First Steps to Bilingualism MAT ER NELLE AT T H E LYCÉE FRANÇAIS D E NEW YO R K Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
IN THE MAGICAL TIME SURROUNDING EARLY CHILDHOOD, young minds eagerly explore their surroundings, curiously navigate social waters, creatively imagine new worlds and rapidly acquire language skills—whether they’re refining their abilities in their native tongue or learning a new one.
Not only do children who speak more than one language demonstrate extraordinary adaptability, profound empathy and heightened creativity in problem-solving, introducing an additional language at a young age also enhances a child’s grasp of their first language. At the Lycée Français de New York, our Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs provide children with far more than the advantages of a bilingual education. As they play and grow, learn and explore, fully nurtured and immersed in a truly bicultural environment, children acquire the essential foundation of an authentic French education—the first step in a world-class, internationally recognized course of study.
The Lycée’s inclusive international community not only embraces each student in our care, but their family as well. Our safe, secure building becomes more than a state-of-the-art learning environment with a rooftop playground, but a home where we invite parents to join their children on a journey of growth and discovery.
All Levels Of French And English Welcome Young minds pick up language quite naturally. The Lycée welcomes students (and families!) of any level of French to our Nursery and Pre-K programs. For prospective Kindergarten students, a basic understanding of French is recommended to allow adequate preparation for first grade. Children without a formal French background are fully integrated into class with French-speaking students to speed language acquisition and socialization. Similarly, Preschool children with very little knowledge of English rapidly acquire the language through playtime and class time with students and teachers. All levels of English are welcome in all grades; beginning in first grade, new French-speaking arrivals may participate in our English Language Learning program if needed.
Becoming Bilingual Each Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten classroom is led by two child development experts: one native English speaker and one native French speaker. A teacher’s assistant is also on hand to provide extra support to children during the school day. Children spend 50% of their time in French and 50% of their time in English, moving seamlessly and authentically between these two core languages throughout the school day.
Foundation Of The French Curriculum Following the curriculum of the French Ministry of Education and accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools, the Lycée blends the intellectual rigor and breadth of an authentic French education with a genuine American spirit of creativity, optimism and ingenuity. By organizing the skills and knowledge students master into three-year cycles, the French system offers a flexible, yet foundational, approach to learning. In Nursery through Kindergarten, our program provides children with the French curriculum’s complete Cycle 1, known as Maternelle. As students play, create, imagine and explore, they develop their fine and gross motor skills, expand their abilities in oral language and self-expression, and cultivate abstract thinking. Real-world projects engage children in the community around them, showing them the impact they can have in the world.
Understanding Themselves And Others Developing social skills and self-awareness are central to the early childhood years. The ability to acknowledge and accept their feelings promotes children’s learning, creativity and all-around happiness. The Lycée has partnered with pioneers at Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence to incorporate and develop the RULER approach to social and emotional learning. The initiative helps students better understand themselves, their emotions and the people around them, further deepening the empathy that a bilingual education naturally evokes. In addition, intentional efforts to celebrate the diversity of experiences within our pluricultural school community play a central role in fostering mutual understanding.
Day At A Glance 8:30 AM TO 2:30 PM – REGULAR SCHOOL DAY Children engage in a balance of play, structured and creative activities, using French or English on alternate days. Throughout the week, students enjoy music, physical education, movement and library time with dedicated subject teachers. Frequent field trips to places such as the zoo or a museum embrace all that our vibrant city offers.
• Circle time • Story time • Snack (provided by Lycée) • Workshops • Recess (on rooftop playground or at John Jay Park)
• Lunch (provided by family) • Nap/Quiet time • Workshops
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM - GARDERIE (for Nursery students: until 4:00 pm 1st semester and 5:00 pm 2nd semester)
After-school care, called garderie, is offered in French and in English, and incorporates activities like art, music, cooking and story time. Parents purchase after-school flextime and use it as they wish throughout the year.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM – AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS (for Nursery students: 2nd semester only)
Clubs encourage even our youngest students to explore a variety of interests— including graphic arts, physical fitness and basic computer coding—while making new friends and further developing their language abilities.
Beyond Kindergarten As students advance to first grade, the percent of instruction conducted in French increases to 80% to reinforce French-language skills. In our Secondary School’s sixth through twelfth grades, students enjoy an impressive selection of course options, which ultimately determine the percentage of their day spent in French. Studies at the Lycée culminate in an internationally recognized French Baccalaureate diploma, widely regarded as one of the highest measures of a student’s depth and breadth of knowledge, critical thinking ability and overall academic achievement. A French Baccalaureate opens doors to the world’s best colleges and universities, both stateside and abroad. True Citizens of Culture and Courage, our graduates are culturally adept and rigorously prepared, characterized by a will to excel, the capacity to adapt and a drive to shape the collective good.
Age Requirements CUT-OFF DATES AT THE LYCÉE DIFFER FROM THOSE OF TRADITIONAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. NURSERY: CHILDREN MUST TURN THREE BY THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. PRE-K: CHILDREN MUST TURN FOUR BY DECEMBER 31ST OF THE YEAR THEY START SCHOOL.
Applications And Financial Aid The Lycée maintains a commitment to diversity in all its forms—including socioeconomic background. Our purposefully moderate tuition rates and financial aid resources make the Lycée experience possible for students from a broad range of financial situations and over 60 nationalities. The admissions and financial aid process for new students typically begins a year prior to enrollment. F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , P L E A S E V I S I T W W W. L F N Y. O R G O R E M A I L U S AT A D M I S S I O N S @ L F N Y. O R G .
LYCÉE FRANÇAIS DE NEW YORK IS A BILINGUAL, INTERNATIONAL CO-EDUCATIONAL PRIVATE SCHOOL CHALLENGING STUDENTS FROM MANY BACKGROUNDS IN NURSERY THROUGH GRADE TWELVE TO BECOME THINKERS, LEADERS, AND INNOVATORS, AT HOME IN THE WORLD. THE LYCÉE OFFERS AN AUTHENTIC FRENCH CURRICULUM IN A TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED ENVIRONMENT IMBUED WITH AN AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF INGENUITY, COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY. STUDIES CULMINATE IN AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FRENCH BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA, WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST MEASURES OF INTELLECTUAL ACHIEVEMENT. THE LYCÉE’S GRADUATES THRIVE IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE WORLD AND ENDEAVOR TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
LY C É E F R A N Ç A I S D E N E W Y O R K 505 EAST 75TH STREET NEW YORK , NY 10021 T : 2 1 2 . 3 6 9 .1 4 0 0 W W W. L F N Y. O R G