Classical makes French connection

LYNN – Representatives from the French Embassy in Boston and Washington, D.C. traveled to Lynn Classical High School Monday afternoon to officially sign a partnership that will bring educational materials and support to the school’s foreign language department.Consul General M. Francois Gauthier from the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. and Linguistic and Education Attachee Samantha Andre from the embassy’s Boston branch joined Superintendent Catherine Latham, Principal Warren White, administrators and school department heads for a brief ceremony in the school cafeteria Monday, officially kicking off a long-anticipated partnership.Andre and Classical Foreign Language Department Head Youness Elbousty have been in contact since last year on a partnership that will provide educational material and support from the embassy for students taking French classes at the school.From newspapers in French to textbooks and maps, the embassy will provide a variety of learning materials to enhance the educational experience in French class, a subject that is studied by over 150 students at the school.”The consul said he is ready to help with any materials that we need, and they will be working hand in hand with us,” said Elbousty. “They will be developing teacher workshops for French teachers, possibly scholarships. One of the things they said is that they are willing to help us with any need or concern we may have,”While Andre toured the school with Elbousty last year, this was Gauthier’s first visit to Lynn, and the native of Nice, France was quick to point out the abundance of French history in New England.”French and the French culture belongs to your region, and the French language belongs to your future,” he said, pointing out that New England was once called New France during the early days of colonization. “I am very pleased to be with you for a good cause – the enrichment and learning of the French language.”Representatives from local delegates presented Gauthier with citations from the state house and senate, and Deputy Chief of Staff Andrea Scalise presented Gauthier with a special citation from Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr.In return, Gauthier presented the school with a replica map of New France from 1613, based on an original housed in the John Carter Brown Library in Providence.Gauthier spoke about the importance of American students learning French, a language that is spoken in 70 countries on five continents, and promised students who learn a foreign language will have a better opportunity to utilize that skill in the modern world.”It is an asset for students and I am pleased that French is taught in this wonderful school,” said Gauthier. “I feel at home here and we will work hard to provide to students and teachers some of the tools that will help bring them a mastery of foreign language. French belongs to your past, and now it will belong to your future.”Once Gauthier, Latham and White signed the agreement between the school and embassy, Elbousty led the group on a tour of the school and to the auditorium, where Gauthier spoke to students studying French at the school.”It is a privilege and honor to have the Consul General here, and I am looking forward to the partnership we will start here today,” said White. “I am looking forward to (Gautheir) seeing the vibrant learning environment we have here at Classical.”