United States, Washington Dc
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The school integrates social emotional learning into daily life. Classroom guidance lessons are designed for each grade level, focusing on emotional awareness, stress management, healthy relationships, and preparation for life after high school. Campus wide initiatives include Rochambeau Unplugged, Wellness Wednesdays, Mental Health Awareness Week, Recreation Recess, and mindfulness practices. Motivational Mondays connect storytelling and social media to raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma. Counselors provide individual check ins and small group sessions, and support new families during transitions.
The School Learning Support SLS department provides support to students to achieve greater academic success, including academic tutoring, French language support for non native speakers, and social and emotional support. The SLS team offers services individually or in small groups, inside or outside the classroom, and collaborates with families, teachers, and outside professionals to identify tools, learning plans and objectives, and to support students at home and at school. The department includes French Language Support Teachers FLSCO and Learning Support Teachers SLS who work with students across primary and secondary grades.
English beginners are placed in a dedicated English Language Learning ESL program; English is not a prerequisite for any grade. The ESL program is designed to support English development for new learners.
Mental wellbeing is prioritized through a school wide theme and targeted activities. World Mental Health Day is highlighted with a week of activities for students and families, and counselors provide individual check ins and small group support. Motivational Mondays and other wellness initiatives foster open dialogue about emotional health.
Health and safety are central to Rochambeaus safeguarding approach. The Health Team includes a school nurse at both Maplewood and Forest Road campuses. Medical requirements and forms include immunization certificates for all students. A Communicable Disease Policy governs health measures, and policies exist for administering medication and safeguarding records. The School Counseling Handbook and consent forms support privacy and appropriate reporting when needed.
Rochambeau is a bilingual French–English day school in Bethesda, serving preschoolers aged 2 through 12th grade. It operates on two campuses, Maplewood (ages 2–5) and Forest Road (6–12), and is the only school in the Washington, DC area accredited by the French Ministry of Education within the AEFE network. The curriculum blends the French national program with English instruction, offering the French Baccalauréat International (BFI) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP) after grade 12, with the Maryland High School Diploma awarded after grade 11. Beginning in ninth grade, families may choose the French track or the IB pathway. World languages include Spanish and German, with Latin as an elective, and a French Immersion program starts in early childhood. Facilities include Maplewood's 11.2-acre campus, 37 classrooms, four playgrounds, a turf field, music/science/cooking spaces, a library, and two gyms, plus a health center. Rochambeau celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2026 together.