WOODBURY— “Bonjour!” and “Bon apres midi!” These “good mornings” and “good afternoons” are always said enthusiastically, and with so much joy that her only goal is to put a smile on her students’ faces.
Kate Peterson or “Madame,” as most call Nonnewaug’s French teacher, brings her love of the language into making her class as fulfilling for her students as it is for her.
“French has always been my passion,” Peterson said, “so to share it with these wonderful students is not a job; it’s just joy, complete joy.”
Incorporating French music, French culture, and fun French-conjugation songs into the everyday curriculum is just one of the things that makes Madame’s class special, but according to junior Molly Hartmann, there’s one thing in particular that sticks out.
“She genuinely cares about us,” Hartmann said. “You can tell it’s not just about the academics, but about our overall well-being.”
Even though Peterson puts all her focus on French when at Nonnewaug, there’s some key parts of her life outside of school that she also loves.
“When I’m not at Nonnewaug I study French, all things French,” Peterson jokes. “Actually, I really love to travel, to be out in nature, and to learn about healthy living. It’s another passion of mine.”
Some seniors like Sam Duncan, who has been with Peterson for all four years at Nonnewaug, knows that her time in French class has impacted her life in and out of school in the best way.
“French has been a very positive experience for me,” Duncan said. “I learned another language, which helped me expand my English vocabulary, and I got to learn about different parts of the world and their history.”
Going to French class means always having something to do, whether that means an assignment or a field trip. Whichever one it is, Peterson’s process behind deciding what to do in her class is what she expresses as worthwhile.
“When you’re a teacher, there’s constant planning,” Peterson said. “You think about it when you’re sleeping, when you’re hiking, when you’re on vacation — you’re always thinking about how you can reach your students, and how to make the class better. Always. But if it’s you’re passion, like ‘moi,’ it’s such a wonderful thing to do.”
Duncan isn’t the only senior who has experienced the joy of being in Peterson’s class: Izzy DiNunzio, who started French in her junior year, only has the best to say about Madame.
“Madame is the sweetest lady I’ve ever meet in my entire life,” DiNunzio said. “She is always encouraging you to try your best and try to succeed. She’s not just a teacher — she’s someone you can trust and that you can talk to about anything. She deserves to go on a TV show and win a trip to travel across the world.”
