Students in Action

Over the last six weeks, preschoolers have been diving into the program of inquiry, how we organize ourselves. In preschool, the transdisciplinary theme is we depend on one another. They learned about different jobs from French International staff and other guest speakers. They finished the unit with Fête des Chefs where they worked together to make crepes for each other and other invited guests.

One of Mr. Olson's seventh-grade music classes collaborated with Eléonore's preschool class this month. The seventh-grade students learned songs requested by the preschool students. They practiced for three weeks and performed for the preschoolers.

On March 3, French International celebrated Le Carnaval with parades, desserts, and dancing. Maternelle students created homemade masks and hats to wear as they paraded through the French International campus. The Beat Goes On marching band lead the way and Lower School and Middle School students lined the parade route to celebrate Le Carnaval.

Pre-K classes learned about the French tradition of the Galette Des Rois. The classes made the treats together and put a small token in the cake. The tradition says whoever has the token in their slice will have good fortune!

The second unit of the school year for preschool students is about the five senses. To learn about their senses, preschoolers did lots of fun activities. They painted rainbows, tasted different fruits, and more!

On March 17 and 18, French International third graders camped out in Tillamook for their field studies trip. They studied oceanography, arthropods, and coastal ecosystems. They also had smores, played games, and had a lot of fun!

French International second grader, Hudson Vanderberghe, performed in Encore Performing Arts Center’s rendition of Legally Blonde. Hudson was a member of the chorus and sang in all of the songs of the show. 

Sports, Music, Engineering, Art, Technology, and Science (SMEATS) were on display for French International’s SMEATS with Treats event. Lower School students showcased what they've learned with their various specialists and families brought treats to share with each other.

On April 12, French International fifth graders presented their Primary Years Programme (PYP) exhibition projects to their classmates, teachers, parents, and other French International students. The exhibition is a culmination of seven weeks of research, action, and reflection on a topic of choice. It's one of the last projects during the PYP process and gives students a chance to demonstrate the aspects of the learner profile while making a difference in the community.

French International welcomed Sébastien Gavignet and Brice Verdure from SLAM Tribu to host poetry workshops with French International Lower School students. Every Lower School class had a 75-minute workshop on poetry, stage presence, body language, and showing emotions. In addition, fourth graders participated in a podcast workshop with the two poets.

Earlier this month, seventh graders finished up an interdisciplinary unit about water that bridged their science and individuals and societies classes. They learned about ecosystems and climate in their science classes. They learned about history, geography, and how water relates to human development in their individuals and societies classes and in their language track. The focus was water on the African continent.

During advisory, Mme Cansse and Mrs. McCandless’s students learned about Changemakers, people who transform the world for the good of everyone. Check out the video below for their stories.

For the first time in school history, French International had representation at the Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) state tournament. Congratulations to the seventh-grade team of The Sauruses who made school history and were great ambassadors of French International. 

On March 2, the French International Eagles brought home two basketball league championships. This was the first time in school history that both the boys' and girls' basketball teams won the league title in the same year.

As part of the sixth-grade curriculum, students study languages and their importance. Each student writes an essay on why they think languages are important and what language French International should add if it considers adding another track. Language-track teachers selected essays from each language track.