Museums, Theatre, Fun and... Surprises

My class and I have had the opportunity to take part of the Washington Trip. It took place during the April holidays, and it has been a very fulfilling trip. We have visited the Washington monument, many museums and enjoyed some free time. The class’s favorite museums are the newseum, african-american and holocaust museum. These museums have shown a powerful message and have left us speechless. We have also enjoyed some nights out to the theatre, baseball and restaurants. Other nights have also been dedicated to a breakfast feast for example. Our trip was also filled with surprises, such as meeting the First Lady Brigitte Macron, and have a conversation with her. Our trip could not have happened without the help of the aseica board members and the teachers. Thank you all for organising such a fulfilling and beautiful trip, words cannot express our gratitude.♦ 

By Stella Strickland

Encounters and summit meetings: Stimulating presentations, brainstorming and propositions, which will soon be on the Education Minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer’s desk.

The International Education Development Foundation (FDEI), created 40 years ago at the ‘Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye’, organized its 6^th Convention on the 21^st and 22^nd of March 2018 at the Conseil de la Région Grand Est in Strasbourg. This event was patronized by French President Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Michel Blanquer, Education Minister who participated by video. 

The Vice President of Région Grand-Est welcomed an audience of almost 180 representatives from India, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, USA, Morocco and France. The Rectrice d’Académie de Strasbourg then gave her speech. The international section heads and teachers, principals, inspectors from partner countries and France, embassy representatives, parent associations and local education authorities, attended presentations by schools from Strasbourg offering international sections (2 primary, 2 collèges, 1 lycée); these presentations put forward best practice and new ideas. 

In a second phase, questions were raised during three workshops entitled “Primary”, “Diplomas at a time when the French baccalauréat is being reformed”, and “Accessibility and reputation of international sections”. Propositions were made and François-Xavier d’Aligny, President of the FDEI, has since presented these propositions to the deputy ministerial private secretary. This intervention should result in an appointment with the Minister.
Visits to the European Council and European Parliament, as well as a reception at the Strasbourg Town Hall added a special dimension to this convention. These enjoyable moments facilitated the creation of numerous contacts. The Aseica 8 person delegation largely contributed to the success of this event, not only from a logistical point of view but also by organizing certain workshops. The FDEI, the only meeting platform for international section players will soon publish documents related to this convention on its website www.fdei.org. The next convention will take place in two years time. ♦

By Francois-Xavier d’Aligny, President of the FDEI