This September, like all the inhabitants of New York City, the Lycée Français de New York is remembering the 20th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. Our high school students are attending a discussion between Terminale student, Camille, volunteer at the 9/11 Museum and Memorial, and Museum Executive Vice President and Deputy Director Clifford Chanin. In the middle school, students are participating in an oral history project, interviewing people who were in New York on September 11, 2001. The school is participating in the New York City Daffodil Project; and other community events have been organized with the Consulate of France, film director Jules Naudet, France Culture, and RFI.
En ce mois de septembre, comme tous les habitants de la ville de New York, le Lycée Français de New York se souvient du 20ème anniversaire de l’attentat du World Trade Center. Nos élèves du lycée assisteront en assemblée à un entretien virtuel mené par une élève de Terminale, Camille, volontaire au musée mémorial du 11 septembre, avec le directeur de ce musée, Clifford Chanin. Au collège, ils participeront avec leurs professeurs à un exercice d’histoire orale en interrogeant des personnes qui étaient à New York le 11 septembre 2001. Le Lycée s’associe également au projet jonquille de la ville de New York. D’autres événements communautaires ont été organisés avec le Consulat de France, le réalisateur Jules Naudet, France Culture, et RFI .
On this sombre occasion, Head of School Evelyne Estey recalls the words of former proviseur, Yves Thézé, from 20 years ago. At this moment, M. Thézé had just arrived at the Lycée to begin his tenure, and our students were not yet together in one building, but spread across multiple campuses. It was a moment of unity, care, and resilience in the Lycée community. As past Board Chairman Elsa Berry recalled in the 2001-2002 yearbook, “Together you have learned to respect differences, and therefore know tolerance… Do not forget the message of hope our marvelous cultural diversity represents: understanding of others, tolerance, and respect for each individual.”
Watch Ms. Estey read Mr. Thézé’s speech, and the conversation between Camille and Mr. Chanin, below.
Voici les mots que Monsieur Thézé a adressé à vos camarades de l’époque :
Nous avons vécu des heures douloureuses… Nous avons été les témoins indirects des attentats organisés contre les habitants de New York, de Washington et de Pennsylvanie; nous avons vu, à la télévision, dans les journaux, les dommages et les dégâts causés par ces actes d’une extrême violence. Ces crimes ont provoqué la mort de plusieurs milliers de personnes: des enfants, des hommes, et des femmes, d’origines différentes, de cultures différentes, de croyances différentes travaillant dans ce pays.
Aujourd’hui, nous sommes réunis pour rendre hommage à toutes les victimes de ces attentats.
Face à de tels actes, nous devons opposer la justice et ne pas tomber dans le piège tendu de l’intolérance et du rejet de l’autre au sein de notre communauté scolaire mais aussi dans tous nos actes de la vie quotidienne.
Nous avons un devoir de mémoire vis à vis des victimes… nous devons aussi nous tourner vers l’avenir, et vous êtes, vous les nouvelles générations, l’avenir de ce monde. Vous devez penser à “reconstruire” et continuer à croire aux valeurs de liberté, de justice et d’égalité qui sont les fondements de nos démocraties.
Un mois plus tard, Monsieur Thézé a ecrit ce message :
We are still recovering from the events of September 11. In stark contrast to what was happening in the world outside – I will never forget the warm, brave and supportive response of the entire Lycée Français de New York community. I want to thank everyone – parents, teachers, staff, administration, the Board of Trustees, the co-presidents of APL, the local community and of course our students who reacted calmly during this crisis. On that day, local stores provided free sandwiches for our students who were kept safely inside. Parents calmly picked up their children who were checked one by one out of School. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the many parents and staff who offered their houses to the children and staff who could not reach their homes on Tuesday.
Thanks also to all of you who have contributed to the NY Firefighters’ Memorial Fund. It is our way of expressing our solidarity for the many firefighters who lost their lives fighting to save others.
The Lycée community is a diverse group, but we all have one goal, the safety, health and education of our children.
Learn more about all of our commemoration events here; et en français ici.
About the Author :
Evelyne Estey is the Head of School at the Lycée Francais de New York. Evelyne brings to the Lycée a deep belief in the school’s mission of educating children to become Citizens of Culture and Courage. She served as Deputy Head and Chief Financial and Operating Officer of the Lycée from 2012 to 2017. In this position, she played an essential leadership role in growing the Lycée’s financial aid offering and in the planning and building of the York Wing, which, since its opening, has supported a transformation of teaching and learning at the school. From 1995 to 2012, she was an active member of the Lycée community as a parent and as a Trustee. Evelyne has consulted with educational institutions on financial management and governance, and currently advises with the Academy of International School Heads. In addition to her experience in education, Evelyne led a 25-year career in investment banking and asset management in New York City. She has also served as Trustee of Trinity School in Manhattan. Evelyne is a graduate of the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC Paris). She is the proud mother of three sons, all bilingual and alumni of the Lycée.