Fritz Beauvais
Head of school
Leads the school and teaches the grade 8 reading discussion. Speaks English, French and Haitian Creole, and greets families at the front door most mornings.
A French immersion school in Metairie, Louisiana
Math, art and stories in French, from kindergarten to grade 8
Children at Ode spend the school day in two languages. Teachers lead most lessons in French in the early grades, English reading and writing has a block every day, and no child needs any French to start. Our staff also speaks Haitian Creole with families.
- Kindergarten to grade 8
- French and English
- No French needed to start
Two languages, by grade
What is taught in French, and what in English
Each grade group has its own classroom and teacher. Mornings lean on French in the early grades, and English reading and writing has a block of its own every day. By the middle grades the two languages share the day.
| Ages | Class size | In French | In English | In both languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten and grade 1Ages 5 to 7Songs, stories and play in French, with an English story hour. | 10 | OfferedMath, science, social studies, art, music, lunch and recess | OfferedStory hour and first letters | Not offered |
| Grades 2 and 3Ages 7 to 9French reading begins, and English reading and writing get their own block. | 12 | OfferedMath, science, art and music | OfferedReading, writing and spelling | OfferedSocial studies, with the new words in both |
| Grades 4 and 5Ages 9 to 11Longer texts in both languages and a first research project. | 12 | OfferedFrench language arts, math, science and art | OfferedReading, writing and spelling | OfferedSocial studies and music |
| Grades 6 to 8Ages 11 to 14Discussion classes, lab days and a service project each year. | 14 | OfferedFrench literature, social studies and art | OfferedEnglish literature, writing and math | OfferedScience and a yearly project |
The office confirms class size at a visit, and says which subjects change language from one year to the next.
Sample programs.
A week at Ode
Lessons in two languages, and a school with a city around it
A day is built around what children do with their hands and their voices.
Math and science, in French
Children measure, build and test with the words on the table: a bridge of sticks, a tray of water, a scale. The new words come with the work.
Reading and writing, in English
Every class has its own English block every day, with reading groups and a page of writing each week.
Families and the city
A spring fair, a Francophonie week, a Mardi Gras parade of paper masks and a supper for Haitian Heritage Month. Families come from across Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.
The year at a glance
Open houses, applications, holidays and storm days
Dates are in months and weeks. The office sends the exact days as soon as they are known.
This school year
October and January
Open houses
Walk the building, hear a class in French and meet the head of school and the teachers.
One Tuesday morning a month, October to March
November
Applications open
For the fall that follows.
Mid-March
Decisions
By letter and by phone, in English or in French.
Mid-August
First day
Families join a short morning gathering before classes begin.
Late winter, several days
ClosedMardi Gras break
The school closes with the parish schools. On the Friday before, each class parades through the halls in paper masks.
March
EventFrancophonie week
Each class shares songs, a story and a dish from a French-speaking place, and families come to taste.
May
EventHaitian Heritage Month
An assembly, a reading by the head of school and a family supper.
Late summer and fall, as needed
ClosedStorm days
The school follows the parish when a named storm closes schools. The office texts and emails families as early as it can.
Sample dates.
Faculty
Teachers who speak your family's languages
Twelve teachers share the grades. The head of school and an upper grades teacher both speak English, French and Haitian Creole with families.
Kerlyne Isidor
Upper grades French teacher
Teaches French language arts and social studies in grades 6 to 8 and leads the Francophonie week. Speaks English, French and Haitian Creole.
Questions
What families ask first
Does my child need to know French?
No. Every class starts where its children are, with songs, pictures and gestures, and the new words come with the work. The head of school is glad to talk about it before you apply.
What if we do not speak French at home?
Most of our families do not. Letters from teachers come in English, and the office can answer in English, French or Haitian Creole.
Can we visit before we apply?
Yes. A visit day is a morning in a classroom and a talk with the head of school. Children are welcome to come along.
How big are the classes?
Each grade has its own class size. The office confirms it at the visit.
What about lunch?
Families pack lunch or order a hot lunch by the month. Tell us about allergies at the visit; we ask privately once you enroll.
Visit
Book a visit day
A visit day is a morning in a classroom and a talk with the head of school. Bring your children, and bring your questions about French, English and the school day.
Phone(504) 555-0106
Office hours
- Monday to FridayToday
- 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday and SundayToday
- Closed