Oui Will Miss You!

This year’s cohort of French Student Exchange students arrived! And Departed!

The French Student Exchange program is a ten-day long international immersion of Californian culture. Moreau Catholic Partners with one of our sister schools in France, and they take turns sending students to France and California.

The exchange program halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Moreau Students were only hosting and not traveling to Paris. Thankfully, French Teacher Dr. Schott stepped up and planned the exchange for Moreau students to go, and a group of them traveled this past summer.

Eight students along with Dr. Schott and Ms. Herrera traveled to Paris as the first cohort to go after Covid!

Brooklyn Gissible was among the student hosts who traveled to Paris last summer as part of the student exchange program.

When asked about her favorite part of the exchange, the senior highlighted the personal connections she formed.

“My favorite part was getting to meet people from, like, different cultures and backgrounds and building lasting relationships with them, and making memories that I’ll forever remember,” Gissible said.

She also reflected about what her best memories were from traveling to France.

“I think everything,” Gissible said. “Being able to hang out with Ziyon and French students. Getting to see France in general and Paris, a place that I never imagined- that I only saw on TV, I don’t know, it’s just crazy.”

Now that the 2025 Exchange is over, it’s time to welcome the 2026 cohort of French exchange students! This year, there were 14 students from Charenton-le-Pont, a suburban commune outside of Paris, participating in the program.

Each school day while their hosts went to school, the French explored the wonders of the Bay Area. Some adventures included Alcatraz, Pier 39, Stanford University, and International House of Pancakes! On the weekends, they spent end time with their host families.

Junior Serene Benitez’s exchange student, Marie Simon, was asked what her favorite experience was from this exchange. And if she could, would she do anything over again.

“Everything, like the [football] game. I would do everything again because it was so cool”

She was also asked what she liked about her host.

“I mean, she’s everything she’s like my second mom.”

There are two chaperones along with the students, Ms.Lacasta and Madame Gonzalez, they supervised the exchange last year as well.

Ms.Lacasta (on the right), their English teacher, was interviewed and inquired about what she liked about the culture of America.

“The [football] game was amazing, we don’t have France. We don’t have the spirit, we don’t have the events where everyone comes together, we don’t have that.”

With another successful exchange in the books, both American and French students seem heartbroken to be separating from one another. As we look towards the future, the countdown begins for the next group of Mariners eager to take their turn exploring Paris.