What started as months of preparation inside the classroom transformed into a powerful showcase of language, creativity and confidence as 13 Dekaney High School students took the stage at the Texas French Symposium (TFS), held March 27–28 at Clear Lake High School earning top placements and bringing home impressive honors.

The Texas French Symposium is an annual statewide academic competition that brings together hundreds of students to strengthen their French language skills and cultural understanding through real-world application. With more than 20 categories—including speaking, writing, drama, music, and visual arts—the event challenges students to move beyond memorization and demonstrate authentic communication, creativity, and critical thinking in French. Invited to represent their campus, Dekaney students rose to the challenge this year, competing alongside approximately 600 students from more than 50 schools across Texas on a highly competitive statewide stage.

“I had so much fun,” said sophomore Maravilha Macosso. “After all the hard work, the awards ceremony felt really special. Connecting with students from other schools was a highlight. I even made a TikTok with students we had just met. Even though performing in front of the judges was a little nerve-wracking, I leaned on all the practice and encouragement from my teachers”

That sense of confidence translated into strong performances across the board. Among the top individual honors, junior Dhalila Rivera earned 4th place in Bande Dessinée (French comic strip), while sophomore Macosso placed 6th in Interpretive Reading Comprehension—placing both students among the top French learners in the state.

“My favorite part of Symposium was exploring all the different ways you can interact with French language and culture,” Rivera said. “Everyone there was so creative—it felt like I found my people.”

Beyond individual accolades, Dekaney students demonstrated the power of collaboration. The school’s drama group— Macosso, Taniyah Green, Heylen Hernandez, William Jimenez, and Josiah Russell—advanced to finals with their performance of Les Trois Petits Cochons (The Three Little Pigs), captivating judges through expressive storytelling entirely in French.

For sophomore Jimenez, the symposium created a unique opportunity to combine his passions.

“It was genuinely an interesting experience to combine my love for music and French,” Jimenez said. “I was really proud to make finals, and I’m excited to come back next year and aim even higher.”

Behind every performance was a foundation of preparation, mentorship and high expectations set by dedicated educators.

“What impressed me most was seeing just how much talent our students have that often goes beyond what we can fully showcase in a traditional classroom,” said French teacher Jennifer Daniels. “With Symposium, we were able to build on their strengths and push them to take communication off the page and truly connect with an audience. Every student kept raising their own ceiling, and that’s something incredibly special to witness.”

Daniels emphasized that the students who earned recognition were those who demonstrated consistent dedication attending practices, applying feedback, and continuing their work independently.

“That level of determination will reward them far beyond this competition,” Daniels added. “It’s not about who memorizes perfectly—it’s about who creates meaningful, authentic communication. That’s a skill they’ll carry for life.”

The success of the students reflected a powerful, collaborative effort across campuses and at the district level. French teachers Daniels, along with Myriam Remond of Dekaney High School and Terrell Quillin of Spring High School, played a vital role in preparing students—leading practices, refining performances, and supporting them every step of the way. 

At the district level, Kathryn Heinze, Spring ISD LOTE/World Languages Multilingual Coordinator, helped bring the experience to life by coordinating logistics, securing approvals ensuring students and staff were fully supported throughout the competition.

“These experiences are where learning truly comes to life,” Heinze said. “Our students are not just studying a language—they are finding their voice, building confidence and learning how to connect with others in meaningful ways. When we create opportunities like this, we’re not only preparing them for academic success, we’re preparing them to thrive in a global world.”