New French Preschool In Montclair Is ‘Dream Come To Fruition’

MONTCLAIR, NJ — It took years of perseverance, but a “long-held dream” has come to fruition in Essex County with the opening of the Montclair Preschool of L’Alliance New York.

The new French immersion preschool will give toddlers ages 2½ to 5-years-old a place to explore their curiosity for the French language and culture, and marks an expansion in the organization’s early childhood education. Learn more here.

Nearly 100 guests gathered outside the L’Alliance New York Montclair Campus at 17 Munn Street last week at a ribbon cutting for the new preschool. Attendees included representatives from the Montclair Board of Education, Montclair Library, Montclair State University French faculty, local business owners, and families and staff of L’Alliance New York’s Montclair Campus.

The event included live music from Violette & La Vie en Rose, and food and wine from local businesses including Butler and the Board, Faubourg Montclair, Jayce Baudry French Pastry, and Le French Dad Boulangerie.

“It took years of perseverance for our long-held dream of a Montclair preschool to come to fruition, and the realization of this project is a testament to the dedication of an entire team and community,” enthused Marie-Catherine Glaser, director of the Montclair Campus and Montclair Preschool of L’Alliance New York.

“Our mission has always been to promote French language and francophone cultures, and this preschool is a natural extension of that mission,” agreed L'Alliance New York president Tatyana Franck.

“Despite facing numerous challenges, our commitment to providing top-quality educational experiences has never wavered,” Franck said. “Today, we celebrate the fruit of our perseverance.”

Founded in 2008, originally as The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), the Montclair Campus of L’Alliance New York has offered French language classes and cultural programs to individuals of all ages and levels for more than 16 years.

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