Mar
21
Welcome coffee for new parents in March 2025 | Student Council Presentation
Info & registration
Founded in 1983, the association is powered solely by parents volunteers
This year marks a truly special milestone for the Association Des Parents d’Eleves De Florimont (APEF): 40 years of dedicated collaboration between parents and Institut Florimont!
For four decades, APEF has been the beating heart of the Florimont community, ensuring that the bond between families, teachers, and school management stays strong and supportive. And what better way to celebrate this monumental occasion than with a day full of laughter, friendly competition, and, of course, a fantastic party?
As we reflect on these 40 incredible years, APEF continues to thrive with its primary mission: fostering a vibrant connection between parents and the school to create the best possible environment for our children.
Through a network of parent representatives, we ensure a constant and constructive dialogue between families, teachers, and school management. It’s this collaboration that helps us address concerns and celebrate achievements together.
APEF is behind some of the most exciting events for both parents and students. From informative conferences and tours for parents to fun-filled activities like the Christmas market, festive events, and the Course de l’Escalade race for students and parents — there’s always something happening!
APEF is also proud to help expand extracurricular opportunities for Florimont students, while offering guidance and counselling to ensure their success beyond the classroom.
To mark this amazing 40-year journey, APEF hosted a memorable celebration on 21 September. The day was a perfect mix of fun, games, and reminiscing, bringing together students, parents, teachers, and staff for a festive afternoon and evening.
The day kicked off on the ‘City’ ground, where teams of parents and students engaged in a friendly pétanque competition. With Renaud enthusiastically explaining the rules, the game was a hit with players of all ages! Laughter and lighthearted competition filled the air as everyone enjoyed this classic game.
Over in the big gym, Mr. Noel fearlessly took charge of the mini-football matches. Teams of parents, students, and even teachers went head-to-head in fast-paced, action-packed games. The energy was contagious!
Inside the main building of the school, APEF committee members kept things lively with an amusing guessing game: “Match the APEF Rep to Their Favourite 80s Icon”. There was also a trivia quiz, testing everyone’s knowledge of all things 80s — a perfect nod to APEF’s founding decade.
As the day turned into evening, guests gathered for drinks in the lobby of the auditorium before heading into a beautifully decked out auditorium where over 350 people joined for dinner and dancing. The school’s intendance staff team did an incredible job making everyone feel welcome, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as both old and new families came together to celebrate.
During dinner, Gaëlle Gagnet-Ham, President of APEF for the 2024-2025 school year, warmly addressed the crowd. Her words were a beautiful reminder of APEF’s core values: commitment, solidarity, and kindness. She thanked everyone for coming in such great numbers to celebrate and highlighted the special connection between parents and the school, saying: “Forty years of commitment, solidarity, and kindness with one shared mission: to enhance the daily lives of our children in this special school. Thank you for being here to celebrate this event.” Gaëlle also expressed her gratitude to the school head, Mr. Power, for his constant support and collaboration, and gave a heartfelt shout-out to the dedicated teachers, who guide our children day by day with passion and care. And of course, she gave a huge thank you to the volunteer parents, whose tireless efforts make everything APEF does possible: “Volunteering is more than just participating. It’s about showing our children the importance of getting involved for others, of working together to build a better future.”
The night didn’t end with just speeches, though! There were plenty of memorable moments from the dance party, including Mr. Noel dressed as Freddie Mercury leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “We Are the Champions” — a fitting tribute to the incredible spirit of the Florimont community. And who could forget the massive birthday cake, rolled out by the irreplaceable Nicolas Stettler, to the tune of “Happy Birthday,” followed by non-stop dancing to a fabulous DJ set and the parents’ special 80s playlist!
Thank You, APEF Community! As we celebrate 40 years of APEF, we want to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a success. From the dedicated volunteers to the Florimont staff and the many families who participated, your energy and enthusiasm make our school a wonderful place for our children to grow and thrive.
