Grant to expand Francophone Cultural and Educational Exchange

Milford High School French Teacher, Ms. Lydia Buckley, has been awarded a grant in the amount of $8,000 by the Selection Committee of the French as a World Language Program at Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education of the French Embassy. The Pedagogical Project Grant will directly impact approximately 500 students annually across the district.  

Key program highlights include:

•   Immersive Cultural Activities: Funding will support participation in the Grand Concours (National French Contest), a school-wide French spelling bee (dictée), and a guest speaker series featuring francophone authors, artists, and historians.

•   Global Partnerships: The district will establish a multi-year virtual exchange and pen-pal program with a francophone partner school. This connection will allow students to build lasting relationships with international peers from middle school through graduation.

•   Summer Immersion: A new French Summer Immersion Camp, led by teachers and French Honor Society students, will offer interactive projects and museum visits to extend learning beyond the traditional school year.

•   Modernized Resources: The initiative includes investments in updated educational materials, including new francophone texts, cultural readings, and magazine subscriptions.

Buckley said, “By connecting classroom learning with global communities, the project aims to increase student enthusiasm, improve language proficiency, and foster deep cultural understanding. The ultimate goal is to build a sustainable international partnership that encourages students to pursue upper-level French courses and participate in future in-person exchange opportunities.” Buckley added, “We want to thank the French Institute for Culture and Education of the French Embassy for this grant. Their considerable financial support will help to grow our French world language program, and offer new opportunities for our students.”

Buckley teaches several levels of French at Milford High School. Recently, several students have entered and been awarded prizes in various French language competitions, including student created French educational videos and oratorical contests. 

MHS Principal Josh Otlin shared, “Lydia is one of the outstanding educators at Milford High School.  She has a genuine passion for teaching French as a world language, and her enthusiasm and advocacy is contagious. Her students excel speaking, reading, and writing French, and Ms. Buckley is a big reason why.”