan. Admittedly, it’s also a time of solitude. The hallways are empty, the classrooms silent, and the days feel pretty long.

Obviously, this is an exceptional back-to-school season at The École since we have left our historic Elementary & Middle School Building at 111 and moved next door to our new space at 115 22nd Street. The summer was an atypical one for the admin team, with shorter vacations, unpacking boxes, the spell of fresh paint, and the sound of drilling all on the agenda. But it was all for a good cause because the result is a resounding success, which gives me the opportunity to celebrate the astounding work of our facilities and maintenance team, led by Jan Salamon, assisted by Raul Bello Perez. Everyone pitched in, including Francis, our security guard from 206, who spent a long stretch of his summer at 115 helping out, and Cassandre, our receptionist, who became an expert assembler of Billy bookcases.

The World of Work is back for its twelfth season at The École in 2025-2026! We are delighted to welcome a variety of industry experts to meet our 8th Grade students in their classroom and share their professional experience, values, background, and knowledge with them.