I don’t believe I’ve shared this in a weekly letter before: I’m addicted to crosswords. I share this passion with my mother, who got me hooked on them as a child and who, to this day, still completes them at a diabolical pace. In an effort to fine-tune my English, I have been doing the New York Times crossword daily since arriving in the States. One clue repeatedly pops up: “Educational support group” (3 letters). Yep, you got it: PTA.
My experience with TÉPA—The École’s version of a PTA—truly began in 2021, when, under Liz’s leadership, at the end of a school year defined by masks and COVID restrictions, it launched the Inside Out Project with the artist JR. It was a symbolic and unifying moment that helped me better understand and appreciate the role and commitment of parent associations in American schools. Since then, TÉPA hasn’t stopped expanding its efforts to support our students and families. For example, we started this week by celebrating Asian-American and Pacific Islander Month with school-wide concerts organized by TÉPA, and our staff recently benefited from your generosity through the Appreciation Week coordinated by the parents’ association.
Uniform swaps, book fairs, crêpes, financial assistance for after-school activities and school trips, events that correspond with key moments in the school calendar, like Lunar New Year lion dances, Black History Month concerts, and the auctions that take place around next week’s Splash of Summer with proceeds going to the TÉPA scholarship fund—all these projects are part of what makes The École what it is: a warm, family-oriented, and dynamic school.
In recent months, TÉPA has continued to launch new initiatives—April’s Blood Drive is a fine example of what we can accomplish collectively. And I know that the WhatsApp Community is a roaring success. Those of us at the school doors in the morning have added courier duties to our job descriptions as we make sure packages reach the right person! I am also very fond of TÉPA’s monthly Parent Memo, especially the Community Spotlight section, which helps me discover another side of our parents. More than once, I’ve sent a short note to the parent featured to let them know how inspirational I found the way they speak about their career path. I am in a prime position to know just how much work all these projects require: the hours spent organizing auction items, sorting uniforms, reviewing requests, collecting books, contacting vendors, and so much more. It sometimes feels as though Annabelle, TÉPA’s wonderful president this year, spends almost as much time at school as I do!
In any case, TÉPA’s support is incredibly valuable to us, and we appreciate this strong connection with families more than ever. If any parents reading this letter would like to get involved and give some of their time in support of our school, please join us just after Memorial Day for TÉPA’s community breakfast on Tuesday, May 26, at 8:30 a.m. at 115 (RSVP here). All parents are welcome (new and returning for 2026-2027); it’s a wonderful way to meet people, as Florine—who arrived from France just last September and is already a highly valued member of the board—can certainly attest!
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the former TÉPA presidents I’ve had the pleasure of working with: Priscille, Liz, Ambre, and Marcelo, as well as this year’s entire board: Annabelle, Amy, Anna, Devon, Émilie, Florine, Irina, Maricela, and Matthieu.
So then—in four letters—a fun, dynamic organization that wants the very best for your children and truly
makes a difference:
