(757) 818-1520 efan.norfolk@gmail.com

History

History of FASN (French American School of Norfolk)

In 2010, the absence of a French educational institution in the Norfolk area was noted, despite a consistent increase in the number of children requiring schooling. This observation was made by the French Ministry of Armed Forces (État-Major des Armées, EMA) in collaboration with various actors from the French Embassy in the United States.

Mission laïque française

The French military representative in Norfolk (the Élement de Soutien National, ESN) then developed a project for the creation of a French American school and asked for the guidance and expertise of John and Simone Ryan, a French American couple from Hampton Roads without whom none of this would have been possible. Simone is, to this day, the founder and Présidente of the board.  The Mission Laïque Française (MLF) provided its expertise to the initiative. The Mayor of Norfolk, who was particularly involved in this matter, gave his approval for the French school to be hosted within American school facilities. The Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) Board of Education, along with the principals of the relevant American schools, worked closely with the ESN of Norfolk and the MLF to develop a Franco-American educational partnership.

Mission laïque française

As a result, at the start of the 2011 school year, the French American School of Norfolk (FASN) opened its doors to its first students at Crossroads Elementary School, Norview Middle School, and Granby High School. Later, the elementary and middle schools were consolidated into the Crossroads Elementary and Middle School.

Mission laïque française

Recognizing that most military families resided in Virginia Beach, a new partnership was established in 2022 with Virginia Beach Schools (VBS). Consequently, FASN gradually expanded to new schools in Virginia Beach, including Cox High School in September 2022, Great Neck Middle School in September 2023, and John B. Dey Elementary School in September 2024. The FASN program at Granby High School in Norfolk will close in June 2025.

Mission laïque française

Thus, FASN is a structure that exists thanks to the support of the EMA and the cooperation of the authorities and educational institutions in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, which generously accommodate the FASN program and its students.

History

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