Letters (08.02.07)

Council candidate welcomes new French school
To the Editor:
I was delighted to learn that the French School of Princeton received the necessary approvals from the Zoning Board to relocate its K-5 students to Lawrence Township from its current site at All Saints’ Church in Princeton.
   As a former senior warden and member of the vestry at All Saints’, I worked very closely over the past five years with the co-founder and head of the French School, Corinne Gungur. Together, we saw the school more than double in size since it came to All Saints’ in September 2002.
   Several personal highlights stand out for me. The first was an end-of-school cookout at which I had the honor of meeting Toni Morrison, the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning author, whose grandchild attended the school. Another happened earlier this spring, when because of All Saints’ connection to the French School, our church served as a polling place where French citizens living in the area could vote in their national elections.
   Of course, being in the building while school was in session was the greatest highlight, as it gave me the chance to see children who were far from home receiving an education that would enable them to seamlessly transition back into school in France, when their families returned home after their time here in the United States. That’s what made this much more than a landlord-tenant arrangement; it truly was a form of outreach.
   The relationship the school and the church forged over the past five years was a partnership in the truest sense of the word. Every space the school occupied within our church buildings was improved by the school’s presence, from repainting and new flooring to installing fire protection equipment. Their presence in our church school classrooms also helped us be better stewards of our space, since it was no longer just being used on Sunday mornings.
   While sharing space is rarely easy (and sometimes challenging), Corinne and her staff were always cooperative and sensitive to the church’s needs. I am sure they will bring that same sense of neighborliness and community to their new location on Carter Road. Bienvenue, French School!
Bob Bostock
Springwood Drive
Bob Bostock is a Republican candidate running for Town Council.
YWCA racial justice group asks public to ‘rise above ignorance’
To the Editor:
The YWCA of Trenton, in cooperation with the Hamilton School District, provides a summer camp for both communities with the intent to eliminate racism and teach our children how to value one another across the lines of human difference.
   Although the benefits of this program are many, there have also been challenges. Last week, YWCA children were met by racist graffiti upon arrival at the Reynolds Middle School. By noon, the district administration had the graffiti removed. Leadership from the YWCA met with all the campers to talk about what they saw.
   The YWCA believes racism hurts everyone. It is unfortunate that this event occurred. However, if we allow the ignorance of a few to block the progress of many, we will fail our children and ultimately our future. We must rise above ignorance and stand for what is right. All of us together can make a difference. The YWCA of Trenton and the YWCA of Princeton have united to end all forms of oppression in Mercer County and we are committed to continue our important work. Will you stand with us?
The YWCAs of Trenton and Princeton Racial Justice Task Force
Jose Hernandez, CEO, YWCA Trenton
Judy Hutton, CEO, Princeton
And Jannifer Hill Keyes, Kelly Ingram,
Michelle Robinson, Diana Rogers, Melissa Weeks