Community Day at the French American Academy is an intentional moment in the school year to slow down, reflect, and engage with the values that shape our community. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., students and families across our Englewood, Jersey City – Downtown, and Jersey City – The Heights campuses, representing more than 55 nationalities, came together to explore service, cultural understanding, and the importance of learning how to live and grow alongside others.
From preschool through Grade 9, students participated in experiences designed to meet them where they are developmentally, reinforcing the idea that empathy, responsibility, and civic engagement are skills that are learned and practiced over time.
Learning Through Service and Responsibility
At our Jersey City The Heights campus, Community Day focused on service as a meaningful extension of classroom learning. Grade 6 students volunteered at the Downtown campus, supporting activities and engaging with younger peers. Grade 7 students spent the morning as teacher assistants at the York Street Project daycare, reading stories and spending time with very young children.
Students in Grades 8 and 9 partnered with Smart Choice Solutions, an organization founded by Hope Smart, a parent in our community. They prepared resources for donation and assisted with preparations for the organization’s MLK Day initiatives, which support young people with mental health and social-emotional needs. Through this experience, students learned that service can take many forms and that thoughtful, behind-the-scenes work is essential to lasting impact.
In the afternoon, Grade 6-9 students worked in cross-grade groups to research civil rights leaders and select quotes that reflect courage, justice, and perseverance. These reflections will soon be added to the Staircase of Inspiration at The Heights, extending the learning from Community Day into students’ daily environment.
Englewood’s Eco-Delegates also played an active role, proudly presenting posters they created to illustrate the philosophy behind Community Day. Their work highlighted themes of community, respect, and shared responsibility, and offered parents a window into how students engage with these values throughout the year.
Celebrating Culture and Community
At the Jersey City Downtown campus, Community Day centered on cultural exchange and collective participation. Families hosted country stands where students, parents, and staff explored traditions, history, food, and stories from around the world. The day also included a shared moment of singing, bringing the community together in a simple yet powerful expression of unity.
At our Englewood campus, Community Day took on a warm, collaborative spirit as parents joined their children for a morning of hands-on classroom activities. Seeing families learning side by side created a strong sense of connection and belonging throughout the campus.
The morning at the Englewood campus concluded with an International Potluck, where families shared dishes representing cultures from across the globe. From savory meals to sweet treats, the potluck offered a tangible and joyful celebration of the diversity that defines our school community.
Why Shared Community Experiences Matter for a Child’s Growth, Understanding, and Belonging
Community Day reflects a long-term educational vision that places academic learning in dialogue with social responsibility, cultural understanding, and ethical growth. Experiences such as service, shared inquiry, and collective reflection help students develop skills that are essential not only for school, but for life: empathy, perspective-taking, and a sense of responsibility toward others.
When children engage in these experiences across different ages and contexts, they begin to understand that learning does not stop at the classroom door. It extends into how they relate to others, contribute to their communities, and make thoughtful choices in everyday life.
Recommendations for Parents
Families play a central role in extending the impact of Community Day beyond school. Based on our observations and educational practice, we invite parents to consider the following approaches at home:
- Encourage reflection through conversation: Ask open-ended questions about what your child observed, felt, or learned during Community Day, rather than focusing only on activities or outcomes.
- Connect service to daily life: Help children see how small acts of care, cooperation, and responsibility at home or in the neighborhood reflect the same values explored at school.
- Explore culture as a shared experience: Use meals, stories, music, or family traditions as opportunities to discuss identity, heritage, and curiosity about the wider world.
- Value effort, intention, and growth: Acknowledge your child’s engagement, thoughtfulness, and willingness to participate, reinforcing that learning is a process shaped by reflection and experience.
Through these shared conversations and practices, families help children internalize the values explored during Community Day and develop a lasting sense of belonging and purpose.
Thank you to the families, students, and staff who contributed their time, ideas, and energy to this meaningful day. Together, we continue to build a school community grounded in understanding, respect, and shared responsibilit
