August 22, 2025

Dear Families,

Welcome to Rochambeau Secondary School!

I hope you and your children had a wonderful vacation and are ready for the start of classes, which will take place on Monday, August 25 at 8:30 a.m.

I would especially like to welcome new families, whether you are coming from abroad, from another school, or from the Maplewood campus. My team and I hope that everyone quickly feels at home at Forest.

As we do each year, collaboration with families is essential. Last year, the work carried out with the PAR, parent representatives, and the many volunteers was invaluable. I hope that this new school year will strengthen this cooperation even further. Parents who wish to get involved are, of course, welcome to reach out to the PAR or to the team.

This new school year is also marked by the arrival of 17 new teachers, coming from diverse backgrounds. Some are still waiting for their work permits, but the situation should be resolved soon.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of a few school rules: punctuality and respect for regulations remain essential. Cell phones are not allowed in middle school (Grades 6 through 9) and must be kept in lockers.

You are also invited to the back-to-school meetings, which will begin on September 9 with the sixth-grade classes. These gatherings are an ideal opportunity to meet the teaching staff and learn about the year’s projects. I also look forward to seeing you at our traditional barbecue on September 13, a friendly event that will kick off the celebrations for Rochambeau’s 70th anniversary.

Finally, I wish all of our middle and high school students a wonderful school year filled with discoveries, new friendships, progress, and success.

Thank you again for the trust you place in us. I look forward to working with you to make this year a successful one for your children.

Philippe Vanhille,

Director of Secondary School

Who to contact in the Secondary Office ?

New Faculty Members

This year, we are delighted to welcome several talented and dedicated individuals to our team. Each new member brings valuable experience, contagious enthusiasm, and a shared commitment to our mission of providing an exceptional educational experience for our students.

Please join us in welcoming the following faculty members to the Rochambeau family:

School Books and Supplies

We have just received the books and supplies that were ordered on the website MARENTREE.fr. Those who ordered their books in July or August will receive their order a little later. The students can pick up their books at school on Monday.

For digital books, all French program books will now be directly available on Pronote. For American digital books, these will be accessible online.

Clubs and Extracurricular Activities

To enrich our students’ school experience, Rochambeau offers a wide range of after-school activities. For more information, please consult the Fall Clubs Guide or contact Ms. Jannie Kwok, Director of Extracurricular Programs, at kwokj@rochambeau.org.

Some clubs, such as Model UN or Ambassadeurs en Herbe, will open their applications in September. Students will be invited to an information session led by the faculty advisors in order to receive all the necessary details.

Chromebook Distribution (Grades 6–9)

Chromebooks will be distributed to middle school students (6th through 9th grade) by the IT department during the first two weeks of the school year. Students will also receive an Acceptable Use Policy that must be read carefully and signed. For any questions regarding this device, please contact stechsupport@rochambeau.org.

Lunch

This year, Rochambeau will not provide a lunch service as it did in previous years. Students must bring their own lunch. Microwave ovens are available in the middle and high school cafeterias so students can warm up their meals.

School Rules

We invite you to review the School Handbook at the beginning of the school year. An online form will be sent to you to confirm that you have read it. Updated last year, this document is an essential reference to help guide your children and understand the rules of life at Rochambeau.

Reminder of the Rules on Phones and Smartwatches in Middle School:

To foster a calm, distraction-free learning environment, the use of cell phones and smartwatches is strictly prohibited throughout the school day. This rule applies to all middle school students from the moment they arrive on campus until they leave. Phones and smartwatches must be placed in lockers upon arrival and may not be used during the day. If this rule is not respected, devices will be confiscated and must be retrieved by parents.

Where should students go upon arrival on August 25?

Upon arrival, students will report by grade level to their assigned area.

What time does school end on the first day?

On the first day of school only, classes will end at 3:30 p.m. for all students (no 5:30 p.m. bus service). There will be no clubs or study hall on the first day.

What do students do on the first day of school?

On the first day:

• Grades 7–12 will spend the first two hours with their homeroom teacher.
• Grade 6 will spend the first three hours with their homeroom teacher.

The morning will focus mainly on introductions and team-building. No special supplies are required: a notebook or paper and a few pencils are enough.

During the first week, each student will be assigned a locker, which is important to use both to reduce the weight of the backpack and to keep valuables safe.

Homeroom teachers will also use the first day to present the School Handbook, which you can find on the Parent Portal of the school website; a confirmation of reading must be signed by families.

Additionally, middle school parents must complete the Off-Campus Authorization Form, which offers several options and should be read carefully.

Please make sure all required forms are completed!

Check that all required items on your enrollment account checklist are up to date.

Additional forms will be distributed by teachers on the first day of class. Parents must ensure that their child meets with medical requirements, as these documents are necessary for school attendance.

For any medical questions, please contact the school nurse directly: nurse@rochambeau.org. 

What to do if there is a problem with your child’s schedule?

In case of an error (for example, a missing elective), please contact Sandra Percy by email at percys@rochambeau.org.

Please note that schedules may be slightly adjusted during the first two weeks of the school year. The final schedules will go into effect starting September 16.

Can a student add or drop an elective?

If a student wishes to add or drop an elective, parents have until September 16 to make a request by email to Mr. Vanhille. Changes will be made depending on seat availability.

For IB program students, requests must be sent to Ms. Percy.

• No changes will be accepted after this date.
• Requests made directly by students will not be considered.

Can students change classes?

No. At the secondary level, the school’s policy is not to allow class changes once groups have been formed. This organization is the result of careful planning to balance class sizes, levels, electives, and scheduling constraints. Making exceptions would set a precedent that could compromise this balance for many students.

How to use Pronote?

Pronote is our main system of communication for grades, homework, absences, and more. Each family and student is assigned a username and password to access the system.

You will receive an email with this information during the first week of school.

If you encounter difficulties logging into Pronote, please contact: pronotesupport@rochambeau.org

As part of our Back-to-School Nights, we invite you to attend a presentation by the teaching teams. This general presentation will provide essential information to help you understand what your child will discover and learn during the new school year.

Parent information meetings will take place according to the schedule below:

Back-to-School Meetings will be held in person at the following locations:

• Auditorium (BF): For all classes except IB, MYP, and DP classes.
• Library (CDI): For IB MYP/DP classes.

What is the schedule for the evening?

Program Overview: Each subject area will provide an overview of its curriculum, with the exception of elective subjects. Teachers of elective subjects will send an introductory letter to the families concerned.

What will be covered during the meeting?

The meeting will allow you to meet the homeroom teacher and their team, and to learn the main outlines of the curriculum. Teachers will not have time to answer individual questions during this presentation evening.

PowerPoint presentations will be shared with families after the meetings.

Have a great start to the school year!

Bonne rentrée !