This is already my last letter of the school year—well, maybe you’ll get one final note next Thursday wishing you a wonderful summer, but that will be it! I’d like to thank everyone who reads these letters regularly and those who find the time to reply, even briefly, or slip a word in (my grandmother would have said “me toucher un mot”) about something they read in a letter when they see me at the door in the morning. It was through these conversations that I realized my recent letter about the identity of our school—when I wondered if it is a little too French—struck a chord and prompted many thoughtful responses that will definitely serve as future letter-writing inspiration.

With the school year coming to an end and the graduation ceremonies wrapping up, eyes red with emotion, it is tempting to take stock of the year. It’s a difficult exercise to complete in a few paragraphs (each summer, I send Philippe and Laurence a 20-page-long report). Still, a few highlights stand out. First, the excellent high schools our 8th Grade students were accepted into. Second, the many awards and distinctions we earned in national and international competitions—achievements we celebrated at this morning’s assembly. Finally, our new Elementary and Middle School building has more than lived up to its promise; the children have made it their own, our staff has settled into it comfortably, and everything has functioned remarkably well. As we had hoped, this beautiful new learning environment has given The École a new dimension and allowed us to continue growing despite a challenging climate in which many French schools in the United States are either holding steady or experiencing declining enrollment.

We expect to welcome approximately 380 students in September, compared with 370 on the first day of school this year. Growth is naturally concentrated in the Middle School (where larger cohorts continue to rise each year). Emily O’Hanlon will oversee 77 students there next year (compared with 69 today). Our Maternelle is, as has become a habit, almost full. As I write these lines, there are only four spots left, and unfortunately, we had to turn away many applicants for Kindergarten once again. We have a few scattered openings in Elementary, although 1st Grade and 3rd Grade are full. We continue to receive far more applications than we can accommodate for those classes, but we remain firmly committed to our limit of 20 students per class. As every year, we expect a few additional applications to arrive over the summer, just as it is always possible that one of our families may unexpectedly announce a departure. These figures are therefore estimates, but they nevertheless reflect a clear trend: a school whose bilingual program and strong sense of community continue to attract families, most often thanks to our current parents, who never hesitate to tell friends and acquaintances how highly they think of The École. For that, I am deeply grateful.

I have a special thought this week for the forty or so children whose last week it will be at The École. It happens every year, yet it never fails to make me sad. Some will continue their education at other schools in New York City, but for most, saying goodbye to The École also means saying goodbye to New York. They are headed to Seattle, Miami, Lebanon, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Singapore, and, of course, for the vast majority, France. Wherever they go, they will always remain part of The École family. I hope they make the most of these final days with us.