School Traditions
We are more than a school — we are a community that celebrates, supports, and grows together.
Our Traditions, Our Family
At L’Étoile du Nord French Immersion, traditions are more than events on a calendar — they are the heartbeat of our community. They bring us together across grade levels, cultures, and generations of students. They are where friendships deepen, leadership grows, and our school truly feels like family.
🌟 A Global Community: Celebrating Culture & Identity
At L’Étoile du Nord, global learning is woven into everything we do — and our celebrations bring the world to life.
Black History Month & NAAPID: During Black History Month and throughout the year, we honor African American leaders and celebrate the broader African diaspora. On NAAPID (National African-American Parent Involvement Day), parents join students for lunch, classroom activities, and an assembly. Our PTO also hosts an after-school celebration with cultural foods, crafts, and performances, highlighting our vibrant community.
Mardi Gras: Kindergarteners create colorful masks, enjoy delicious crepes, and lead a lively Mardi Gras parade for the entire school, filling the halls with music, movement, and joy.
Thanksgiving: Third graders explore the history of the Macy’s Day Parade and then design their own balloon creations. They proudly walk the hallways, showing off their imaginative floats while peers cheer them on.
Lunar New Year: Started by former teacher Mme Tran, this tradition has fifth graders learning about Lunar New Year and its cultural significance. The halls are decorated in red and gold, and students bring the celebration to life with a parade featuring a large dragon puppet, masks, instruments, and festive decorations.
Mois de la Francophonie: Every March, our school celebrates the Francophone world with our "Tour du Monde." Each class selects a Francophone country to study and creates a classroom door display. Students walk the halls to explore each other’s doors, sharing knowledge and learning from one another.
These celebrations help students see themselves in the curriculum while gaining a deeper appreciation for the diversity, traditions, and cultures of others.
🌟 Family Festivals: Fun for All Generations
🎃 Carnaval des Citrouilles (Pumpkin Carnival)
Each autumn, L’Étoile du Nord bursts to life with the excitement of our Pumpkin Carnival. Students and families enjoy face painting, balloon animals, a candy trail, games in the classrooms, and food trucks — but the heart of the celebration is the dance party. Students of all ages dance together to lively tunes, sing at the top of their lungs, and jam out while a volunteer parent DJ keeps the music rolling. The energy is contagious, and the laughter fills the building.
One of the most special parts? Our alumni return to volunteer, running activities and reconnecting with teachers who once guided them. It’s a joyful reminder that once you’re part of LNFI, you’re always part of the family.
☀️ Kermesse (End-of-Year Carnival)
We wrap up the school year with sunshine, laughter, and pure celebration. The recess field comes alive with outdoor games like potato sack races, ring toss, face painting, temporary tattoos, and a bounce house — all the fun of a carnival!
But the real showstopper? The Dunk Tank. Teachers, interns, and even the principal line up as participants, and students cheer as splash after splash soaks their favorite staff. There’s nothing quite like the thrill and laughter of a teacher hitting the water on a warm June day — it’s a highlight students talk about all year.
Again, alumni return to volunteer or just to join the fun. Kermesse isn’t just a carnival — it’s a joyful send-off to summer, a celebration of accomplishments, and a reminder of the vibrant, playful community that makes L’Étoile du Nord so special.
🌟 Performances & Showcases: Where Students Shine
At L’Étoile du Nord, the stage is always open for students to share their talents and creativity.
Artist Residencies: Each spring, students collaborate with a resident artist and explore culturally diverse forms of music, dance, theatre, and visual arts — culminating in lively performances for the school community. Past residencies have included Haitian song and dance, West African drumming, a theatre troupe with Algerian coaches, and a ballroom dance company.
Talent Show: The Talent Show is the grand finale of the school year, and students plan and prepare for it all year long. Kids of all ages take the stage with solo, group, and whole-class performances — singing, dancing, reciting poetry, and even showing off gymnastic skills! Teachers and interns join in the fun, turning it into a joyful, school-wide celebration of creativity, courage, and community.
Harmony Strings Program: Violin and cello students perform multiple times a year, showcasing the skills they’ve developed in weekly lessons. These concerts give students a chance to demonstrate their progress and gain confidence in front of an audience, while sharing the joy of music with their classmates, teachers, and families.
Every performance is a unique opportunity for students to shine and experience the excitement of sharing their learning with the school community
🌟 Learning Milestones They'll Always Remember
At L’Étoile du Nord, some academic projects become beloved milestones — the kind students remember long after the school year ends.
