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  Vanessa Handal-Ghenania, Ed.M.

  Our school was founded by Yasmine Rabia, whose passion for bilingual education and deep commitment to children inspired the creation of a truly special place.
  
  The school began with a simple yet powerful vision. As a mother searching for a bilingual preschool for her own son, Yasmine discovered that high-quality language immersion programs were difficult to find. Rather than accept the status quo, she created a nurturing, play-based bilingual environment where children could flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.
  
  Her vision was never simply to open a school, it was to build a warm, inclusive community where every child would feel valued, inspired, and empowered to become a confident global citizen. That philosophy has been the heart and soul of our school since its very first day.
  
  Today, we are excited to begin the next chapter of that story.
  
  The school is now under the leadership of Vanessa Handal-Ghenania, Ed.M., founder of VHG Group Inc. and Petits Poussins Daycares and Preschools. A bilingual education specialist with two Master’s degrees from Columbia University, Vanessa has dedicated more than two decades to early childhood education. She has founded and led multiple bilingual schools across New York City and was honored by the French government as a Knight of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques for her contributions to promoting the French language and culture in the United States.
  
  While the leadership is changing, the heart of the school remains the same.
  
  Our dedicated teachers and staff will continue to welcome children each day with the same warmth, care, and commitment that families have come to know and trust. The school’s philosophy, its nurturing environment, and its emphasis on bilingual education through play will continue to guide everything we do.
  
  Building on Yasmine’s remarkable foundation, Vanessa and her team will continue to preserve the school’s unique spirit while enriching it with the latest educational best practices, innovative bilingual teaching approaches, and a continued commitment to excellence in early childhood education.
  
  Together, we look forward to honoring the vision that started it all while continuing to provide every child with a joyful, loving, and inspiring place to learn, grow, and thrive.
  
  Welcome to the next chapter of our school, where the soul remains the same, and the future is brighter than ever!

Awards

Vanessa is a member of the following:

• National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• American Society of the French Academic Palms (ASFAP)
• American Association of Teachers of French (ATTF)

Les Petits Poussins, the success story of a network of bilingual schools in New York: