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School Moments, en bref

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2025-6-10 en bref
  • On June 9, graduation morning began with our 68 seniors parading in caps and gowns from the high school to maternelle, cheered on by students and staff. The next day, after their graduation ceremony, Kindergarteners were escorted to the second floor by 5th graders, who then joined the 8th graders on the third floor. This beloved tradition mirrors our students’ journeys, as younger grades are lifted up while seniors retrace their steps one final time—a joyful celebration of growth and new beginnings.
  • Thanks to the $252,000 raised for La Cantine during the Soirée, the kitchen renovation will begin this summer and continue through the 2025–2026 school year. We’re excited to welcome our new food service partner, Quest Food Management, who will begin serving their delicious menu on the first day of school this fall!  
  • At the Soirée, the 385 guests were treated to a powerful performance by Artist in Residence Justin Roberts and six talented student singers, who sang the new LFC anthem. It was a moving reminder of what philanthropy makes possible, as donations fully fund the Artist in Residence program.
  • 100% success in the DELF exam! Twenty-six French-language-learning students in primary —ten in Grade 3 and 16 in Grade 5—did an amazing job on this optional certification, which assesses their skills in French as a foreign language.
  • The LFC took first place in the worldwide AEFE dance competition among 32 participating schools! Competing in the secondary school category, our students wowed the judges with their performance on the theme “You have a message.”
  • Giving the Gift of Life! Our first-ever Blood Drive in May with the American Red Cross was a success. With 44 donors and 42 units of blood collected, we far surpassed our collection goal of 28 units! Even more inspiring—70% of our donors were first-time donors in the American Red Cross system. We made a powerful impact: every drop counts when someone needs blood every 2 to 3 seconds.
  • At LFC, travel is a key part of learning and growing. In the last few weeks alone, 2nd graders explored nature at Camp Edwards, while 5th graders immersed themselves in French language and culture in Québec. Middle schoolers competed in the North American Lycées Games in Québec, and 9th-grade IB students traveled to France to deepen their global understanding. These trips build independence, confidence, and lifelong connections—hallmarks of the LFC experience.

Highlights

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Five photos of LFC teacher, Cyn Koukos
Portraits of Our Community: Cyn Koukos

As part of our ongoing series, "Oui" are the Lycée: Portraits of our Community, we are honored this week to spotlight Cyn Koukos, a beloved English teacher who has been a cornerstone of the Lycée Français de Chicago for the past 30 years. A proud Greek-American, Cyn joined the school in 1995—the year it opened—and has since devoted her career to teaching in the secondary school, primarily in middle school. Affectionately known as “Ms. K.” by her students, she often jokes that all of them are her children. Her warmth, dedication, and lasting impact on generations of students have shaped our community in countless ways. In recognition of her exceptional contributions to education, Cyn was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French Ministry of Education in October 2022—a prestigious honor reflecting her passion for teaching and unwavering commitment to her students.

As she prepares to retire at the end of this school year, we celebrate her extraordinary legacy with deep gratitude and heartfelt admiration. We can never thank her enough for all she has brought to the Lycée over the years.

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Four photos of kindergarteners taking part in various play-based activities
From Karaoke to Computer Coding: How Play-based Learning Guides Kindergarteners

Imagine your child joyfully singing out letter sounds or collaborating with classmates in a game that builds essential skills – this is the heart of our play-based learning approach at the LFC's preschool and Kindergarten programs. Through engaging, hands-on activities, such as board games, creative crafts, and even karaoke, our students build crucial language, socio-emotional, and motor skills while building a lifelong love of learning. 

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Four group photos from the 2024-25 artist in residence program
“No Place I'd Rather Be”: Sharing our School Community Through Song

Whether it’s capturing our school community through photography or recreating Homer’s “The Odyssey” on film, the LFC’s Artist-in-Residence program remains a cornerstone of its arts education—welcoming a new creator every other year to share their discipline with the school. Visiting from France, Senegal, Germany, and beyond, each artist brings a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the arts and spark their creativity.

This year, the spotlight was on music, with the goal of creating an anthem that encompasses an LFC education and unites students from pre-K to Grade 12. Who better to lead them on this journey than Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Justin Roberts!

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Five headshots of the newest board members for the 2025-26 school year
Meet Our New Board Members

The LFC Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome its newest members—Philippe Carlier, Mariam Huss, Jason Logman, David Sokol, and Alex Varlet—whose three-year terms will begin on July 1, 2025. The Board is also pleased to announce that current member Jennifer Lee has been named Chair-elect and will serve under Brigitte Ozzello, who is entering her second and final year as Chair. Jennifer will begin her two-year term as Chair on July 1, 2026. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Joanne Barry Babule, Tatiana Bonuma, Randy Bridgeman (past-secretary), Kelsey Burr (past-chair), Marissa Ingley, and Virginie Ott-Bono (past-chair), who concluded their Board service this year after many years of dedicated commitment to the school.

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Four photos from the Math and Science Award Ceremony
A Year of Outstanding Results in Concours Kangourou, Concours Castor and More

At LFC, students regularly earn excellent results in national and international math competitions. In 2024-2025, their results were record-breaking–making it a historic year for our school! These achievements were celebrated during the first-ever Math and Science Award Ceremony, and will remain displayed on the fourth-floor’s “Math and Science Wall of Fame” for years to come!

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The Geological Time Walk: An Engaging Exploration of Earth's History
The Geological Time Walk: An Engaging Exploration of Earth's History

In mid-May, as part of the Year of Geosciences, the LFC proudly stood out as one of just 25 AEFE schools worldwide—and the only one in North America—to join this global science initiative. Around 40 students from Grades 5–11 and 20 staff volunteers met at River Park to retrace Earth's history through 18 interactive workshops. Covering topics such as the evolution of our planet, the formation of the universe, the appearance of humans on Earth, and today’s environmental challenges, these stations were spread across 4.6 km to represent Earth’s 4.6-billion-year history. The event attracted many curious attendees, who appreciated the diverse, hands-on activities and experiments, ranging from reconstructing the water cycle to seaweed tasting and fossil identification. It was an exciting way to learn while having fun—marking a successful journey through time and a (re)discovery of Earth’s story!

Photos of the Olympic Games in Cycle 3
Olympic Games in Grades 4, 5 and 6

As part of the transition from primary to secondary, the PE department organized the fifth edition of the PE Cycle 3 Olympics. Twenty-two teams composed of 4th, 5th and 6th-grade students competed in various physical and sporting activities such as handball, basketball, ultimate frisbee, badminton and track & field. Our 8th-grade students also played a key role in the event by refereeing, keeping score and being encouraging team captains. The event ended with an award ceremony and snacks.

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