FASP Blog

Entering preschool marks a major milestone for any child. High-quality early childhood education in the first five years of life is critically important for brain development, socialization, and setting the stage for school readiness and positive long-term outcomes.

Many children begin their early childhood education at the age of three in preschool – a time that is exciting for both parents and children. For parents, it may mean a bit of freedom and more time to focus on work or other responsibilities. For children, it's a chance to learn new things, gain independence, and make friends for years to come.

Launched as part of FASP’s commitment to forward thinking, bilingual education, Food for Thought is rooted in a timely and essential theme: sustainability. Over the course of the academic year, students rotated through four immersive workshops - Art, Film, Gardening/STEM, and Cooking - each exploring the deep connections between food, health, culture, and the environment. The program culminated in a student-produced film that showcased their learning and collaborative achievements!

As graduates reminisce about their time in middle school, many credit their alma mater for laying a solid foundation for success in high school.

We caught up with several FASP alumni (Christian Hinrichs and Hannah Ploss of Princeton High School as well as Vanessa Kudelya and Gabriel Mikhno of West Windsor Plainsboro High School South) who shared their insights on how their middle school experience at FASP paved the way for a smooth transition to the challenges of high school. Read what they said below:

At the French American School of Princeton (FASP), STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education is more than just learning scientific facts or formulas. The approach focuses on fostering creative problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration. Central to the curriculum is the engineering design process, which encourages students to not only learn technical skills but to apply them innovatively.

“It's not just about what you know, but how you use what you know to solve real-world problems,” says Brent Deisher, STEM teacher for grades 1 to 8.

Sophia had just started her higher education at Georgetown University when she chatted with us. With a love for languages and ice skating, Sophia is taking on big life pursuits; a career in law, politics and linguistics alongside her training in competitive figure skating. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you now?

I am currently a student at the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service where I plan to study international politics and linguistics. After graduating I plan on pursuing a law degree and a career in international law. I am also a competitive ice dancer and am continuing to train and compete while studying in Washington. 

In 2014, Anastasia graduated from the French American School of Princeton (FASP) with a passion for analytics and problem solving. Her dynamic career as a data scientist began within our halls and serve as a backdrop to her inspiring story.

Can you tell us a little about yourself, where are you now?

Hello! My name is Anastasia Nesterova. I am currently based in Paris, France, working as data scientist at a big consulting firm, entirely in French. My educational path has taken me from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey to Georgetown University in Washington D.C., and now to a joint Master of Science in Data Science for Business from École Polytechnique and HEC Paris. My family immigrated from Russia before I was born, and thanks to my education, I am now fluent in English, Russian, and French.