French Club and French Honor Society members set up French Week activities from Nov. 4-10. The week celebrated French culture by teaching students about important French figures, customs and history, as well as about the French language.
“It is important [to celebrate] because it is a moment for the whole community at MSD to become aware of the existence like French, a language like French that exists in this world, would give everyone a chance to be exposed to this language,” French teacher and French Club sponsor Geemps St. Julien said.
The French Club and French Honor Society ran the week’s activities and held different events each day during both A and B lunches in the main courtyard.
“French Week is important to celebrate because it has a lot of culture within it that we want to share with students and acknowledge,” French Club vice-president and senior Zayda-Lee Patterson said.
On Wed., Nov. 5, an announcement was made to students to go to French teacher, St. Julien’s room, and answer a French trivia question to win a gift card.
On Fri., Nov. 7, members passed out French foods during A and B lunch. Students were asked to say a word they knew in French in exchange for either a croissant or madeleine cookie.
On Tues., Nov. 11, Le Fete de la Musique, or World Music Day, was celebrated during A and B lunch in the art courtyard. Students were urged to come and watch the music festival take place.
“I wanted to participate because I like French culture,” freshman Daniel Pollino said. “It allows students to better understand different countries.”
French Club and French Honor Society members had initially asked music teacher Stewart Rabin for a band recommendation to play at the event. This led Rabin to enlist a student band called Superstition to play in the courtyard.
“He thought that we were good and that we were talented so he asked if we wanted to play for French week, since they wanted live music,” lead singer and junior Alexandria Sundquist said.
The band consisted of Sundquist, junior Lucas Hilmers and senior Victoria Branton. Superstition sang “Stars” by Hum, “Be Quiet and Drive Far Away” by Deftones and “Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage, all songs chosen by them.
French week is celebrated every year by members who volunteer from the two clubs. St. Julien helped guide the presidents from both clubs in the creation of each event.
