During the summer of 2023, the power of our Country Day connection transcended campus to another country. Sammy Ferris '18 met up with Madame Béatrice Eldredge in Paris, France. Visiting and chatting in a café, our alumna updated our beloved Upper School French teacher on the magical year she had living in France.
Sammy Ferris '18, Madame Béatrice Eldredge, and Brooks Riley '18 visit outside a café in Paris, France – Summer 2023.
Sammy rendezvoused with Madame Eldredge again in August 2023, but this time back at Country Day. Before starting her new position as a Junior Digital Strategist at Maison MRKT in New York City, Sammy returned to the classroom to share the French culture and inspiration with Madame Eldredge’s students. Sammy’s path to France was not linear and interrupted by COVID-19, but her ability to pivot while continuing to dream was impressive and reinforced Madame Eldredge’s desire to ensure students understand that learning is not confined to the classroom. Sammy’s energy, motivation, and understanding of our Country Day community, compounded with Madame Eldredge’s responsibility to give students as much knowledge of the French language and culture as possible, made Sammy the perfect guest.
Béatrice EldredgeUpper School French Teacher
“In bringing Sammy to my classes, I hope that I showed them how fun and exciting it can be to design your own learning experience outside the classroom and how what they learn in the classroom can be applied not just on a test, but in the real world.”
Sammy presented to French classes (one entirely in French) about her experience living abroad and her exploration of obtaining her Masters in Fashion and Luxury Business at Grande Ecole Sup de Luxe in Paris, France. Leaning on her classroom learnings, she expressed her connection to luxury fashion roots, and her passion for craft, storytelling, and connection were ignited in Paris.
Sammy shared everything from exploring different neighborhoods and the nuances of each to the project she created for a 360 Marketing Campaign for Channel Eyewear to accurately reflect the brand’s image. After analyzing past eyewear campaigns, applying characteristics and themes, and designing a mood board for visual identity, Sammy then hopped on the back of a motorcycle to become the focal point of the campaign mock.
Sammy Ferris '18 presents to Madame Eldredge's French class.
After reflecting on Sammy’s visit to the classroom, one student shared, “Sammy’s visit is something we should do more often! Not only did our class practice learning new information in another language, but we learned about our school community and a field of work.”
Merci, Sammy and Madame Béatrice, for being #BucsforLife!