Thayer French class recognized in national media contest

Thayer Academy’s French III Honors class recently earned second place for the high school level in the 2024 AATF (American Association of Teachers of French) Media Contest. 

The task set forth by AATF, explained Upper School World Languages Department Head Darah Harper, who teaches the course, was for students to create a video based on the following prompt: “Le Français Langue Global” (French as a Global Language). The students in Harper’s class were given one and a half periods to develop a story, choreograph that story, and film it. The class then submitted its video to AATF judges.  

“They did an excellent job,” said Harper, who learned of the class kudos in February. 

In all, 48 schools from across the United States submitted a total of 123 videos. 

As for prizes, the students earned a certificate and a $100 check. The class donated the check to Jou Nouvo in Haiti, a nonprofit founded in 2008 to respond to the needs and aspirations of Bon-Repos, Haiti. Thayer’s French Club partners with Jou Nouvo, and Annie Huycke ‘18 helped to found the Haiti Youth Education Fund, which works with Jou Nouvo to empower students to attend university in Haiti. Huycke did so as her capstone project for Thayer’s Global Scholars Program. 

French III Honors students include: Izzy Berdik ‘28; Ollie Berdick ‘28; Sadie Borushko ‘27; William Bunn ‘27; Katie Cedrone ‘27; Katie Donahue ‘28; Safiya Huber ‘28; Isabella Kahn ‘27; Alex Kaye ‘27; Cara McDonnell ‘27; Matthias Roy ‘27; Aarav Vaghela ‘27; and Michael Wubeshet.