It was still a little too early to share here, but I can now reveal some of the developments that will see the light of day during the next school year. With five weeks left until the last day of school 2025-2026, we are almost fully prepared for back-to-school 2026-2027, although we still have a few recruitments to finalize, particularly to cover maternity leaves. On that note, I would like to wish Ciara, our 4th Grade American teacher, all the happiness in the world as she prepares to welcome her first child. Today was her last day, and a small surprise party had been organized to properly celebrate her departure!
But back to the new developments for 2026–2027. Following the Elementary and Middle School Building’s move to 115 last year, it is only natural that we turn our attention to the Maternelle Building this year, and we are planning renovations over the summer. The plans include creating a library space and a workroom for colleagues, refurbishing the flooring, resurfacing the rooftop playground, and installing new cubbies for all students. In the classrooms, projectors and boards will be replaced, and the furniture modernized, especially the students’ chairs and tables. These changes are not merely cosmetic; they are part of a broader and more ambitious educational project that the entire Maternelle team is undertaking this year under the leadership of Sophie and Ben. At the heart of this project are two guiding principles: flexibility and harmonization. Flexibility in bilingual teaching —making every day a bilingual day—allowing us to better meet individual children’s needs and allowing the children to fully benefit from having both teachers in the classroom every day. Harmonization in the choice of tools used by teachers, providing continuity in the children’s experience as they progress from one grade level to the next. 206 is a gem that our families deeply appreciate, and we intend to continue offering the very best, guided by the latest advances in neuroscience research.
On the Elementary side of things, a strengthened and restructured STRIVE Department will support our stable, close-knit teaching team, which is also reflecting on the implementation of common tools to help students and their parents gain more insight into their child’s learning and progress. The main change will come on the American side, as we recently learned that Sara Weintraub will be leaving us. I recruited Sara in 2021 to completely rethink the Elementary American curriculum, and she has since done remarkable work, notably by recruiting exceptionally talented colleagues. The decision has been made not to replace Sara—to whom I wish great success in her future role—but rather to rely on our American team’s phenomenal skill set and redistribute some of the responsibilities Sara held in her part-time role.
Finally, in Middle School, the bilingual academic program will remain largely unchanged. The updates for 2026-2027 will instead concern enrichment —the classes, clubs, and electives that are not directly tied to the curriculum but enrich our middle schoolers’ educational experience immeasurably. We plan to formalize and expand the ambitious offerings already in place, giving our Middle School students the opportunity to build meaningful pathways within a framework organized around four pillars: Creativity, Culture, Community, and Challenge. Within each of these pillars, several options will be available, allowing students to express their talents, acquire the cultural foundation that sets them apart, contribute to the community, and continue to push themselves above and beyond. Lastly, more pragmatically, it will give our students more tools to construct the impressive candidate profiles that high schools so appreciate.