April 14, 2023
Bonjour,

Spring has definitely sprung and everything is coming to life after the winter. The birds are building their nests, the plants are emerging from their resting beds, and the kids are as busy as the nature that surrounds them at L'Ecole!

Please read on to learn more about the many activities the students have been emerged in during this last week leading up to April vacation.

Just a reminder, today is an early release day; please pick up at 11:30.

Bonnes vacances!

Willy LeBihan
Founder and Head of School
Upcoming dates to keep in mind

  • April 14th: Early release, dismissal 11:30
  • April 17-21: April Vacation
  • April 24: Classes resume at 8:30 am
  • April 26: International Jazz Day with pianist Peter Dugas
  • May 4th: Violin Group Class at 4 pm
  • May 8th: Publisher Ecole des Loisirs at School
  • May 11th: Violin Group Class
  • May 17th: Carnival Meeting for Volunteers 8:30 am under the tent
  • May 19th: Geology Field Trip
  • May 22nd: Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 11 am to 2 pm
  • May 22nd: Suzuki Music Concert 2 pm to 3 pm (piano+cello)
  • May 23rd: Suzuki Music Concert, 2 pm to 3 pm (violin)
  • May 26th: Bike Trip
  • June 1st: ELA students at Pat's Pizza at 12:00 pm "Reading Contest Celebration."
  • June 2nd: Bike Trip
  • June 7th: Graduate Speech at Community Hall at 2 pm
  • June 9th: Bike Trip
  • June 16th: School Performance from 2 pm to 3 pm
  • June 17th: Carnival from 11 am to 2 pm
  • June 20th: Last Day of School until 5:30 pm
  • June 26 to Aug 25 Bilingual Summer Camp
  • Aug 31st: Meet new families and teachers; all are welcome at 3 pm
  • Sept 5th: First Day of School at 8:30 am
  • Sept 8th: Family Picnic at school 12 pm - 1 pm
  • Sept 11-15: Back to School Presentations every day from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm


SCHOOL CARNIVAL 2023 SIGN UP
Kids are already talking about the carnival! A big thank you to the parents who met with Willy last week and got the ball rolling! We need many volunteers. See the link below:
We cannot have a carnival without your help! This year the event will take place on Saturday, June 17th, from 11 am-2 pm. Please sign-up for at least one portion of assisting with the carnival preparation and implementation. Of course, signing up for more than one task is also encouraged! Funds from the Parent Association Account will reimburse all shopping for supplies (besides donated raffle items). Example themes for raffle baskets: "Maine Made," "Movie Night," "Beach/Summer," "France," "Relaxation," etc.
Wednesday, May 17th
Carnival Meeting for Volunteers
8:30 am under the tent
English Language Arts
For the month of May, Elodie’s, Simon’s and Sarah’s classes will be participating in the We Love to Read Challenge. Our goal is to collectively read 20,000 minutes during the month of May. Students will keep track of their time reading in school and at home on a bookmark and then pass the bookmark in to be counted towards the total. There will also be a theme each week as an opportunity to earn extra points or minutes towards the prize. If we reach our goal of 20,000 minutes, we will have a pizza party in celebration!
Week of May 1st-7th Theme: My Favorite Spot to Read
Students can draw or take a picture of themselves reading in their favorite reading spot! Maybe it's a cozy nook or a special spot outside. 
 
Week of May 8th-14th Theme: My Favorite Book
Students can draw or take a picture of their favorite book. 

Week of May 15th- 21st Theme: Read to Another
Take a picture reading to another: another student, a sibling, a parent, a pet!
Week of May 22nd- 31st Theme: My Favorite Book Character
Draw a picture or dress-up and take a picture of your favorite book character. 

Please email all pictures to the office to be printed and displayed in the hallway with our minute count. Drawings can be passed in to Sarah, Elodie, or Simon.
The second grade English Language Arts class has studied perspective and point of view in stories. We had fun discussing well-known fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs and Cinderella, and then hearing those stories from another perspective. We heard the wolf's version in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and the stepmother's version in The Other Side of the Story. 
The fourth and sixth graders have been working diligently to complete their survival brochure project based on the books they read at home over the last few weeks. For this project, students were asked to self-assess using a rubric and were given the opportunity to provide peer feedback. Be on the lookout for the display of finished brochures!
CP and Ce1 Students create an e-book!
During our inquiry into the role of stories in how we see and understand others and how a story can change depending on the point of view from which it’s told, we read the book “Veux-tu être mon ami?” by Eric Battut.

After looking into the characters’ adventures and feelings, we decided to write the story from a different character’s perspective. As a group, we created this version of the story. We also studied Eric Battut’s illustrations to create our own.
We hope you will enjoy the story of the green and gray elephant!
The Wave and the curves
Learning to draw lines is an activity specific to Moyenne Section (EC4), closely linked to visual arts and its geometric shapes. Moreover, the main objective of "Apprentissages Graphique" is the development of visual perception, fine motor skills, and exploring all kinds of lines, shapes, and patterns. With practice, the gesture becomes stronger and more precise.

