A Presence in Portland and the World

Over the last few weeks, first through fourth graders have participated in Field Studies. From day trips to overnight excursions, each grade's experience is curated to expand learning beyond the classroom.

Four years ago, Camille Reuff started a pen pal exchange with Marie Augros, a teacher in France. This month, Marie visited French International through a partnership with MLF Monde. During her two-week stay, she observed classrooms, engaged with teachers and students, and experienced local family life.

Each spring, eighth graders at French International embark on international trips to enhance their language skills and cultural understanding. This year, they visited Chile, China, France, Germany, and Spain. For each trip, students connected with locals, tasted foods, learned about the country's history, and celebrated the end of eighth grade with classmates.

Fifth graders recently took a nine-day trip to France, focusing on language and cultural immersion. They visited Paris and La Rochelle, seeing significant landmarks, tasting French foods, and practicing their language skills. The trip is a capstone of their language learning in Maternelle and Lower School and allows students to gain valuable cultural understanding.

On March 5 and 6, author Hashley Auguste visited kindergarten through fifth-grade students. For older students, she focused on her writing process, while for younger students, she read her book and led a discussion on confidence. These experiences enhance language learning and encourage students to be globally minded leaders.