This January, Northside welcomed 18 French exchange students from Emilie De Rodat, a high school in Toulouse. 

The experience is part of a program in which their students come to NCP, and then 18 of our students visit them. This exchange has existed for 12 years, with a short break due to COVID-19.

While here, Emilie De Rodat students give a 10-minute-long oral presentation to help them prepare for their “Grand Oral,” a test that will mark the end of their high school education and help determine their future university.

In addition to experiencing the academic side of America, the French students went to a Bulls game. Emilie De Rodat student Inès Delapeyronnie said, “My favorite activity was probably going to the basketball game because the atmosphere was just crazy. It was amazing.”

The students also toured UChicago and went ice skating at Maggie Daley,

 took a Second City improv Class, and watched IDay.

She also explained that Emilie De Rodat has a very similar event to INight

called the Carnival. This is an event they have at the end of the school year in which each class creates their own themed dance and performs it to the rest of the school.

Maizy Peer, a Northside senior participating in the exchange, said, “I’m very excited to go to France! I have never been to Europe, so I can’t wait to experience what it’s like to live abroad, especially since we will be living with French families!”

Maizy and 17 other Northside students will do many amazing things in France like watching a rugby game, hiking, and visiting museums in Toulouse.

Our students will also be in Toulouse to watch Emilie De Rodat’s Carnival,  “I think it will be cool to see the unique things their school does,” Maizy said.