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JUNE 2012<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE I<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
CONNECTING, NETWORKING, REMAINING IN TOUCH<br />
FASNY Celebrates Fourth Graduating Class<br />
Pulitzer Prize Winning Columnist and NY Times Washington<br />
Bureau Chief David Leonhardt Delivers Commencement Speech<br />
The French-<strong>American</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> paid tribute to its fourth class <strong>of</strong><br />
graduating seniors on Sunday, June 17 th , in what was described as a “beautiful and<br />
elegant ceremony” at the historic Wainwright House in Rye, <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong>. With a<br />
sparkling Long Island Sound as backdrop, 36 seniors listened attentively as their<br />
journey and many accomplishments were celebrated by classmates, faculty,<br />
parents and their commencement speaker - Pulitzer Prize winning columnist<br />
David Leonhardt, <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> Times Washington Bureau Chief and son <strong>of</strong><br />
departing Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>School</strong>, Robert Leonhardt. David Leonhardt’s advice to the<br />
seniors was to always follow their hearts when choosing a career path.<br />
Above: David Leonhardt delivers<br />
commencement speech; and Joël Peinado and<br />
Mark Rosenblum look on as Bob Leonhardt<br />
awards diplomas to graduating seniors<br />
Below: The grounds <strong>of</strong> the historic Wainwright<br />
home in Rye, <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> served as a lovely setting<br />
for commencement, with grassy lawn, stately<br />
trees and remarkable views <strong>of</strong> the Sound.<br />
FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK<br />
525 Fenimore Road<br />
Mamaroneck, NY 10543<br />
914.250.0410 <strong>of</strong>fice • 914.250.2216 fax<br />
www.fasny.org
JUNE 2012<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
College Acceptances for<br />
Class <strong>of</strong> 2012 *<br />
FASNY’s Class <strong>of</strong> 2012 Proudly Accepts<br />
Fine Selection <strong>of</strong> Global Universities<br />
In what has been described by many experts as the most difficult year<br />
yet to date for college-bound seniors to be accepted, FASNY’s Class <strong>of</strong><br />
2012 – the fourth to graduate from the <strong>School</strong> - have been accepted into<br />
an impressive array <strong>of</strong> colleges and universities around the world.<br />
The FASNY college placement <strong>of</strong>fice processed 292 applications from<br />
FASNY Seniors, including schools in the United States, Britain,<br />
Canada, Belgium and Switzerland. Of those applications, 150 were met<br />
with a coveted acceptance letter, for an excellent yield <strong>of</strong> over 51%.<br />
Applications to French universities are handled separately in the<br />
FASNY college placement <strong>of</strong>fice with nine students submitting a total<br />
<strong>of</strong> 59 applications to French colleges and universities.<br />
A sampling <strong>of</strong> schools the Class <strong>of</strong> 2012 will attend includes: McGill,<br />
University <strong>of</strong> Michigan, University <strong>of</strong> Montreal, Hunter College, Bates<br />
College, Syracuse University, <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong> University, Middlebury<br />
College, Georgetown University, Columbia University, University <strong>of</strong><br />
Pennsylvania, Tufts University, Cornell University, Institut Bocuse,<br />
Lyon, Université Louvain la Neuve, HEC Montreal, Purchase College,<br />
St. Andrews, University College <strong>of</strong> London, ISEN Lille, CPGE Ginette<br />
Versailles, and Université de Paris I La Sorbonne.<br />
* Excludes French Univerisites<br />
80% <strong>of</strong> Graduating Seniors Will Matriculate to a U.S. or Canadian University; 20% to a<br />
European University<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
THE BACCALAURÉAT<br />
The baccalauréat , or colloquially<br />
“le bac,” is an academic<br />
qualification which French and<br />
international students take at the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> the secondary education. It<br />
