Torina Gent

In 1995, a small group of educators and Francophiles had a vision to establish a French American school in the Pacific Northwest. That fall, the French American School of Puget Sound (FASPS) opened its doors with two teachers and 13 students in the basement of a church in Newcastle. One year later, with already more than double the number of students, FASPS moved to another church property in Newport Hills. But with continuous growth over the next several years, FASPS co-founders knew a larger space would be necessary soon. In 1999, 146 students moved to Mercer Island, taking over the old fire station just north of the SJCC. Once student enrollment surpassed 200, FASPS administrators and the board of trustees knew they had to think bigger. To lead this new and ambitious expansion phase in the school’s history, FASPS brought in experienced Head of School Andrée McGiffin. Under her leadership, FASPS quickly and successfully conducted a capital campaign towards the design and construction of a one-story building, completed in September 2004. 2008 saw the doubling in size of the school, and another floor was added to the current structure. With close to 300 students, the second floor allowed for additional classrooms and the launching of the much anticipated Middle School Program with its first grade six class. In 2011, one year after the new Head of School Eric Thuau began his role, the dream of having a middle school was fully realized with the first graduating class. Fourteen students, four of them at FASPS for over 10 years, moved on to public and private schools around the area. Since then, FASPS has continued to grow each year. In October 2013, FASPS purchased a 2.2 acre lot adjacent to the current campus, with the board of trustees tasked to discuss possible development options for the property.