Usually, I start a new diet every Monday morning. I do it in the hopes of getting rid of the surplus of calories I consumed over the weekend. Since I am a real gourmand, and I don’t have any willpower, I fell off—what am I saying, I leaped off—the diet wagon this past Monday. I devoured the breakfast that was served in the staff lounge, offered by the PA as part of Teacher’s Appreciation Week. It was as plentiful as it was delicious.
This past Thursday, the day that was chosen in the end thanks to the good weather forecast, the PA (yes, them again) organized the class and individual photos for the Maternelle. These photos will be used in the yearbook as well as for the amazing Inside Out Project, which is a collaboration with French artist JR. The project is meant to acknowledge and top off this year during which our community resisted COVID together. These photo sessions started a couple of weeks ago with the older Middle School and then Elementary students.
This project was itself one in a series of initiatives that have taken place over the course of the year. These include book donations for the libraries on both campuses, the purchase of equipment for the students (including the very popular climbing wall at 206), holiday gifts, and fun activities planned for Halloween. I am, no doubt, forgetting some. Sometimes the PA’s involvement is a bit more behind-the-scenes—I can attest that the meetings are regular and very serious.
I know that being part of a PA is never easy. You might sometimes think that you’ll be disturbing the teachers and the administration. You don’t always know who the right person to contact at the school is. You never know if what you’re proposing will be suitable—an impression that is made even stronger this year by the fact that communication is often limited to conversations on the sidewalk in front of the school. In reality, it is really we who are indebted to you. And obviously not only because we are being given gifts, but because the links that are forged through our collaboration are precious and essential. They contribute to our shared goal—the goal of creating a harmonious environment where the students can learn and grow in the best conditions. So, a huge thank you goes out to Liz, Tara, Priscille, Laurence, Jacqueline, Virginie, Muriel, Vickie, Celine, Isabelle, and all of the parent reps as well as all of those who invest so much passion for the good of the children.
Today, it is the PA who needs your support. One of the PA’s goals is to offer help to students as well as families in order to maintain and increase the socio-economic diversity of our community. In order to continue these initiatives, the PA is holding an auction, about which you should have received an email from them earlier today. Make sure to click on the owl to see all of the high-quality prizes that are up for auction: paintings, jewelry, Taekwondo classes, luxury brand goods, soccer lessons, and even… lunch with your humble servant.
I don’t know if I will reveal all of the little secrets of The École, as the description promises, but I will be very happy to be able to contribute in my own little way. (However, I must confess that I am a bit nervous that this prize might not interest anyone). I am looking forward to having a good time with the generous bid winners.