was introduced by Napoleon I in<br />
1808 and is the main diploma<br />
required to pursue university<br />
studies.<br />
In the four years that FASNY has<br />
graduated a graduating class, 105-<br />
students have been seated for le<br />
bac, 100% percent have passed,<br />
and 95% have passed with honors –<br />
thus placing FASNY at the top <strong>of</strong><br />
“établissements homologués in the<br />
United States<br />
97% OF GRADUATING SENIORS PASS LE BAC WITH HONORS<br />
We are delighted to announce the outstanding results the FASNY<br />
Class <strong>of</strong> 2012 achieved on the French baccalauréat examination.<br />
Of the 35 students who took le bac, 34 passed with honors: 9 with<br />
Mention Assez Bien, 12 with Mention Bien, and 13 with Mention<br />
Très Bien.<br />
This performance once again places FASNY at the top <strong>of</strong><br />
“établissements homologués” in the United States with 97% <strong>of</strong> all<br />
students seated for le bac passing with honors.<br />
Congratulations to our wonderful Class <strong>of</strong> 2012, their parents, and the<br />
entire faculty and staff who guided our students to these impressive<br />
results yet another year!<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
Class Agents Catherine Hampton.<br />
Fanny Charriaud and Louis Mason<br />
(not pictured) prepare to cut the Class<br />
<strong>of</strong> 2012 Graduation Cake<br />
CLASS AGENTS ELECTED<br />
Class <strong>of</strong> 2012 Agents - Fanny<br />
Charriaud, Catherine Hampton and<br />
Louis Mason - will work with the<br />
FASNY Alumni Affairs Office to<br />
keep the lines <strong>of</strong> communication<br />
open between the graduating seniors<br />
as begin university life, using a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> platforms, including<br />
traditional Class Notes, submitted<br />
through the website at<br />
www.fasny.org; Facebook,<br />
LinkedIn, and Twitter. Class Agents<br />
will also suggest and assist in<br />
planning reunion and alumni<br />
events. Finally, Class Agents will<br />
provide a vital link between the<br />
Development Office and Alumni for<br />
fundraising initiatives critical to the<br />
<strong>School</strong>’s continued growth.<br />
SENIOR PICNIC CAPS FINAL WEEK OF CLASSES<br />
Finishing the final classes <strong>of</strong> their FASNY career, graduating seniors and<br />
selected faculty and staff boarded buses on a picture-perfect spring day<br />
and traveled to White Plains for a traditional picnic in the former<br />
Ridgeway clubhouse and soon-to-be site <strong>of</strong> the new campus, followed by<br />
a walking tour <strong>of</strong> the new campus grounds.<br />
Students dined on fried chicken, cole slaw, potato salad, and watermelon,<br />
as they sat and chatted on the deck overlooking the 100-acre campus. And<br />
later strolled the grounds <strong>of</strong> the campus. Capping the meal was the<br />
announcement <strong>of</strong> their new Class Agents – elected the prior week in a<br />
class-wide vote. Class Agents Fanny Charriaud, Catherine Hampton and<br />
Louis Mason received FASNY-embroidered Vineyard Vines key chains,<br />
then cut a massive chocolate/strawberry sheet cake made especially for<br />
the Class <strong>of</strong> 2012!<br />
MAJORITY OF GRADUATING SENIORS CITE FACEBOOK, THEN FACE-TO-FACE EVENTS AS<br />
PREFERRED METHODS OF STAYING IN TOUCH, ACCORDING TO GRADUATION SURVEY<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
“PIONEERING” FASNY GRANDPARENTS<br />
ATTEND FIRST GRANDPARENTS’ BREAKFAST<br />
The First Annual Grandparents’ Breakfast on May 22, 2012 was a great<br />
success with more than 30 grandparents (and a few parents) arriving<br />
promptly at 8:30 for breakfast with Bob Leonhardt, Joël Peinado and the<br />
staff <strong>of</strong> the Development Office. Photos <strong>of</strong> grandchildren were spooling on<br />
a large screen throughout the morning, delighting guests with close-up shots<br />
<strong>of</strong> their grandchildren at work and play. Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>School</strong> Bob Leonhardt<br />
explained how FASNY was different from other independent schools and<br />
why the new campus was so important to the <strong>School</strong>’s future. Next year’s<br />
