This past Tuesday morning, I had the immense pleasure of talking with many of you at the general meeting of our “Association des parents d’élèves” or, as it is known within the school community, the APL. On behalf of the 1330 students who are in our care, I am writing today to express the deep gratitude I feel for everything our parents, as well as our faculty and staff, do so often on a voluntary basis to advance our educational mission.
Please know that whenever, and I really do mean each and every time, I have the privilege of representing the Lycée Français in the outside world, whether it be when speaking with public officials, meeting with prospective families, recruiting potential teachers or engaging in any other manner of introduction to our wonderful school, I place you at the heart of the extraordinary educational experience we are able to provide the young people in our charge. Your volunteering makes a remarkable difference!
APL Meeting on Tuesday, January 29th.
In giving so generously of your time and expertise and passion, you allow us to transcend the boundaries of what it would otherwise be possible to accomplish as a community of learning. As APL officers, class delegates, committee members, event organizers, project initiators, not to mention participants in that exceptionally important occasion for the Lycée Français de New York which is our Annual Gala, you enable the school to keep its sites raised in the service of our students and to work in unison to implement the vision we all have for their futures.
When thinking about your truly invaluable contributions as volunteers, I am always reminded of that witty tale you may have already heard me tell regarding the man who dreamed about building a school, but considered that the only way he would ever be able to do so would be to win the lottery. And in the hope of realizing his dream, the man would fall to his knees in prayer, day after day, pleading with the heavens to let him win the million dollar prize he needed to get started.
Parents and staff volunteers at the 2012 Spring Fair.
Well, after months of praying without the slightest success, the man finally looked up at the sky and called out: “Lord, I have pleaded and pleaded with you to let me win the lottery and not once have you listened. Why, o! Lord, why?” No sooner had he uttered these words than the man heard the sound of a voice booming from behind the clouds: “Son, you would like to win the lottery, is that right”. “Yes, sir,” replied the man. “Well, if that’s the case, I have a recommendation to make.” “A recommendation, sir?” replied the man. “Yes. If you want to me help you win the lottery, I have but one requirement: you had better begin by getting yourself a ticket!”
If you will allow me to say so myself, dear parent, faculty and staff volunteers, how unlike this man you are. You clearly share our dream for the Lycee Francais de New York, but it is a dream you bring to life through your actions. Thank you very much for that spirit of limitless possibility with which your selfless volunteering imbues our school.
Sincerely yours.
About the Author :
Sean Lynch was Head of School at the Lycée Français de New York from 2011 to 2018, after having spent 15 years at another French bilingual school outside of Paris: the Lycée International de St. Germain-en-Laye. Holding both French and American nationalities, educated in France (Sciences Po Paris) and the United States (Yale), and as the proud husband of a French-American spouse and father of two French-American daughters, Sean Lynch has spent his entire professional and personal life at the junction between the languages, cultures and educational systems of France and the United States. In addition to being passionate about education, he loves everything related to the mountains, particularly the Parc National du Mercantour.