Here’s a look back at the highlights of the past two months — or rather, the fabulous highlights of this recent period !
A huge THANK YOU to Chelsea and Marianne for organizing our very first History Fair. It was truly impressive !
Each Primary School student was asked to choose a political, scientific, or artistic figure connected to the historical periods studied in their grade, create an (aesthetic) poster retracing the figure’s life and key achievements, be able to justify their choice, and present their work fluently in both English and French. To top it all off, they also had to dress up as the historical figure they portrayed.
Meanwhile, the youngest students had to create a puppet in the image of their space or ocean hero, using specific recyclable materials. It was simply amazing, breathtaking ! So many of you came to listen, ask questions, and admire their work — we are sure you’ll agree.
Idriss I, Nefertiti, Marie-Antoinette, Vincent Van Gogh, Charles de Gaulle, Alexander le Grand ... it was almost impossible to choose between them !
And the winners were : Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Reesa), Nikola Tesla (Inès), and Frida Kahlo (Ameirah).
Congratulations to them, and to all our students !
Another fabulous event, this time part of our Year of Craftsmanship: a shadow theater performance.
There are only 20 shadow artists in the world — thank you, Philippe Beau, for mesmerizing the children with your hands and your poetry !
The third fabulous event to date, always linked to the Crafts of the Hand : John Nolletcame to share his passion for hair, talk about his career and share his achievements and dreams !Amélie Poulain‘s haircut, it’s him, Jack Sparrow’s haircut, him again. Attention was at an all-time high, and the questions were extremely numerous and detailed. It was an immense pleasure and honour to welcome him ! A first for him ! Well done to our students for their curiosity, attention and enthusiasm. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to John Nollet, a unique moment of transmission !
Coming up : the Poetry by Heart competition, World Book Day, a visit to La Chocolaterie Alain Ducasse, and for you parents, Grégoire Borst's lecture on neuromyths (in English) !
– Barbara
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The TPS finished their period focused on ‘minibeasts’ with a visit to ‘le Monde de Noé’.
Passionate about sport from an early age and convinced of the physical and psychological benefits of regular practice, Morgan is a multi-medal-winning champion (golf, basketball, cross-country, handball, etc.) and a fantastic teacher. He teaches physical education to all classes at Union School.
Morgan pays particular attention to each pupil, adapting his approach to the needs of each one. For example, he explains how he helps a shy pupil to gain self-confidence.
« With shy children, my priority is to build their confidence and put them in a position to succeed.
I value every little effort, even if they don't participate fully in the activity.
I generally start with individual or small group exercises, to encourage a gradual approach. Gradually, I try to involve the rest of the group so that they naturally become closer to him, by encouraging caring and collective behaviour - for example, by awarding points to children who integrate him gently and kindly.
I can also give him a specific important role that involves him interacting with others, without forcing him. The idea is to encourage bonding, without pressure.
I take the time to get to know them better, by taking an interest in their tastes and what motivates them.
I congratulate their successes discreetly, so as not to make them feel uncomfortable.
I regularly ask them how they're feeling, always in a friendly, non-threatening way.
Finally, I use imagination a lot, to make the sessions fun and accessible: stories about pirates, animals or explorers can turn a sporting activity into a reassuring adventure. This captures their attention and creates a link with their interests. »
In March, the Petite and Moyenne Sections classes were delighted to welcome Kian's mum and Romy and Cyrus's dad for a cultural break around Nowruz, the Persian New Year. This festival, celebrated at the time of the spring equinox, symbolises renewal and hope. Our guests presented the children with the elements of the Haft Seen, a table made up of seven objects carefully chosen to represent the wishes for the coming year : health, love, prosperity, wisdom, rebirth... Cyrus, Romy and Kian were beaming with pride as they shared this family tradition with their friends ! And to the delight of the little gourmets, Iranian sweets were also sampled.
This wonderful exchange was rounded off by the discovery of two other festivals marking the arrival of spring : Holi, the Indian festival of colours, and Baba Marta, celebrated in Bulgaria. Thank you to our little Savina for allowing us to immerse ourselves in this beautiful Bulgarian tradition !
These moments of sharing remind us how much the rich cultural diversity of our class is a real treasure. What an opportunity to grow together in an environment so open to the world !
After discovering the king's planet in The Little Prince in a philosophy workshop, the Grande Section pupils discussed the theme of power. Here are some extracts from their discussion.
Philippe Beau is a shadow magician, one of the few professional artists specialising in the rare and poetic discipline of creating shadow plays using only his hands. This ancient art is known as ombromania.
His various shows can be compared to choreographed hand ballets, where the shadows of characters and animals flow seamlessly into one another in a unique morphing process, with no special effects other than the virtuosity of his intertwining fingers.
He uses his hands to their fullest extent to create ephemeral shadows of a beauty and originality that are considered unique in the world.
A shadow performer and artistic advisor, he is an internationally recognised specialist in ombromania. He has performed in over thirty countries.
He has also imagined and created new artistic forms around shadows for all areas of the performing arts.
• Can you tell us about your school in a few words ?
P.B :I did all my schooling in Grenoble. My friends and teachers were curious to see me practising my passion for magic and shadows regularly between classes. It was very unusual for them to see me constantly working with a deck of cards or pieces to manipulate. I felt at the age of 14 that magic would become my profession. That's what often happens when your passion is so strong and those around you allow you to believe in it.
• Were you a happy student and why ?
P.B : Yes. Even at primary school, I tried to link the arts with school by imagining plays with my friends or inventing a newspaper (with comics inside) for my classmates.
• Was there a teacher who made an impression on you and why ?
P.B : One year, a German teacher made an impact on me because she loved art in all its forms. She spent a year introducing us to German films, German authors, cooking and the theatre, all of which she loved. Everything had to do with art. As a result, I became very good at German. It seemed so simple because I liked the subjects.
• A particular school memory ? An anecdote ?
P.B : It was perhaps the first time I had performed in front of my class. My classmates usually saw me as a well-behaved, shy and sometimes self-effacing child. They discovered a different person when they saw me ‘on stage’ or rather in front of the blackboard. My classmates didn't recognise me because I had become another person capable of making them dream, laugh and be moved.
• A recommendation for an outing, workshop or activity for young and old ?
P.B : My 11-year-old daughter and I recently discovered a zoo that's very different from other zoos. It's called ‘La Tanière’(near Chartres) and takes in animals that have been abandoned or mistreated in laboratories. The team cares for them, welcoming them with great respect and reintegrating them in good conditions. We saw animals that were happy and respected. We even saw a pair of pumas in love, side by side, happy to be together. It was a beautiful sight.
Nous restons à votre disposition pour tout complément d’information : UNION SCHOOL - Barbara de Baudry d'Asson
