Smith Street Maternelle
10-Year Anniversary Gala & Chevalier Ceremony
A Knight to Remember
On May 16, 2025, Smith Street Maternelle hosted its 10-Year Anniversary Gala at 501 Union in Brooklyn. The evening honored a decade of bilingual, progressive early childhood education — and celebrated the knighting of our founder, Olivia Ramsey, with the Ordre des Palmes Académiques.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised over $55,000 to increase access to our bilingual program through expanded financial aid and to help advance our long-term vision for equity-driven, multilingual education. It was an evening full of gratitude, laughter, music, and purpose — and a powerful affirmation of everything we’ve built together.
The Impact of Your Generosity
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised over $55,000.
100% of the funds will support:
Financial aid for families
Cultural programming and field trips
Program expansion and growth
With Gratitude to Our Sponsors
Endless space. Effortless luxury. Family-sized 1- to 4-bedroom homes coming soon to 544 Carroll.
In-Kind Sponsors
Abhaya Yoga
Bien Cuit
Books Are Magic
Brooklearn
Brooklyn French Bakers
Chama Mama Georgian Restaurant
Columbia Global Reports
East Fork Pottery
Erin Ridgeway Mara
Heights Aesthetic Laser Center
Helen Dole
Holly Ferrell, LMSW
JCrew
Joyfully Learning
KLP Styled- Personal Styling
Kyle Bandler
Lauren Rosati
Loveitsall
Maison Mancel
Maison Mizu Consulting
Nassau Flyers
Shelsky's of Brooklyn
The Estee Lauder Companies
The Outset
TMV Consulting Group
Veronique and Ben Sobel
Winnie Au Photography
The Food & Flowers
Our exquisite gala menu was created by Zoe Deleu, who not only brought her culinary brilliance to the evening but whose family is woven into Smith Street’s story. I taught Zoe’s son in kindergarten at PS 58 — and from those early years, our paths have remained connected in this shared work.
The menu reflected the spirit of Francophone celebration, drawing inspiration from France, the Caribbean, and West Africa, and honoring the rich diversity of our own school community.
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The stunning floral designs were created by Catherine Colton, a dear friend and PS 58 parent, whose artistry filled the room with warmth, beauty, and grace. Catherine’s flowers were filled with quiet symbolism, each choice reflecting the spirit of our work:
Globemaster Alliums — a nod to nurturing and educating global citizens.
Irises — honoring France’s national flower and our deep connection to the French language and culture.
Yellow Oncidiums — like butterflies, transformed and lifted, flying toward new destinations.
Her arrangements carried not only beauty, but meaning — reflecting the heart of what Smith Street Maternelle has grown to represent.
At Smith Street Maternelle, we are building something rare:
— a school rooted in language, play, and progressive pedagogy
— a community that values both rigor and tenderness
— a place where relationships are the heart of learning.
Ten years ago, I could not have imagined the extraordinary school we would create together. Every child, every teacher, every family who has passed through our doors has shaped this work.
Merci
* L’Ordre des Palmes académiques
The Order of Academic Palms (l’ordre des Palmes académiques) was founded in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established the honorary titles of Titulaire, Officier de l’Université, and Officier d’Académie as awards for devotion and accomplishment in the areas of teaching, scholarship and research. Since being raised to the status of the Order under the Minister of Education in 1955, this award has had three ranks: Chevalier, Officier, and Commandeur. French citizens living abroad and foreign (non-French) nationals may receive this award for contributing significantly to furthering French intellectual, scientific, and artistic achievements across the world.