Grandparents’ Breakfast will include time in the classroom with the<br />
grandchildren!<br />
GROWING GRANDPARENTS!<br />
FASNY has “located” more than<br />
70 grandparents <strong>of</strong> current and<br />
former FASNY students, living<br />
both in the United States and<br />
abroad. We believe that, by<br />
expanding our reach to FASNY<br />
grandparents and providing<br />
opportunities to be involved in<br />
events on campus and overseas,<br />
we strengthen the feeling <strong>of</strong><br />
community that makes FASNY<br />
unique. Grandparents can also<br />
play a vital role as volunteers for<br />
FASNY, in development,<br />
communications and event’<br />
planning.<br />
FACULTY GRANDPARENTS KEEPING IT “ALL IN THE FAMILY”<br />
A delightful trend can be seen at FASNY in recent years – namely, an<br />
increasing number <strong>of</strong> FASNY faculty members – who are in some cases also<br />
Alumni Parents - entrusting their grandchildren to the halls <strong>of</strong> FASNY. Indeed,<br />
faculty members with families that span THREE FASNY generations include:<br />
<br />
Tania Silverman – a member <strong>of</strong> the FASNY faculty and administration<br />
for nearly 30 years, whose son Misha is a Kindergarten Assistant and<br />
whose two grandchildren, Tony and Lily, are entering Nursery and 1 st<br />
Grade;<br />
Lesia Massat, Grades 4-5 ESL and Intermediate English teacher for 18<br />
years, whose daughter Laura Hersch (next year’s Scarsdale FASNYPAT<br />
rep), as well as son Andrew, both attended FASNY in the 1980’s and<br />
1990’s. Laura’s son Maxim Hersh has just completed his Nursery year at<br />
FASNY; and<br />
<br />
Mie-Janie Pipher, Grades 6-7 History/Geography Teacher, who son<br />
James attended FASNY in the 1990’s and who now has grandson Kenneth<br />
entering 1 st Grade. Mie-Janie even taught Lesia’s daughter Laura, for two<br />
years!<br />
To be more involved as a<br />
grandparent, we encourage you to<br />
let us know <strong>of</strong> your interests and<br />
contact details. Click Here for<br />
Grandparents’ Form.<br />
Tania Silverman, son Misha and grandson<br />
Tony<br />
… and with grand-daughter Lily<br />
34% OF CLASS OF 2012 PLANS A CAREER IN THE SCIENCES, FOLLOWED BY 23% IN AN<br />
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSION, ACCORDING TO GRADUATION SURVEY<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
KERMESSE …<br />
Kermesse is a term <strong>of</strong> Dutch<br />
origin now widely used to<br />
describe a funfair or festival.<br />
The word derives from “kerk”<br />
(church) and “mis” (mass) and<br />
was coined centuries ago to<br />
describe the celebration <strong>of</strong> the<br />
anniversary <strong>of</strong> the founding <strong>of</strong><br />
a church in honor <strong>of</strong> its patron<br />
– especially in the Low<br />
Countries and Northern<br />
France.<br />
COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND GOOD TIMES ABOUND AT FASNY’S<br />
KERMESSE<br />
A picture-perfect late Spring day in Larchmont provided the backdrop for<br />
FASNY’s annual Kermesse. The hard work <strong>of</strong> a dedicated team <strong>of</strong> parent,<br />
faculty and student volunteers guaranteed a fun-filled day for the hundreds<br />
<strong>of</strong> celebrants.<br />
Among the many popular Kermesse attractions were pony rides, facepainting<br />
stands, henna tattoo booths and cupcake-decorating . As families<br />
strolled among the varied attractions and sampled foods from around the<br />
world, they were serenaded by FASNY student and faculty singers and<br />
musicians, who were provided with their own stage to showcase their<br />
talents.<br />
Flemish Kermess by David Teniers<br />
the Younger (1652). Oil on canvas,<br />
157 x 221 cm, Royal Museums <strong>of</strong> Fine<br />
Arts, Brussels.<br />
12 TH GRADE PHILOSOPHY CITED AS CLASS OF 2012’S FAVORITE THIS YEAR, FOLLOWED BY<br />
HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY, ACCORDING TO GRADUATION SURVEY<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
ANNUAL GIVING<br />
The 2011 – 2012 Fiscal Year marked<br />
a first for FASNY in the Fundraising<br />
arena. For the first time ever, FASNY<br />
has – like most independent schools –<br />
separated the Annual Fund from<br />
