As we have done every year for the past 8 years, we are delighted to present our annual Day of Understanding on Tuesday, December 17. This key moment in the school year embodies our school’s core values: Solidarité – Community, Ténacité – Commitment, Esprit de découverte – Open Minds, Épanouissement – Joy*.
This annual event is much more than just a celebration; it symbolizes our deep commitment to encouraging our students to embrace the richness of diversity around them and to nurturing values that will help them grow into enlightened, caring citizens.
Throughout the year, our students explore topics and concepts in class that lead them to reflect on cultural, religious and socio-economic differences, and on diversity in all its forms. Our Day of Understanding is the culmination of this pedagogical work, offering Primary students a concrete opportunity to put into practice what they have learned in a collective, festive setting.
Solidarité – Community
Day of Understanding is first and foremost a moment of solidarity and community. By working together to explore the values of respect and acceptance, students strengthen their bonds with their peers and develop a sense of belonging to a united community. Each activity is designed to encourage them to cooperate, support their peers and recognize themselves in a group where diversity is celebrated. By opening up to the richness of each other’s identities and experiences, they discover the strength of a community founded on mutual aid and understanding.
Ténacité – Commitment
Our students are encouraged to develop perseverance and resilience as they tackle sometimes new and complex topics. Through age-appropriate activities, they discover that understanding others requires constant effort and openness of heart and mind. By learning to listen to and respect differences, they exercise their tenacity in a context that values personal effort.
Esprit de découverte – Open Minds
This day is also an invitation to exploration and curiosity. From kindergarten onwards, students learn to be open to differences, whether through exchanges on cultural customs, spiritual traditions or socio-economic realities. Each lesson is an open door to the world around them, helping them to adopt a broader, more nuanced outlook. The spirit of discovery accompanies them beyond the day, nourishing their desire to learn and understand others.
Épanouissement – Joy
Last but not least, Day of Understanding is a day of joy and fulfillment. It’s a time when students express themselves, ask questions and actively participate in exchanges in a caring and inclusive environment. By taking part in activities that invite them to explore their individual identities and how they are part of a larger community, they fully experience their belonging to a school that values the happiness and well-being of every child. This shared joy strengthens their attachment to the school and fosters their passion for learning.
Our Day of Understanding is much more than just a festive event; it is the expression of our commitment to shaping young citizens who are open, respectful and resilient.
*Through 160 interviews, eight student town halls, eight student focus groups, and 250 survey responses, students, faculty, staff, and parents worked last Spring to define together the values of our school exploring what truly encompasses the Lycée, and what we hope for our students today and in the future. In the end, we chose four values, with each one a composite of two words–one in French, one in English–complementary, but not identical. In the spirit of the Lycée, together, they, and we, are stronger!
All photos by Victoria Jackson
About the Author :
Vannina Boussouf grew up on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, where bilingualism is an integral part of identity. She studied English and Spanish at the University of Corsica, and philology and letters in Cordoba, Spain, before starting a career as an elementary teacher and administrator. Vannina relocated to the United States in 2004, where she taught at the International School in Louisiana. She joined the Lycée in 2007 to direct the Primary School, and during her tenure, she has focused on innovative teaching methods that support the development of the whole child in a bilingual setting.