On March 31, 2019, 24 John Jay families launched the biennial John Jay French Exchange Program with 24 high school students from Cagnes-sur-Mer, a small city located between Nice and Cannes on the French Riviera. As we welcomed the newly-arrived French students into our homes, school, and community, we became part of a 40-year tradition at John Jay High School. Every two years for over four decades, students from Lycée Renoir and John Jay have spent two weeks visiting each other’s communities, immersing themselves in their counterparts’ language and culture, and developing lifelong friendships.

The French students will spend two weeks touring New York City and attending John Jay High School classes with their American hosts. In June, immediately following the end of the school year, the John Jay exchange students will travel to France to stay with their French counterparts.

I am delighted to host Angelo Virga and be a part of this wonderful international tradition.