events-driven fundraising, such as the<br />
Gala.<br />
Although FASNY still recognizes the<br />
generosity <strong>of</strong> all its supporters –<br />
whether financial or “sweat-equity”<br />
and whether Annual Fund or eventsoriented,<br />
the importance <strong>of</strong> a strong<br />
Annual Fund has been underscored by<br />
the establishment <strong>of</strong> multiple new<br />
giving categories that recognize the<br />
generosity <strong>of</strong> donors, exclusive <strong>of</strong><br />
events and other forms <strong>of</strong> giving.<br />
“REACHING FOR THE STARS” AT FASNY’S 2012 GALA<br />
A RECORD TURNOUT TRANSLATES TO NEARLY $500,000 FOR FASNY PROGRAM<br />
ENRICHMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP<br />
This year’s Gala was held on March 16 th at the Greentree Country Club in <strong>New</strong> Rochelle.<br />
The hard work <strong>of</strong> FASNY’s Gala Committee and enthusiastic participation <strong>of</strong> 540 guests<br />
and countless patrons and corporate supporters, all ensured that “Reaching for the Stars”<br />
was a smash! Next year’s Gala will be held on Saturday, March 23 rd at the Rye Town<br />
Hilton. Mark your calendars now, as -- beginning this coming September -- the Development<br />
Office is standing by to assist Alumni and Alumni Parents in reserving and organizing Gala tables.<br />
Click to reach Anne-Catherine Morange in Development: acmorange@fasny.org<br />
Why Because Annual Funds exist at<br />
every independent school in the<br />
United States. They take the pressure<br />
<strong>of</strong>f tuition by providing amenities that<br />
tuition alone could not cover – at<br />
least not without large tuition<br />
increases. The Annual Fund at<br />
FASNY has paid for state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art<br />
equipment in science labs, smartboards<br />
in classrooms, playground<br />
equipment, audio systems in the<br />
theaters for performing arts programs,<br />
athletic equipment and gas for buses<br />
to athletic events and field trips,<br />
financial aid for more than 60<br />
families needing scholarships each<br />
year, and much more!<br />
Click to Learn More About<br />
FASNY’s Annual Fund and How<br />
You Can Make a Difference at a<br />
Level That Makes Sense for You!<br />
FASNY’S ANNUAL FUND FINISHES A RECORD YEAR<br />
ACHIEVING RECORD PARTICIPATION RATES AS WELL AS DOLLARS RAISED<br />
This year proved that, at FASNY, everybody gives! FASNY’s Annual Fund reached record<br />
levels– despite having been formally “separated” from Gala giving. Indeed, in its first year<br />
“standing alone,” this year’s campaign reached record levels <strong>of</strong> participation and total<br />
dollars raised! Some preliminary highlights, as our fiscal year comes to a close, include:<br />
over $600,000 raised, with 100% Trustee Participation; 91% Parent Participation;<br />
Employee Participation at a new record; and unprecedented support from Alumni Parents;<br />
Grandparents; Corporations and Foundations. Thank you for your support, which demonstrates<br />
your faith in the mission and future <strong>of</strong> FASNY. Your loyalty supports the investment you have made<br />
in the FASNY education and ensures we will continue to earn your respect for future generations.<br />
We are <strong>here</strong> to help you address any special requests. Click to reach Claire LaBrunerie in<br />
Development: clabrunerie@fasny.org<br />
DID YOU KNOW FASNY’S FACEBOOK PAGE “FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW<br />
YORK” HAS 600 “LIKES” – “LIKE” US TODAY AND FOLLOW IMPORTANT FASNY<br />
MILESTONES ALONGSIDE US!<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
FASNY HEADMASTER RETIRES<br />
SCHOOL SAYS FAREWELL TO MR. ROBERT LEONHARDT<br />
BY JULIAN SALZ AND OLIVIER WEISS<br />
Above: This drawing <strong>of</strong> Robert Leonhardt is<br />
printed with the permission <strong>of</strong> FASNY student<br />
and artist Emanuel Wickenburg, rising 10 th<br />
grader. Originally published in The Messenger,<br />
June 2012.<br />
Click Here to Read the Latest Issue <strong>of</strong> The<br />
Messenger.<br />
Above: For years Bob Leonhardt was not content<br />
to simply head the <strong>School</strong> he loved, rather he<br />
chose to lead in the classrooms, as well, teaching<br />
