French Ambassador Christophe Penot on August 7 turned the first sod on a $2.6 million building project the school community has been working towards for years.

The project will see two new classrooms constructed, replacing an old demountable building. The front of the existing building will also be extended to provide an office and welcome area for parents.

Director Véronique Danjou said the turning of the sod marked the culmination of many years of dedicated planning and fundraising by families, who raised $1.4 million, the remainder being borrrowed. The work should be finished by Christmas.

“We are very excited about the beautifully designed spaces for our students, families and staff. We are immensely grateful for the efforts of the preschool board and the generosity of our parent community and the wider community,'' she said.

Students at the school wore hard hats and high-vis vests for the sod turning ceremony.

The French Australian Preschool has been providing bilingual French-English education to Canberra kids since 1973.