"Ours Brun" Unit: Inspired by Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, Kindergarteners spend two joyful weeks exploring colors through art, literacy, and community-building. Each day, students dress in the color of the day and create a page for their own class “Brown Bear” book. The unit culminates with a completed class book and a celebration of their favorite colors — a playful and memorable introduction to storytelling.
100th Day of School: In Kindergarten and 1st grade, students work hard to count from 0–100 in French — no small feat! On the 100th Day, they celebrate with hands-on, 100-themed activities like building paper chains with 100 links, writing about what they would buy with $100, and presenting collections of 100 items to their classmates. The day is a joyful milestone that builds confidence in math, pride in learning French, and excitement for how far they’ve come.
Walk on the Wild Side: Second graders take on a cross-curricular animal research project that blends reading, writing, science, and creativity. Each student researches an animal, writes and publishes a nonfiction book, and builds a detailed habitat diorama. Projects are showcased in a schoolwide gallery that younger students love to visit. The unit culminates in a special “Authors Café,” where students proudly present their work to families and celebrate their accomplishment with growing confidence.
La Foire de Science (Science Fair): In upper elementary, students design and conduct their own science experiments — entirely in French — to investigate a question of their choice. On Science Fair day, the gym becomes a lively exhibition of research and discovery as students present their posters to volunteer judges, including parents and community members working in science-related fields. Younger students tour the displays, inspired and eager for their own turn to step into the role of scientist.
🌟 Adventures Beyond the Classroom
Students at L’Étoile look forward to field trips that bring learning to life in new environments.
Younger students enjoy local visits that spark curiosity and wonder. Many look forward to picking apples at an orchard, exploring the stars at the Como Planetarium, and watching stories and music come alive during performances at the Ordway.
Upper elementary students experience longer learning adventures. Fourth and fifth graders travel to Deep Portage for a three-day outdoor education experience. Students explore natural science through hands-on activities, studying animal adaptation, testing and measuring water quality, and discussing energy conservation. Students and chaperones stay in cabins, share meals together, and interns often join the trip.
At the end of their elementary journey, fifth graders have the option to participate in a special trip to France. Students stay with host families, attend French school, explore historic sites, and experience French culture, food, and daily life firsthand — a meaningful celebration of years of French immersion learning.
🌟 Service & Leadership: Learning to Give Back
At L’Étoile, students learn that being part of a community means caring for it. Throughout the year, our school comes together for service projects and fundraisers that support both our own programs and the wider Saint Paul community.
In past years, students have organized local food drives and created handmade cards and gift bags for children in hospitals, learning that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Classes have planted trees on school grounds, and families have participated in fall and spring clean-up days to care for the place we call home.
Our school also shows up beyond our walls. Families and staff connect with neighbors at community celebrations like Grand Old Day, Saint Paul Pride, Bastille Day, and Little Africa Fest — proudly representing L’Étoile and sharing our school spirit.
And then there’s the annual Glow Run — a student favorite! The gym goes dark, black lights glow, music pumps, and students run lap after lap while parents cheer from the sidelines. This high-energy event raises funds to support our Intern Program and perfectly captures the L’Étoile spirit: energetic, joyful, and united in purpose.
Through service and celebration, our students discover that leadership isn’t just about what you achieve — it’s about how you contribute.
🌟 Monthly Assemblies: Recognizing Effort & Character
Each month, our entire school gathers to celebrate character, growth, and effort. Students from every class are recognized for:
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Trying their best to speak French
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Making academic or personal progress
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Being a good school citizen & a kind friend
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Demonstrating key social and emotional competencies: cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control (C.A.R.E.S.)
After honoring our award winners, the celebration kicks into high gear. Students across grade levels come together for a spirited assembly game, with teachers and interns joining right alongside them. The gym fills with laughter, applause, and proud cheers — a moment where our entire school feels united.
🌟 Spirit Days: Big Energy, Big Smiles
At L’Étoile, Spirit Days reward positive behavior, energize families during Intern Rally Month, and add a dose of fun to the school year.
From Pajama Day to Hat Day to Superhero Day, the hallways transform with creativity and laughter. Students show off their wildest outfits and boldest ideas, and teachers jump in right alongside them, fully embracing the fun. Capes fly, hats tower, and hair defies gravity — the excitement is contagious, filling the school with energy and joy.
Spirit Days aren’t just about costumes and games. They’re about celebrating community, teamwork, and school spirit. Laughter echoes through the halls, friendships are strengthened, and students leave with memories they’ll talk about long after the day is over.