the popular _____ class each year.<br />
Click Here to Read the Latest Issue <strong>of</strong> The<br />
Messenger.<br />
When Mr. Robert Leonhardt took the school by storm as Head <strong>of</strong> the <strong>School</strong> in<br />
2002, he sought to take FASNY to the next level. Though already extremely<br />
successful all told, we barely had a high school, the French and <strong>American</strong><br />
curricula were not as closely integrated as they are today, and the concept <strong>of</strong> a<br />
Ridgeway campus would have seemed somewhat inappropriate and grandiose.<br />
Now, under his leadership, four 12th grade classes have graduated and a large,<br />
integrated campus should soon become a reality. FASNY has grown from a<br />
“Mom and Pop” establishment into a community that is pr<strong>of</strong>essional and thriving,<br />
yet warm and tight-knit.<br />
We at The Messenger have sought to paint a picture <strong>of</strong> the man, his time and<br />
fantastic record at FASNY, and what’s next for the school by speaking to the<br />
Chairman <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees Mr. Mischa Zabotin, Mr. Leonhardt himself,<br />
his successor Mr. Joël Peinado, and his assistant Ms. Debbie Kozlowski, who,<br />
sadly, will be leaving the Mamaroneck <strong>of</strong>fice and moving to the Fenimore <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
to assist Mr. Peinado.<br />
As tough as being Headmaster must have been, the man with the familiar bowtie<br />
and bearded smile made it clear that he was prepared: “I knew what I was getting<br />
into,” he assured us. He explained that he had been armed with a vision for the<br />
school that led him through his first few years: “the academic administration had<br />
to be pr<strong>of</strong>essionalized in order to permit growth.”<br />
His assistant Ms. Kozlowski—Debbie, to most <strong>of</strong> us—agreed. When asked what<br />
Mr. Leonhardt’s crowning achievement at FASNY was, Debbie responded that it<br />
was much more <strong>of</strong> the “little, behind-the-scenes things that not many got to see”<br />
that was the most seminal aspect <strong>of</strong> his tenure, noting that he “pr<strong>of</strong>essionalized the<br />
school and brought it up to standards.”<br />
When asked what his biggest obstacles or toughest decisions were, Mr. Leonhardt<br />
said that no decision was impossible, but rather that t<strong>here</strong> were many important<br />
ones. Some <strong>of</strong> the most memorable, he said, were launching the Ridgeway<br />
project, taking on the lease for the Scarsdale campus, and opening the 11th and<br />
12th grades, which he said was especially difficult given time constraints, the<br />
need to convince 10th grade students to stay at FASNY, and the process <strong>of</strong><br />
gaining accreditation from the French government.<br />
CONTINUED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE …<br />
DID YOU KNOW FASNY’S FACEBOOK ALUMNI HOMEBASE “FASNY CONNECT” HAS 452<br />
“FRIENDS” – “FRIEND” US TODAY AND SHARE YOUR PHOTOS AND NEWS!<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
TEAMWORK A CENTRAL THEME OF MR. LEONHARDT’S TENURE<br />
… CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE<br />
When asked about his leadership style, everyone pointed to the same word: “teamwork.” Mr. Leonhardt put it humbly, describing<br />
himself as “too lazy to be a micromanager; I’m more <strong>of</strong> a teamwork guy.” Mr. Peinado said that Mr. Leonhardt “believes in his<br />
people, delegates choices, and always works in committees.” He added that the atmosp<strong>here</strong> Mr. Leonhardt created was “nonhierarchical,”<br />
in which it was not about power, but about everyone working together.<br />
Mr. Leonhardt will certainly be missed. “He’s almost like a father figure to me,” said Debbie. “He’s not just a boss, he’s a friend<br />
and a role model.”<br />
She fondly recalled how, when telling a story, Mr. Leonhardt always “takes on every accent that the people in the story have,<br />
because it could be Brooklyn, or German, or French, and you’re so engaged in it because he’s so hilarious, and he remembers<br />
everything word for word.”<br />
Mr. Zabotin described his relationship with Mr. Leonhardt as being “based on open and honest communication, on mutual<br />
