Riverwood Students Travel To France

SANDY SPRINGS, GA - From Riverwood International Charter School: Nine students and two teachers from Riverwood International Charter School traveled to France this summer for a language and culture immersion experience. The group spent two-and- a-half weeks in Paris and Aix-en- Provence as part of Riverwood’s inaugural French language and study abroad program. The students lived with local families, attended classes, and participated in activities and/or excursions each day. According to Riverwood French teacher Holly Fitchette, who travelled with the students, “We are so excited that Riverwood has begun a French immersion program. Our students have the opportunity to participate in French home life and experience the culture firsthand by living like a local with locals.” Brett Edeker, Riverwood French teacher, also traveled with the group.

The rising 10th through 12th grade students began their trip in Paris, where they spent three days touring the
city and visiting landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. Other highlights were stops
at world-famous museums like the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay and monuments such as the one to the Victims
of the Deportation during World War II. After sampling the sights, sounds and, especially, the tastes of Paris,
the students travelled by high-speed train (TGV) to Aix-en- Provence where they lived with local families and
attended a local school. Students attended classes in the morning and participated in cultural activities each
afternoon. They visited the nearby city of Nimes where they toured ancient Roman ruins and enjoyed a
holiday festival full of music, parades, and even a traditional bullfight. The itinerary included visits to the
seaside towns of Marseille and Casis. While in southern France, they toured local art museums and
frequented the world-famous outdoor markets in Aix-en- Provence. 10 th grade student Lexie Bailey offered:
“The best part of the program was the learning experience as a whole. I learned more about the language
than I can ever learn in a classroom.”

In support of its international studies and International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, Riverwood organized
several international trips in 2017: a service trip to Nicaragua over Spring Break 2017, and separate trips to
Spain, France, and Japan during summer 2017. The school plans to add additional international trips in the
future. Some of the 2017 trips received support from the Riverwood Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is
to support initiatives that enhance the learning experience for Riverwood’s students.

Photo courtesy of Riverwood International Charter School