Meet the San Diego French American School

Tamara — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:01:17 +0000

One of the most unique educational opportunities for children in the San Diego area may be found at the San Diego French American School, located atop Mount Soledad in La Jolla. The school has been providing students from preschool through eighth grade with a dual language program for more than 20 years, and they have their eye toward the future with a long-range plan to eventually continue through high school.

Academics

The San Diego French American School is a dual language immersion school, which means that they teach their academic courses through both the English and French languages. By the time a student reaches the middle school, almost 80% of the coursework is in French. Adding another language to the mix, Spanish is a compulsory third language beginning in fifth grade. Faculty members from preschool through middle school have at least an undergraduate degree, with many of them holding higher degrees. In addition, most teachers are bilingual or multilingual and many are recruited internationally.

The school’s core curriculum of reading, writing and mathematics is based on the French educational system and also satisfies the requirements of the American educational system. The school’s academic program is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the French Ministry of National Education, and they are a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and a provisional member of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS).

Graduates

The San Diego French American School prepares graduates for both American high schools and for taking the baccalaureate exam at a French Lycée. Some students choose to continue their education in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at San Diego High School while others choose to attend selective private schools in the area. Their alumni have continued on to such universities as the Sorbonne in Paris, Harvard University, the University of California system, and others.

Visit

During my visit to the San Diego French American School, I met with Virginia Berracasa, who is the Communications and Admissions Officer. On my tour of the campus I found the classrooms to be bright, stimulating environments filled with students’ work in both French and English. From the kindergarten classrooms with their engaging learning centers to the middle school with their science and technology labs, the school’s facilities support the challenging academic program. They also sport a large grass playing field and other outdoor areas that take advantage of the climate that we enjoy in this part of California.

Two small incidents that took place during my visit left big impressions. The first was when I arrived and entered the office, where two staff members were discussing school business in French. When I approached the reception desk, they quickly switched to English to finish their discussion before greeting me. This small act was so elegantly and politely done that not only did it put me immediately at ease, it also reinforced that the school is a bilingual environment even beyond the classrooms.

The other experience occurred as I was touring the auditorium where Virginia shared some of the school’s hopes for future enhancements and renovation to their facilities. A class of preschoolers happened to enter and take the stage, listening attentively to their teachers who were speaking to them and directing them in French, using hand signals and body language as appropriate. To me, this interaction between teachers and students perfectly exemplified what an immersion program is all about.

Diversity

If you are looking for a school that offers challenging academics, is committed to diversity, and prepares students to take their place in a global society, I highly encourage you to visit the San Diego French American School. Families at the school represent more than 20 different nationalities, and some students speak three or four languages. With their unique blend of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic levels, the school truly represents a global community.

Some parents, especially those who speak only one language, may ask, “How will being bilingual and studying in a multi-cultural school help my child at this age?” But at the San Diego French American School, they encourage their parents to ask, “How will being bilingual and studying in a multi-cultural school help my child in the future?”

Learn more

Website
www.sdfrenchschool.org