A New Chapter Begins: Maternelle Buildings Open at French International

This month, French International reached a long-anticipated milestone in our full campus transformation: the opening of our new Maternelle buildings. With doors officially open, our TPS through first-grade students and teachers began a new chapter, settling into learning spaces designed especially for their earliest years of growth and discovery.

From the very first days, the impact of these new classrooms has been unmistakable. Teachers and students are already making the spaces their own, exploring environments intentionally designed to support play-based learning, creativity, and connection. With direct access to the forest and outdoor learning areas, the Maternelle classrooms fully reflect our educational philosophy, valuing curiosity, movement, and meaningful engagement. These classrooms will be a permanent part of our campus for generations to come.

As Joy Zias, TPS teacher, shared with her families on Seesaw:

“We are now in our new space, and the children don’t often seem to want to leave it. They are enjoying discovering the new light, placement of things, new toilets just for them.”

Behind this exciting moment was a coordinated effort to bring the buildings to life. On Wednesday, January 14, the Maternelle buildings received a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), allowing the spaces to be used while the contractor completed final minor items. 

That Friday, teachers packed up their classrooms as the first materials were moved into the new buildings. Over the weekend, moving crews and volunteers transported furniture and learning materials, and by Monday, faculty, staff, and volunteers came together to thoughtfully set up each classroom, preparing welcoming spaces for students’ arrival.

The unveiling of the new classrooms happened in stages. On Tuesday, kindergarten and first-grade students were the first to see their new learning environments. Meanwhile, TPS, preschool, and pre-k classrooms completed the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) certification process, which ensures that each space is safe, developmentally appropriate, and fully equipped for the age group it serves. Nine Maternelle classrooms were certified that day, and on Wednesday, our youngest learners entered their new rooms for the first time.

Check out this short video of students reacting to seeing their classrooms for the first time.

While students and teachers are now fully enjoying the buildings, a few final construction items remain before the project receives its official Certificate of Occupancy. This work is ongoing, and we anticipate completion in the coming weeks.

Thank you to the faculty, staff, and community members whose time, energy, and teamwork made this move possible. Finally, we are grateful to our Capital Campaign donors, whose generosity helped turn a long-held vision into reality. The Grow With Us Capital Campaign continues as we complete the Maternelle spaces and look ahead to the next phases of our campus transformation. To learn more or get involved, please visit campaign.frenchintl.org or contact Marianne Wilburn, Director of Development.