News Post

Last week, scores of students of French welcomed students from the Lycee Alexandre Ribot, with whom they have been corresponding through the year, to Visitation.

Partnering with Mrs. Olivia Kane, Mme. Brennan Marczewski worked with the Maryland Sister States program to connect with Lycee Alexandre Ribot, a Jesuit-founded school in the Pas-de-Calais region in France. Maryland Sister States provides a government to government forum for the promotion of international cooperation and understanding. 

"I jumped on the opportunity," shared Mme. Marczewski. "I had had pen pals in the past while I was learning French in middle and high school and I loved it. I continued to be in contact with mine through social media and we would write to each other often. I wanted to be able to afford my students the same opportunities since it was such a formative experience for me." 

During the school year, students have exchanged emails and connected on social media to learn about their homes and culture. The students at Lycee Alexandre Ribot visit DC and Maryland every year to learn about the history and the cultural connections between their hometown of Saint Omer, France and this region. This year was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that the students were able to do so.

The students were enthusiastic to meet in person after having spent months emailing and talking via social media.

"For me, I was so excited to be able to offer this to my students because I've never had the opportunity to meet my pen pals," continued  Mme. Marczewski. "We had written in French back and forth for years, but never were able to have an in-person conversation. Watching this all work out ... just reinforced ... why we learn French and other languages, so that we can communicate, get to know, and become friends with other people beyond our local communities. I'm really hoping that the relationship we started with the students and teachers of Lycee Alexandre Ribot can continue for years to come."