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We have many opportunities to experience a little taste of France in Edina, from delicious croissants and macarons at Patisserie Margo to bouillabaisse and croque monsieurs at Salut. But our strongest connection to le monde français is the outstanding French immersion program at Normandale Elementary School, where 650 students learn most of their curriculum in French. Normandale has received the prestigious LabelFrancÉducation from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Education in recognition of the excellence of its dual-language education program. It is the only school in Minnesota awarded this honor.
A significant strength of Edina’s French education program is its interns, native French speakers who live with Edina families for the school year and teach at Normandale as well as assist with French classes at Valley View Middle and Edina High schools. This year, 27 interns are here from many areas throughout France.
Normandale’s renowned French immersion program and Edina’s French classes prepare students well for an increasingly globally focused world. We are grateful to the interns who contribute so much to our community and to our successful programs in international education. Bienvenue et merci beaucoup à tous les stagiaires d’Edina cette année!
Contributed by Laura Westlund, a local arts writer and an art hound for Minnesota Public Radio.
