On the morning of the AP French Language and Culture Exam on May 13, Bridgewater-Raritan High School French teacher Madame Kostis upheld a longstanding tradition: a breakfast gathering for her AP French students. The students met at Madame Kostis’s room in the morning to enjoy a spread that included custom-made donuts, bagels with cream cheese and orange juice. They were also all given goodie bags with chips, Lucky Charms and Smarties before heading out for the rest of the school day.
The morning meeting served as a moment for students to regroup and meet each other, and they were able to receive some encouragement from their AP French teacher before the exam.
Madame Kostis emphasized the value of this tradition.
“It’s not just about the score. Whether they get a five or not, I always tell them: you’re all still fives in my eyes. What counts is the effort, growth and teamwork they’ve shown,” she said.
According to the students, the gathering helped reframe the pressure of the exam into something more communal. Senior Aritra Banerjee reflected on the experience.
“It was really nice to see everyone come together before the test. It reminded me that we’re all in it together, and that helped me relax,” he said.
Moreover, the gathering is the culmination of years of work over multiple grades through the district’s French program. At the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School, Madame Goldberg and Madame Capra provide the foundational lessons in the language. Meanwhile, at the high school, Madame Lutz, Madame Haff, Madame Wakde and Madame Kostis continue to develop these skills into fluency. In fact, many high schoolers, especially those at the Honors or AP level, end up passing the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy.
French Club vice President Harjas Saini spoke on the role of teachers in her French experience.
“The French teachers collaborate really well. You can tell it’s not just about them wanting us to all get fives or A+s, but to actually learn and enjoy the French language,” the senior student said.
According to the teachers, the program is designed to be both rigorous and supportive.
“Our goal is to create a space where students can challenge themselves while also knowing they’re supported every step of the way,” said Madame Kostis.
As this year’s AP French cohort went into exam season, the tradition continued. This support will, hopefully, translate into perfect scores of fives in July, although what is ultimately important is genuine mastery over the language.
