Everyone in the Lycée community is invited to our first community event of the year, Fête Foraine, on Saturday, November 3 from 10am – 4pm. The theme of this year’s event is EXPLORE. Attendees will be encouraged to explore in all kinds of ways and travel through different terrains, from outer space to a science lab to a jungle full of wild animals.
We are excited to introduce Soraya Victory and Sanaz Partovi, this year’s Fête Foraine Co-Chairs.
How did you decide on the theme of exploration, and how will the theme be embraced?
SANAZ: The idea for the theme actually came from Soraya, and I thought it was a brilliant idea! Kids are all about exploration. It’s an aspect of childhood that is always exciting. For me this idea also ties in very well with our school’s vision of “Citizens of Culture and Courage.” Culture is all about diversity and exploration, and exploration entails courage and openness.
Choosing this theme was also interesting because it gave us the liberty to branch out to different areas that are fascinating to kids, literally from cells to the stars. We hope that we can take you on a journey through our décor and activities this year!
SORAYA: I couldn’t have said it better myself! I’m always inspired by children’s curiosity, and we wanted to create an environment where their sense of adventure—physical and intellectual—could guide them.
What kinds of activities will there be for kids at Fête Foraine?
SANAZ: There will be all kinds of activities! We tried to cater to different age groups with classes, arts and crafts, activities, movies, etc. We are designing a few itineraries to make the navigation easier for everyone.
SORAYA: We hope that kids of all ages will engage in the theme of exploration through both the STEAM activities like labs and the Maker Space, and the scavenger hunt which will take them exploring around the whole Fête.
Will there be anything new this year that we haven’t seen before?
SANAZ: Of course! From the décor, to the activities and classes. There are nouveautés and surprises that we hope you will enjoy.
SORAYA: One of the ones we’re most excited about is the scavenger hunt, which will involve solving puzzles and hunting for clues all around the Fête. We’re also going to have a smartphone app for the first time, with maps, alerts, suggested itineraries and other resources to help families get the most out of the event. It’s Beta, but we’re looking forward to testing it out, getting feedback and hopefully adding more functionality next year—like games!
What made you want to volunteer as co-chairs for this event?
SANAZ: My family joined the Lycée community last year and it has truly been a wonderful experience for us. Being involved with the school events makes our connection even stronger. Soraya and I volunteered with each other during last year’s Spring Fair, which was a great experience. And last but not least, having Kate and May as the Director and Assistant Manager of Community Events made my decision to co-chair the Fête Foraine a lot easier knowing we are in great hands. Having their expertise, creative vision and calm has made it a process to look forward to.
SORAYA: It’s my family’s third year at the school, and we’ve found that its strength really lies in the community—in everyone’s willingness to convene and collaborate. It makes everything else—from academics, athletics and beyond—not only successful but meaningful. I was honored to come on board for the Fête Foraine to do my part in giving back.
About the Author :
May Bayer joined the Development team at the Lycée in 2017 as Assistant Manager of Events. Born and raised in Boston, she graduated from Colgate University and then began her career in development and special events at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston before moving to New York City. Outside of work, May enjoys riding her bike in Central Park, volunteering with her university’s alumni club, and exploring the city, especially its many museums and restaurants.