Dear Madam, Sir,

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Wherever you are, I hope you are all doing well. To all of you, I send a message of confidence, cohesion, and solidarity.

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Since the green light was given by the educational authorities in Beijing in mid-May, and still within the strict health protocol imposed by these same authorities, we have been working on the practical arrangements for the restart of the school in the classroom for all middle and high school classes from June 1 and for the CM1 and CM2 classes from June 8. We are waiting for an official announcement of the reopening of the CP, CE1 and CE2 classes, possibly around June 15. The reopening for kindergarten is officially authorized from June 8; however, it is subject to the compulsory installation of video surveillance in all classrooms, a measure which is incompatible with our charter voted unanimously by the Governing Board. On this point, we are going to question the Beijing Education Commission.

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In this context, distance learning remains the backbone of teaching and face-to-face teaching is a complement that best mobilizes the teachers and students present in Beijing. Two objectives guide our hybrid teaching until the end of the school year. On the one hand, to reinforce socialization and interactions between students; and on the other hand, to accompany and consolidate with goodwill the learning already started since the beginning of the health crisis.

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The main principles that guide our action are revised timetables with groups of classes and teachers redistributed, a half-day school (3 to 5 half-days on average depending on levels and classes), no canteen, buses available for all students, and a reinforcement of the tutoring of students in face-to-face and distance learning.

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In parallel with the reopening of face-to-face classes, since the beginning of this month, in close collaboration with the French Embassy and the AEFE, we have been implementing the government’s emergency plan of financial support measures for French and foreign families sending children to school in the AEFE network. All French and foreign families who have experienced a significant deterioration of their financial situation directly linked to the coronavirus crisis have been invited to report and to compile a file.

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Families of children of French nationality were referred to the Consulate to constitute a file for financial support, distinct from scholarships, within the framework of the specific emergency plan. As for the families of non-French children, they have been informed by the school of the possibility of putting together a financial aid application file to be completed online on our “Eduka” application until June 1st. A commission chaired by the SCAC will meet on 5 June to examine all applications for financial aid. This commission will be the most representative of the educational community (in addition to the SCAC, the school management, parents’ representatives and staff representatives will sit on this commission). 

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About the continuous assessment of the DNB and the baccalaureate, the Ministry of National Education has confirmed that the grades of the first and second terms will be taken into account. For 1ère students, we are still waiting for details concerning the organization of the French Baccalaureate and E3C oral examinations. This information will be communicated to the classes concerned as soon as it reaches us.

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I would like to remind you, on the one hand, that the re-enrolment campaign is underway on our “Eduka” application, and on the other hand, our CGEA medical teleconsultation system all over the world (www.medecindirect.fr / code available upon request at infirmerie@lfip.net.cn) and, on the psychological level, the assistance by email of Mrs Cassier (psychologue@lfip.net.cn).

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Once again, we are fully aware of the considerable efforts made by each of you in this period of exceptional closure of our school. You can all be assured of the attention and the permanent link of all the AEFE’s teams with the LFIP, as well as the unfailing support of the school management, the French Embassy, the AEFE management and its entire network.

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Take care of yourself and your family.

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The Principal