La Petite Ecole dual language school closes out first year in new, larger building
La Petite Ecole, Columbia's private, not-for-profit, dual language school, has almost completed its first year in a new, larger building.
The new building
"We moved the first day of our summer program last year" in June, said Principal Joelle Quoirin. "It's brighter, bigger, more spacious."
"We moved in a week's time," said Janet Russell, assistant principal.
It is in space leased from Fairview Road Church of Christ at 201 S. Fairview Road.
Enrollment has increased by 25% from last year, from 60 students to 75 students.
The instruction is 80% in French and 20% in English, but they're never combined. Classes are in only French and only English. A visiting English-speaking reporter may have disrupted the routine some.
The school is open to students from 18 months to age 11.
Student perspectives
Tulia Wisedboonmee, 11, has attended the school since she was six and will be going to middle school elsewhere next school year.
"I really like the new building," Tulia said.
The teachers are good at explaining things if she doesn't understand something, she said.
"It can be hard at times learning French," Tulia said, adding that the teachers are always there to help.
She has a goal, she said.
"I want to go to France," Tulia said.
Zac Henderson, 11, also started at age 6.
"When I first started, I didn't know any French," Zac said.
He said he likes the new building.
"It's a lot more room," he said.
There is a lot of individual attention from teachers, Zac said.
"We have small classes," he said.
There are no grades, reducing pressure on students, he said.
Organic student phenomenon
An interesting phenomenon has developed organically among the students, said Jennifer Kewley, head assistant in French and English.
"The older children, like Tulia, help the younger children," Kewley said.
Zac has helped younger students on the playground with basketball, Russell said.
"They're not instructed to do so," Russell said.
Fundraiser
The school has a fundraiser scheduled on April 27, Soiree Gourmande. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Copperstone Clubhouse, 4200 Copperstone Creek Dr. The event starts at 7 p.m. admission is $20 per person in advance and $25 on the day of the event. It's promoted as an adults-only evening with a desserts competition and champagne.
Many English words come from French
Some estimates have placed the number of English words that come from French at around 30%, owing to Norman King William the Conqueror's invasion of Britain in 1066. A treatise by a French linguist recently has the title "The English Language Doesn't Exist. It's Just Badly Pronounced French."
A few examples of English words that come from French: machine, literature, energy, bureau, aviation.
A parent's perspective
Katrina Wymore is administrative assistant at the school and her children, third-grader Vincent and kindergartner Lucy, also are enrolled. Both have been attending four years.
"We moved here in 2019 from Kansas City," Wymore said.
Then the pandemic hit. Wymore said she didn't want Vincent to start kindergarten online.
"We had met Joelle," Wymore said. "We had been to France in 2018 and Vincent had retained some language. The school had small class sizes. It was the right fit."
It's a benefit to have kids who speak French, she said.
"We have taken them to Montreal," Wymore said. "They are our little interpreters for us."
Wymore said her children were praised there for speaking French with no American accent.
Her children speak French to each other regularly at home.
The individual education the students receive at the school is phenomenal, Wymore said.
"The teachers care for the students so much," she said.
The close group of parents attend all the kids' parties and have coffee with one another, Wymore said.
"This has become our family," she said.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia's La Petite Ecole celebrates first year in new building
