List of 20 frequently asked questions.

• Is FASPS for French families only?

  Not at all! Over 50 nationalities are represented at FASPS, and approximately 40 languages are spoken by our families. We are a distinctly international community and embrace multicultural diversity. The majority of our families are of mixed nationality.

• When can my child apply, i.e., how old must my child be to apply?

  Our youngest students start in Tiny YPK (Tiny Young Pre-kindergarten) at 18 months of age.

   

• Does my child need to be toilet trained?

  Our Tiny YPK students do not need to be toilet trained; their classroom is equipped with a diaper-changing station, and all teachers are trained to change diapers according to DCYF protocols. All of our other preschool students must be completely toilet trained for the first day of school.

• Do the preschoolers nap during the day?

  They sleep for about an hour in the afternoons.

• What can students do for lunch?

  Students have the choice to bring their own lunch or to purchase lunch through our Hot Lunch Program. There is a strict no-peanut policy throughout the building.

• Does FASPS offer tuition assistance?

  FASPS offers tuition assistance to qualifying families who submit completed applications, including required documentation. We provide tuition assistance to about 22% of our students, with awards ranging from 10% to 100% of tuition. Tuition assistance information is strictly confidential. Please refer to our Tuition and Tuition Assistance webpage for more information.

• What is FASPS’s policy regarding discipline in the classroom?

  The social and emotional learning program we employ at FASPS teaches students to identify and communicate their feelings, and to respect their peers, the adults around them, and their environment. Our Dean of Students works closely with students and teachers to develop support strategies and accommodations for students with special needs.

   

  If an inappropriate behavior keeps recurring, teachers and parents collaborate on an appropriate plan to resolve the issue.

• How can parents get involved in the school?

  Volunteering is an integral part of the FASPS community. The FASPS parent community records more than 4,000 volunteer hours per year. All parents automatically belong to the FASPS Parent Committee (FPC), our parent association. The FPC regularly organizes community service initiatives, social events for families, and an educational speaker series. Our Parent Ambassador Program assists the Admissions department in facilitating the transition of new families into the FASPS community.

• Does my child need to speak French to apply to FASPS?

  FASPS accepts students with no prior French experience in Tiny YPK, YPK, PK, and K. Applicants for Grades 1–8 are required to speak French so they can learn to read and follow the curriculum in both languages with ease.

• Is the curriculum taught in French only?

  FASPS offers a bilingual program taught in French and in English that incorporates the standardized curricula from both countries. In preschool, 90% of the instruction is conducted in French in order to develop fluency in both languages by the age of five. We continue to develop the students’ vocabulary and syntax in English through games, songs, counting exercises, and other activities.

   

  In Kindergarten, 25% of the curriculum is taught in English and 75% in French, with reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

   

  As the curriculum continues to expand, the percentage of English instruction will increase gradually to a proportion of 45% in Grade 3, with 55% percent in French. This proportion remains the same until the end of Middle School. We have found that this proportion is the most effective to ensure that our students become perfectly bilingual.

   

  In Grade 6, our students add either Mandarin or Spanish.

• Are children at a disadvantage if they start in Kindergarten?

  Our program is structured so that students who begin in Kindergarten learn French quickly and assuredly. An FLL specialist (French as a Learning Language) rotates through all Kindergarten classes to give support in the classrooms to French beginners in order to accelerate their acquisition process. After a few months, your Kindergarten student will understand and be able to communicate in French easily.

• What if we speak a third language at home?

  Over 20% of our families speak a third language at home, and their children thrive at FASPS as their brains are already attuned to processing more than one language.

• We do not speak French. How can I help my child with homework?

  At FASPS, homework serves to reinforce concepts already learned and practiced in the classroom. Students will never be required to learn a new skill or lesson at home. Consequently, our parents who do not speak French or English still feel able to help their children if needed.

   

  Middle School students sign up for office hours with teachers of their choice according to their needs.

• How long is the school day?

  • TYPK–PK (Preschool): 8:45am–3:00pm
  • Kindergarten–Grade 5 (Elementary School): 8:30am–3:15pm
  • Grades 6–8 (Middle School): 8:15am–3:45 pm

  Before- and After-school Care (Garderie) is available.

• What extracurricular programs are available before and after school?

  Our Extended Day program offers before- and after-school care (Garderie) to all grade levels. Additionally, students in PK and above may register for a variety of after-school Enrichment classes. Our robust Athletics Program offers a variety of sports to children in Kindergarten and up, including basketball, cross country, soccer, volleyball, track & field, and swimming.

• How do I know what my child is studying at school?

  Teachers use apps like Seesaw and Microsoft Teams to post photos, videos, homework, and activities on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the class and grade. Teachers also post poems, stories, songs, and other classroom resources so parents can practice with their children at home. If you aren't sure what your children are studying and would like more detailed information, we encourage you to reach out directly to your child's teacher(s) via email. Our Fall Information Nights take place in the first month of the school year and are an opportunity for parents to learn all about the curriculum and subject matter covered.

• Where do your families live?

  • West Side (Bellevue, Bothell, Carnation, Duvall, Issaquah, Kirkland, Newcastle, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, Woodinville) = 31%
  • East Side (Everett, Federal Way, Fife, Lake Forest Park, Normandy Park, Seattle, Shoreline, Tukwila, Woodway) = 42%
  • Mercer Island = 27%

• Does FASPS organize bus transportation for its students?

  We offer bus transportation to students in Kindergarten and above, serving Seattle and the Eastside. Our bus routes and stops are strategically chosen to service as many families as possible; a survey is sent before the start of the school year to help determine our routes. Click here for more information.

   

  We also encourage our families to carpool.

• What colleges and universities do FASPS alumni students attend?

  Following is a sampling of colleges and universities FASPS alumni students have or are currently attending:

  • Baylor University
  • Boston College
  • Chapman University
  • Fordham University
  • Georgetown University
  • Harvard University
  • Macalester College
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • McGill University (Canada)
  • Scripps College
  • Seattle University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of California Berkeley
  • University of Colorado
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Toronto
  • University of Washington
  • Wesleyan College
  • Western Washington University

• Where do your students attend high school after FASPS?

  Our students successfully transition to public and private high schools in the Seattle area and abroad. Below is a partial list of those schools.

   

  Independent Schools:

  • The Bush School
  • Eastside Preparatory School
  • Eastside Catholic School
  • Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
  • Holy Names Academy
  • Lakeside School
  • The Northwest School
  • The Overlake School
  • Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • University Prep

  Public Schools:

  • Bellevue International School
  • Garfield High School (Honors program)
  • Ingraham High School (IB program)
  • Interlake High School (IB program, Gifted High School Program)
  • Juanita High School (Cambridge Program)
  • Lake Washington High School
  • Mercer Island High School
  • Newport High School
  • Sammamish High School

  Schools Abroad:
  

  • Collège International Marie-de-France (Montréal, Canada)
  • Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel (Paris, France)
  • Lycée Saint Germain en Laye (France)
  • Institut Notre Dame (France)