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United States, Hoboken
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The Primary Years Program is structured around six transdisciplinary themes and implemented through a Program of Inquiry. The curriculum merges the official French curriculum with the International Baccalaureate approach to develop language, mathematics, science and social studies through inquiry. Language learning follows the IB PYP language Scope and Sequence and is taught in authentic contexts, with a focus on developing the language and content together. The program also emphasizes the holistic development of students, integrating social and emotional learning into academics.
Music is an essential part of the French National Curriculum and the Arts under the Primary Years Program, with music incorporated throughout the day. Tone Music Academy visits weekly for the Suzuki Method to support musical learning. Visual Arts is also integral to the Arts under the PYP and is woven into daily learning in alignment with Units of Inquiry.
Students choose from three bilingual tracks—French, Mandarin, or Spanish—combined with English instruction. Preschool and Kindergarten are immersed 80% in the target language, while Primary uses a 50/50 immersion model with native-speaking teachers. Language learning is taught through the Program of Inquiry in authentic, context-rich ways.
Social-emotional learning is integrated through Yale's RULER approach, including the Mood Meter, the Charter and the Meta-Moment to help students manage emotions and behavior. The classroom framework is guided by essential agreements and a strong social-emotional program. Students spend time outdoors every day, and the outdoors is viewed as an extension of the classroom with on-site playground facilities. Enrichment programs, including weekly offerings from the Liberty Science Center, complement academic learning.
Kathleen Visconti is the Head of School. All teachers hold certifications from their home countries, and Tessa provides IB and PYP training for staff. The school holds accreditations including the International Baccalaureate, French Homologation, and Cognia.
Students have daily outdoor time and access on-site playground facilities, reflecting the view of the outdoors as an extension of the learning environment. The program emphasizes social-emotional development through structured supports like RULER, mood monitoring, and reflective practices. Lunch options include bringing from home or using external catering services, and aftercare offers language and culture activities to support families.
Tessa International School in Hoboken, New Jersey, is a private bilingual international school that blends French and English-language schooling with IB principles. It offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, integrated with the French National Curriculum through Mission Laïque Française, to create a coherent Programme of Inquiry across six transdisciplinary themes. Instruction is bilingual, with English plus language tracks in French, Mandarin, or Spanish; Preschool immersion reaches 80% in the target language and Primary immersion is 50/50. The campus occupies three floors of the Monroe Center, featuring bright classrooms, a STEM Lab, a Library, a Music Room, and dedicated language spaces. Students benefit from daily outdoor time, gymnasium facilities, and on-site playgrounds. After-school programs total more than 30, including language, sport, art, coding, and chess, with language clubs and science/tech activities aligned to the bilingual international focus. The school is IB-accredited (2021) and Cognia-accredited (2019). It welcomes families worldwide today.
