Westhampton Beach High school French teacher Ms. O’Hara is taking a big step toward France in August. Ms. O’Hara will be teaching English to high school students in France next year at Academie d’Aix- Marseille. After spending several weeks last summer in France and attending a workshop for French professors, Ms. O’Hara came home and realized how beneficial her time was there so she decided to apply to the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) which is a joint initiative of French Ministry of Education, The Centre international d’études pédagogiques (CIEP), and the Culture Services of the French Embassy. Through this program, Ms. O’Hara is granted an opportunity to live and work in France for the school year as an English Teaching Assistant. “I found out on April 1^st. I was very excited and had a big smile on my face,” says Ms. O’Hara.

Ms. O’Hara will be leaving at the end of August until May of next year. She will return back and teach at WHB after her year in France. Many students and faculty will miss Ms. O’Hara next year. Junior Alicia Hernandez who has Ms. O’Hara as both a teacher and French Club Advisor says, “I’m going to miss her so much! I’m going to miss being able to stop by her room and being able to talk to her about anything, from our mutual hatred of Greek yogurt to anything going on in my life.” She goes on to say, “I had so many great memories with Ms. O’Hara like the many fun French Club field trips, but I would probably have to say going to Spain with her and exploring the country with her was probably the best memory that I will have. While I am upset that I won’t have her for AP French next year, I know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for her and I know that she will have a blast and all the French children will love her as much as we do.”Ms. O’Hara is very excited and thrilled about this incredible opportunity she is excited to be immersed in the culture and language and live like a French person eating croissants. But she is also very nervous about renting out

Ms. O’Hara is very excited and thrilled about this incredible opportunity. She is excited to be immersed in the culture and language and live like a French person eating croissants. But she is also very nervous about renting out an apartment and living in a new country. “I’m going to miss my friends and family, Mexican food, my cat Marcelle, some of the conveniences we have in the U.S. like stores open on Sundays.  I’ll also miss my French colleagues and I’m really going to miss driving because I won’t have a car,” says Ms. O’Hara.

Ms. O’Hara will also be missed my the track team in which she helps coach. “I will definitely miss her positivity at track practice after a long day of school. She always keeps the positive energy flowing and motivates us, I’m really going to miss her and I wish her the best in France and to be safe and have an amazing time,” says sophomore track team member Katie Sheehan.

As Ms. O’Hara gets ready to take that big step into France she will know that Westhampton Beach High School will miss her and wishes her the best on her journey!