availability and on trust. Those are also the hallmarks <strong>of</strong> a good friendship, which our relationship has become.” And when asked<br />
to describe Mr. Leonhardt in a few words, Mr. Peinado said: “articulate, funny, intelligent, team-builder, and visionary.”<br />
Asked about his vision for FASNY, Mr. Leonhardt’s said it “starts with the new campus. We’d like to expand to 1200 students in<br />
the near future.”<br />
The tuition will have to stay at the same rate, the curriculum will expand to include more non-native French speakers, and a new<br />
academic track will be created. Mr. Peinado added that the courses might be more diversified through means <strong>of</strong> having more than<br />
just the French curriculum, which will, in turn, reinforce the international aspect <strong>of</strong> the school. Some students, in fact, might not<br />
even need to speak French. He qualified¬ this, though, by saying that the French baccalaureate still needs to be a focal point.<br />
On the transition from Mr. Leonhardt to Mr. Peinado, the former said he believes that t<strong>here</strong> will be very little to no change. Mr.<br />
Peinado said that he is “not looking to go in a different direction,” stating that the transition will have a “positive and serene”<br />
essence to it and that he will make sure to keep the school “true to its mission.”<br />
Mr. Zabotin, in a letter he wrote for the Gala, said that Mr. Leonhardt made sure that FASNY did “not let academic excellence<br />
come at the expense <strong>of</strong> well-rounded, respectful, and unassuming students,” and, in his interview, he said that Mr. Peinado<br />
compliments this view <strong>of</strong> the school with his “holistic approach to pedagogy,” concluding that he was the obvious choice for the<br />
position <strong>of</strong> Head <strong>of</strong> the <strong>School</strong>.<br />
Mr. Leonhardt, for his part, doesn’t plan on retiring and sitting on Florida’s sunny beaches just yet; he is waiting for what the<br />
future may have in stock.<br />
Asked to reflect on his plans, what he’s learned at FASNY, and what he will miss most, he said that, after his health scare in<br />
2009, he feels not only much healthier, but also “much better,” and that his lying in a hospital bed provided for a lot <strong>of</strong><br />
perspective and insight for the graduation speech he delivered to FASNY’s trailblazing class <strong>of</strong> 2009. When it comes to life<br />
lessons, he believes that he has “developed a deeper understanding <strong>of</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> listening carefully; I have learned to be<br />
very patient.” He says that he will certainly miss, above all, “the people, and the opportunity to work in a bilingual environment.”<br />
It seems clear that Mr. Leonhardt’s leadership for the past ten years has not just changed an entire school for the better, but also<br />
instilled in FASNY his own values <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionalism with warmth, trust with responsibility, and growth with stability. It’ll be<br />
different without his famous bowtie or, as Mr. Zabotin puts it, his uncanny ability to quote La Fontaine for any given situation,<br />
but his legacy remains, and so does his sparkling personality. As he led the school through its largest expansions, so he leads a<br />
new chapter in his life, and we wish him the best.<br />
- THIS ARTICLE WAS PRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF FASNY STUDENTS AND AUTHORS JULIAN SALZ AND OLIVIER WEISS, RISING 12 TH AND 11 TH<br />
GRADERS, RESPECTIVELY. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MESSENGER, JUNE 2012. CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE MESSENGER.<br />
DID YOU KNOW LINKEDIN HAS A FASNY GROUP “THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF<br />
NEW YORK” WITH 18 MEMBERS AND COUNTING – “JOIN” US TODAY AND BEGIN MAKING<br />
GREAT CONNECTIONS!<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
RIDGEWAY / WHITE PLAINS CAMPUS UPDATE<br />
SCHOOL LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR CONSTRUCTION:<br />
PLANS EXPANSIVE NATURE CONSERVANCY “GREEN CAMPUS”<br />
On January 20, 2011 FASNY purchased the 130-acre, former Ridgeway Country<br />
