Standing against discrimination and injustice, to further promoting diversity and practicing inclusion.

Message from the Head of School | JUNE 03 2020

These past few months have been very difficult for all internationally. Our LFSF community was also directly impacted and shaken by the health crisis, having to shelter and study at home, while facing the financial consequences of the pandemic.  Together we have been working to navigate this period of frustration, pain, and grief with agility, patience and empathy. 

The pandemic has taken its toll, but the horrific deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have left communities, all over the country and beyond, reeling from trauma, despair, and anger. While we are all grappling with the injustice of these senseless killings, our students, who are at various stages of emotional development, are trying to make sense of the anguish and violence they’re witnessing. 

As educators, our role is to help them place these events in their complex historical and social contexts, and understand the role they can play, as the educated global citizen they are growing up to be, to stand firmly against injustice, racism and discrimination, while promoting strong values - our LFSF values - of equality, diversity and inclusion.  Our mission with its diversity statement, calls forth our hopes and dreams for our students and for the world they will inherit. We must lean into it more so today than ever before, to ensure we are building communities where all feel that they belong and that their lives matter.

While there are many resources available to help our young learners talk about and make sense of these traumatic events ( I am sharing a few below ), I know that our students, and especially the older ones, have been deeply affected by these events and I am working on offering them a safe space to speak and exchange. 

Thank you for your continued support. Be well, stay safe and take good care.

Emmanuel TEXIER, Head of School [full message]

Message from the President of the Board of Trustees | JUNE 04 2020

Dear LFSF students, parents, teachers, staff and community,

In light of the recent tragedies impacting Blacks and African Americans in this country, the Board would like to reiterate its commitment to standing against racism and injustice. The horrific deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd are sadly only a few examples of recent violence against Blacks. Along with the COVID-19-related fatalities disproportionately impacting people of color, these tragedies highlight more than ever that there is a cumulative toll for this community.

As a Board, we stand in solidarity with our Black students, parents, teachers, staff and communities. We will make sure that LFSF continually strives towards creating a welcoming environment for our students and families, and inclusive workplaces for our teachers and staff. We are committed to continue building a community where diversity is expected, self-expression is honored, and everyone belongs. As part of this commitment, the Board launched 2 months ago a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. Chaired by George-Axelle BROUSSILLON MATSCHINGA and composed of trustees.  This committee provides strategic leadership, partnership, and guidance to advance diversity and inclusion, in alignment with LFSF’s Strategic Plan. 

As our Head of School stated in his last communication, the role of LFSF is more than ever to help our students place these events in their complex historical and social contexts, and understand the role they can play as students to stand firmly against injustice, racism and discrimination, while promoting our values of equality, diversity and inclusion.  We invite you to stand with us as we continue to challenge racism, bias and hate, and our teachers and staff play a part in developing our students to feel that they belong and can drive change in this world.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay safe and take good care.

Sincerely,

Erick Moreau, President of the Board of Trustees