SOMS Hosts National French Week

Last week, South Orangetown Middle School World Language students celebrated French culture in recognition of National French Week!

Throughout the week, students enrolled in SOMS World Language teacher Marie-Laure Spatzs’ French classes made delicious crepes, participated in virtual scavenger hunts of Paris that helped them learn more about French culture, art, history and monuments and baked palmiers (elephant ears) in French Club. 

Earlier this school year, students wrote letters to a class in Biarritz, France and last week, they received their first responses! Spatz, originally from Biarritz, worked with a friend who teaches English there so their classes could become pen pals that will write to each other throughout the school year. 

In addition to activities within the classroom, students enrolled in French helped their peers learn about the language through various school-wide initiatives. French students welcomed their peers and staff members in the mornings inside the main entrances and greeted them in French and taught them simple greeting words and phrases. Trivia questions about French culture were announced during the daily announcements and students also had the opportunity to be the “t” in “Sault” in a National French Week pop-up photo booth during lunch periods on Friday. 

“This week is the perfect opportunity to expand on my class's knowledge of French culture and the many French-speaking countries across the world,” said Spatz. “My goal is that by the end of the week, all SOMS students can greet each other in French!”