On Tuesday morning, the K3 students from La Petite Ecole Hanoi, a French preschool in Hanoi accredited by the French Ministry of Education and a member of the AEFE network, took part in their very first transition day towards elementary school. This special event was held at the Lycée Français Alexandre Yersin (LFAY), a partner school offering a French education in Vietnam. It gave the children a chance to experience their future school environment in a positive, supportive, and engaging way.

Warmly welcomed by the LFAY teaching team, the children explored their future learning space through a fun and reassuring morning experience. This visit was part of the Olympic and Paralympic Week (SOP), an educational initiative led by the AEFE that promotes the values of Olympism, inclusion, cooperation, and solidarity across French schools abroad.

Through this initiative, our young students experienced their first school transition in a joyful, movement-based way, in line with La Petite Ecole Hanoi’s educational approach, which emphasizes care, autonomy, and confidence-building.

The children joined in a series of inclusive mini sports games alongside current elementary students. This friendly setting allowed them to meet future classmates, become familiar with key areas of the elementary school, and connect with teachers from Cycle 2. More than just a school visit, this gentle transition was designed to reduce anxiety, build excitement, and foster curiosity about the next stage of their academic journey.

This first step marks an important milestone: by giving them a real-life preview of what elementary school looks and feels like, we help them approach Grade 1 with confidence and readiness.