French immersion students write letters to France


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NORTH SALT LAKE — Students at two North Salt Lake French immersion elementary schools, Foxboro and Odyssey, wrote letters and drew pictures to send to people in France after recent terrorist attacks in the country.

Walking inside the Odyssey French immersion elementary school, blue, white and red lights, colors of the French flag, illuminate the ceiling. Two flags, American and French, anchor the light display. For the students in this school, these are symbols of support after recent terrorist attacks in several areas in Paris.

Annabelle Barbo teaches 45 third-grade students — split into classes in the morning and afternoon. They decided to write letters and draw pictures to people in France.

"They were attacked and they're like afraid," said Parker Moore, 8. "They might be afraid that they (terrorists) will come again."

The students' messages were simple.

"Everything will be fine," said Ava Toone, 8. "We are thinking about you."

Most of these students have been learning French since kindergarten and while they're not French, they feel close to the French.

"We pray for them and hope they don't get attacked by them (terrorists) anymore," said Winston Robinson, 8.

Barbo is originally from Brittany, a region four hours from Paris, but the terrorist attacks hit close to home for her.

"My sister lives there (Paris). My brother is living around Paris. My friends live in Paris," she said. "I saw my friends texting me, saying 'this is happening in France right now.' I couldn't believe it. It was surreal."

Barbo's friend was inside the Paris theater when terrorists attacked.

"She was by the exit and quickly went out," she explained with tears in her eyes. "I cannot talk about it because I keep thinking, what if that had been her."

The two schools, Foxboro and Odyssey, have collected hundreds of papers with drawings and letters.

Inside the 15 envelopes are messages to students, fire and police departments, hospitals and even the Paris city hall.

"They will see that people in North Salt Lake, in Woods Cross, actually thought of them," said Barbo.

While world leaders discuss strategies for fighting the terrorists, there are no politics inside their classrooms, only artful diplomacy.

"I feel sorry and I want to make them feel better so I drew the Eiffel," said Parker Moore.

The letters went out Tuesday, and now the students wait, feeling that perhaps a new friendship has been formed.

"We support each other and we're not going to let those people win," said Barbo. "They can attack us but in the end, we're just going to draw nice pictures and keep smiling and keep living our lives."

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