May 2007

 

Dear Parents

The end of the school year is near and I would like to thank you for your collaboration and commitment to our school. We are finishing our tenth year with several achievements that we are quite proud of

·          The FASM opened its doors in September of 1995 with 7 students, 2 teachers and 3 preschool levels. It obtained its accreditation, the first in the state of Florida for preschool, which went on to the elementary level a year later. It now has close to 140 students, preK1 thru 5^th grade, and an instruction of English taught by 4 teachers including ESOL (initiation and bringing up to grade level). From it, along with Mr. Bourreau, originated an adult choir and drama club (Le Téâtre du Trou de Mémoire) which will have its second presentation May 11th. It is the only establishment in North America to offer as part of their curriculum a field trip to France’s overseas territories.

·          The review of the teachers conducted last January by Mrs. Selva, Academic Counselor for the French Ministry of Education in Washington, confirms that the academic choices (both in French and in English) done by our establishment are and remain valid and efficient, hence our accreditation by the French Ministry of National Education, Advanced Education and Research and also by the Florida Kindergarten Council for over 10 years.
·          Our field trip Saint Augustine and Cape Canaveral, pictures of which can be seen on our website was a huge success both in the planning and the variety and richness of the activities offered. 

·          All our 5^th grade students who applied to Carver Middle School have been accepted; we congratulate them and wish that they continue the tradition of excellence solidly established by their predecessors.

·          The SAT results were particularly high, we noted this year several students which were in English Reading Comprehension at a pre-high school level, some of those students had never attended an American school, others had been at FASM over five years! These results speak for the quality of our English program and of our colleagues Rebecca Ward, Jill Heckaman and Michelle Shindell to whom we extend our best wishes for the sabbatical she will undertake with her three children.

We are planning to offer for next year more after school activities in addition to soccer and ballet, Spanish, Mosaic, Needles and Threads, Music and Arts (chess, and other games of strategy, study hall, theater, baking/cooking, dance, etc.

We are happy to have been able to bring back a motivated team. The fourth and fifth grades will be split for the first time next term. In elementary we have achieved a class project together with the organization Aide et Action which has given the elementary students the possibility, through correspondence, to contribute to a better school environment for students from Togo, Benin and Senegal. Our students have raised over $900 for this project.

Our gratitude to all the colleagues and parents who generously supported our colleague Anne Francois after her car accident, their donations allowed her to buy a new vehicle.

The poetry contest, the school choir and the reading night were great successes.

Maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in North America makes the parents involvement in the Parents’ Club indispensable. We invite you, at this time, to contact the Club to volunteer and to send in your membership as early as possible.

We would like to thank Mrs. Sonia Denham, president, Mrs. Cissy Settler, treasurer, and all the members for their work this year. Our thanks also go out to Mr. Vinogradoff, our Consul General and his wife Tamar for their impeccable hosting of the Brazilian Gala which raised over $10 600!

The end of the year show will take place on May 25^th in the presence of Mr. Vinogradoff, our Consul General of France in Miami, which will give out the traditional graduation gifts to our 5^th grade students.

We are especially grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Gobilliard for having allowed the whole team to spend a fabulous and relaxing week-end at the Sand Piper Club Med.

We thank our new teachers, Mrs. Laurence Hurtaud and Mr. Sébastien Dhont for their work and all our teaching and non-teaching staff for their devotion and professionalism; they have made, and continue to make our establishment successful. We wish success and happiness to all the families that are leaving us and welcome to our new ones!

Lena McLorin-Salvant, Director