How FASP Prepared Us for High School Success: Alumni Speak Out

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:

Looking back at your experience at FASP now that you’re nearing the end of the first year of high school, in what ways do you think FASP prepared you for the transition?

Gabriel: FASP gives you a lot of perspectives. You get to learn the French perspective and the English perspective, and the conversation with teachers is very different than in a public school. It’s a very interactive experience here at FASP compared to other schools and I think that prepares you for the outside world and how to interact with others. The demanding workload here at FASP prepared us well for high school. I had to do a lot of my own research and presentations and participate in group projects (we could do a lot more of this type of work here because we were fewer students in class). I’ve noticed that other kids coming into high school have less experience with that whereas in our case it was an easy adjustment because of the many opportunities we had in middle school.  

Christian: FASP provided a rigorous academic environment especially in Math and Science, and in French class. It helped me because now I’m able to take the advanced courses that I want to take and be on track for college. I am also able to take AP French this year because of my level coming out of middle school. On the social front, I’ve had many opportunities to speak and develop good relationships, be it with our teachers or judging by the close friendships I have with my previous classmates. I feel I’m in a good position to advocate for myself when communicating with my current community and that also makes me a confident learner in high school.

Hannah: FASP prepared me well for high school! Many of the things that we’re working on now, I’d already gone over at FASP. Because of what I’ve learned here, I feel well prepared for the demands of high school. I spent 10 years of my schooling at FASP, and it consistently offered a high-quality educational environment. Also, the intimate community of teachers and students greatly contributed to my social emotional awareness and skills.

Vanessa: the academics at FASP are strict and it’s prepared me well for high school. I wouldn’t have been at ease with my academics had I gone to another school. But also, FASP really fostered my socialization skills because of the deep connections developed through the small class sizes across my 10 years of schooling here. I made best friends at FASP, and those connections continue even after graduation. I feel nothing can break the bond we have between us.

What would you say to someone who believes that middle schools with small class sizes like FASP do not prepare students to transition to larger high schools that are more complex and might offer less attention to the individual student?

Gabriel: I’d say that the smaller classrooms offered me really good relationships with my friends. We grew close and as I moved into high school, I realized you don’t get relationships like that too often. My friends and I still talk to each other and bond the way we did last year. High school has offered me a lot more people to talk to and learn from, but FASP provided the foundation for those relationships. The bigger classes and larger school community were not an issue for me because I went camp during those years and understood what that was like, and after the initial couple of weeks of navigating high school and understanding the system, it was not an issue for me.

Christian: I’d say I was well prepared. The same skills still apply to bigger class sizes, not much changed with the shift in size. It was not an obstacle for me at all.

Hannah: I believe that small class sizes in middle school helps you better in transitioning to high school. The individual attention we receive at FASP helped us develop better work habits for learning and because we’ve matured and received that foundation in a nurturing environment, we don’t need the same level of attention in high school. 

Vanessa: It was a bit hard at first to adjust. Getting familiar with a much larger number of students and moving from class to class and having a higher ratio of teachers for the various subjects. It was not an issue though after the first couple of weeks once you understand the system and make a couple of friends.

What is your favorite memory at FASP?

Gabriel: The classes and everything in between! I have so many of them don’t think I can choose one favorite memory. 


Christian: My last week here when we had field day! We were sad to leave but also, just as excited for our move to high school.

Hannah: The people! I’m still in contact with my friends, we share a very strong bond.

Vanessa: The last week of 8th grade! We went to Puerto Rico with our class and the memories we made were special!

Overall, the consensus among alumni is that their middle school experience played a significant role in their success during the transition to high school. FASP alumni share many important qualities and strengths, including being organized, articulate, confident learners who advocate on behalf of themselves. They have excellent work habits, a productive mindset and show high engagement in class with many of our graduates enjoying excellent placement in honors and AP classes.

FASP has a strong track record of graduates enrolling and succeeding at top independent high schools in the Princeton area and beyond, including The Lawrenceville School and PRISM (two schools in the top 20 high schools in the country), Princeton Day School, and The Hun School of Princeton among others.

By providing a solid bilingual academic foundation, fostering essential skills, offering extracurricular opportunities, and creating a supportive environment, middle schoolers are equipped for the challenges and opportunities that await them in high school and beyond.

 

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If you would like more information about French American School of Princeton, please call 609-430-3001, or email admissions@ecoleprinceton.org.

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