Club in White Plains for $11MM and has been planning the sustainable and<br />
clustered development <strong>of</strong> a new unified state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art campus on approximately<br />
46 acres <strong>of</strong> this property. As for the remainder <strong>of</strong> the land, FASNY created a<br />
“Greens to Green Conservancy Task Force” with the objective <strong>of</strong> identifying<br />
the best use <strong>of</strong> the 84 acres <strong>of</strong> permanent open space as an extension <strong>of</strong> the<br />
FASNY Campus and educational program.<br />
The primary goal <strong>of</strong> the Greens to Green Conservancy is to provide a natural<br />
setting that would create educational opportunities to complement the FASNY<br />
curriculum and enhance FASNY’s educational mission. Outdoor learning spaces<br />
would be created in suitable locations throughout the site. The Conservancy<br />
would also provide local residents a unique educational resource and access to<br />
passive open space. Interpretive signage would provide additional opportunities<br />
for appreciation <strong>of</strong> ecological functions, geology, and local history.<br />
Under the current plan, FASNY projects total costs for the new campus in the<br />
$60MM range, including academic buildings, athletic fields, parking lots and the<br />
Conservancy areas. The facilities are expected to house 1,200 students in Nursery<br />
through Grade 12, as well as 250 staff members. Although the plan is opposed by<br />
a select group <strong>of</strong> local residents in the Gedney Neighborhood Association,<br />
FASNY believes the project will create more than 500 construction jobs and bring<br />
more than $14MM a year into the local economy, as well as create open space for<br />
public use. Moreover, the plan confor’s with the City <strong>of</strong> White Plains’<br />
comprehensive plan, provides safe and adequate traffic flow and preserves the<br />
character <strong>of</strong> the local community.<br />
Please stay tuned for much more news on this exciting new chapter <strong>of</strong> growth at<br />
FASNY!<br />
Click Here to Read More About the White Plains Campus Project.<br />
DID YOU KNOW MORE THAN 20 STUDIES EXAMINING THE “PROXIMATE PRINCIPLE”<br />
HAVE UPHELD THE FINDINGS THAT PROPERTIES ABUTTING PARKLANDS HAVE A MARKET<br />
VALUE 20% – 30% ABOVE COMPARABLE HOMES LOCATED FURTHER FROM PARKLANDS<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”
JUNE 2012<br />
FASNY CONNECTIONS<br />
VOLUME I ISSUE 1<br />
Dear FASNY Alumni, Alumni Parents, Grandparents and Friends,<br />
With the prospect <strong>of</strong> one campus for all our children, FASNY stands at the threshold <strong>of</strong> an<br />
exciting new period <strong>of</strong> advancement, as the world-class education received by FASNY<br />
students for the past 32 years is soon to be <strong>of</strong>fered on a world-class campus.<br />
The support <strong>of</strong> our extended FASNY community around the world, many <strong>of</strong> whom who<br />
share the vision <strong>of</strong> what FASNY can still become, will be more crucial than ever as we<br />
move forward.<br />
Please help us to continue to process <strong>of</strong> strengthening the community <strong>of</strong> FASNY with your<br />
suggestions, volunteer hours and, <strong>of</strong> course, your financial support.<br />
We cannot do it without you!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Claire LaBrunerie<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs<br />
clabrunerie@fasny.org<br />
Alumni Affairs at FASNY<br />
WITH THOUSANDS OF NON-GRADUATED<br />
ALUMNI AND THEIR FAMILIES LIVING<br />
ACROSS THE GLOBE, WE ARE PROUD TO<br />
INTRODUCE FASNY CONNECTIONS AS ONE<br />
LINK IN A GROWING ARRAY OF<br />
COMMUNICATION OPTIONS DESIGNED TO<br />
KEEP YOU UP TO DATE WITH NEWS AND<br />
EVENTS FROM THE SCHOOL AND FROM<br />
AROUND THE WORLD.<br />
FOR ANY HELP REQUIRED, QUESTIONS OR<br />
SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE DO CONTACT US.<br />
Click Here to Give<br />
Click Here to Volunteer<br />
French-<strong>American</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>York</strong><br />
525 Fenimore Road<br />
Mamaroneck, NY 10543<br />
“Opening Minds, Expanding Horizons.”