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.
The impression of emptiness was amplified this year with our move into 115 East 22nd on June 30. The spaces weren’t merely empty and silent; they were immensely empty and silent. The handful of workers who came to touch up spots here or there struggled to fill the void. We were all a little lost, endlessly walking into the wrong office, unable to recall, several days after the move, where exactly the stairwells or the restrooms were. We kept repeating to each other, “It really is big…”
So you can imagine, with the contrast between the hectic month of June at 111 and the surreal calm of 115 during July and August, that when September rolled around, we didn’t just want to see you all – we needed to see you all! The SLAs and TAs were the first to come back, followed by the teachers, and finally the students. We’re welcoming a total of 370 this year—a measured and balanced growth compared to the 358 who finished the 2024-2025 school year with us. We are at full capacity in Pre-Nursery (12 students), Pre-K (18 students in each class), and Kindergarten, as well as 1st and 2nd Grade. We have one spot left in 3rd, 7th, and 8th Grade, respectively. We kept our promise to cap class sizes at 20 students—and that hasn’t been easy. It is always heartbreaking to say no to a family who wants to join us. And this year, we had to say no very, very often (those who have known me for a long time know how much I dislike saying no).
Every year in September, I have a special thought for our new families—69 in total this year. I’m in awe of their courage; it’s never easy to start at a new school or, for some of our youngest, to take their first steps in a French world. I would like to welcome you all and thank you for your trust. I know I can count on The École community to welcome you warmly.
And of course, I also think of our former students who have started school elsewhere, from Tel Aviv to Paris or in other schools in New York. In particular, our 8th Grade graduates who have just begun high school. I’d like to thank all the parents who sent us photos; it made us so happy to realize that on their first day in a new school, families were thinking of The École.
We are delighted and proud of the choices they made and chuffed to bits that our partnership with Léman is going from strength to strength. We’ve already had some really good news from some of “our” Léman 9th graders–Marceau, Noam, and Victor–The École’s CONSAT-league-winning Falcons soccer players 2024-2025–have been selected for the Varsity team at Léman (they’ll be the youngest players on the team). And Léman hasn’t seen them shine in math yet–just wait! Our former 8th graders made us so happy by dropping in to see the new building last week and sharing their first impressions of their new schools.
I am really looking forward to seeing you at the picnic tomorrow–more than 900 guests have signed up! The weather is looking iffy as usual–a surefire sign that it is back-to-school season!