Henri Matisse's The Wave is a great resource as students learn to draw squiggly lines to make an ocean and fish. It takes much practice to go from spontaneous to voluntary gestures and master the curves.
Henri Matisse, The Wave, created in 1952, cut gouache paper, brings together the empty and the full, evoking movement. During the 1950s, Matisse frequently used blue cut-out gouache paper, a particularity of the works from this period, which, through its intense relationship with the white, simplifies and energizes the forms. Through the uniqueness of a line that splits through the expansion of the forms, a living impression emerges from the work.
La Chorale de l'Ecole
The practice of choral singing is a fundamental dimension of our school life. It creates collective harmony and promotes learning through its cognitive virtues and simply through the pleasure that music creates. A special thank you to Victorien for sharing his musical talent.

To celebrate the beginning of the spring, here is a cover of the 3 voices canon "Il suffit d'un mambo" by Véronique Caudal. Let's go for a little tour in Brazil

Bravo les enfants!
Petite Section: Fine Motor Skills
In Petite Section, we are continuing our work on our first names in order to start learning letters and writing. This week, we learned how to write our first names with modeling clay: we first put the letters in the right order, we named them in French, and then we used the modeling clay. This allowed us to remember the shape of each letter and to manipulate them. Great job!"
Cultures and Civilizations of the Past
We started our new IB PYP unit with the central idea: Civilizations and cultures of the past have built our modern world. We started by talking about different alphabets, such as the hieroglyphics invented by the Egyptians. It was really fun to try to write our names!
Students are learning about ancient civilizations and how they relate to modern society. The main objectives of the unit are to educate the students about how the existence of earlier civilizations has significantly impacted how we live now. As a result, it is expected that by the end of the unit, students will have some ideas to communicate their awareness of the value of respecting and conserving the past.
Grande Section Class ~ Kindergarten
Kindergarten students were invited to bring time-measuring objects to class. They observed, compared, and learned how to use some of them, like hourglasses. Then, they thought about making a clepsydra and made it in class with Victorien and Lisa. The clepsydra is used to measure class periods (4-minute blocks) at the request of the students. This discovery of time measurement was also an opportunity to work on the moments of the school day by naming them and organizing them in chronological order. The next step in this project will be to make a unique clock to help everyone through the school day.
Choose Love's April 2023 Calendar
Happy Spring and Happy April!
All students have received the April Calendar to post in a good spot at home.

We have begun to learn and talk about the fourth component of the Choose Love Formula: COMPASSION. The students are very motivated and participate in our conversations.

Now we will extend it to Mother Earth as April 22nd is Earth Day, which falls during vacation (though Earth Day is every day!). What can we do at EFDM? For example, using reusable snack bags instead of ziplock, or paper bags. Students are very sensitive to the environment, and we will draw, color, talk, and read about how we can all be active participants in helping our aching planet. 

The 3rd, 4th, and 6th graders participated in a creative writing exercise. They were given five pictures illustrating compassion, and empathy, putting oneself in someone else's shoes, and writing their own stories around them. Some were brave enough to read them out loud to their peers. What story could you write with the same prompts? In preschool, we read "Stick and Stone" by Beth Ferry, a tale of kindness and compassion. In their journals, the students also glued the words: "Compassion in Action" and a picture of "Put Yourself in THEIR Shoes". In 1st and 2nd grades, we also read "The Invisible Boy" by Trudy Ludwig.
Volunteer Spotlight

Nelly OYE NNANG is a dedicated and passionate teacher who is committed to the education of young children. Nelly is a certified preschool teacher with 13 years of experience in preschool and elementary schools in Gabon, Africa. With this experience, she has developed her own method of teaching reading in French, which has proven successful in her teaching career in Gabon. Outside of her professional life, Nelly is married with four wonderful children, three girls and one boy, and a 6-month-old grandson who has brought sunshine to her family. Nelly is patient and very maternal with her students. Nelly has recently relocated to Freeport, Maine, and will volunteer at school this spring! Thank you, Nelly.
The IB PYP Primary Years Programme
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 - 12 nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

The PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It is a student-centred approach to education for children aged 3-12. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership, and experience derived from IB World Schools.

The PYP has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education. The PYP is an example of the best educational practice globally, responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young students in our rapidly changing world.

L'Ecole Française du Maine is a Candidate School* for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education that EFDM believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
2023 Bilingual Summer Camp: June 26 - Aug 25
This summer, we will welcome Léna Dahéron, 22, a certified BAFA summer camp counselor from Brittany, France to the Summer Camp staff. Léna is a graduate student preparing a Master's Degree in Adaptive Sports Management. When not studying at the university, Léna enjoys handball, track, yoga, wheelchair sports, traveling, and literature. Léna is looking forward to working at camp with Suzie.
Bilingual Summer Camp and Childcare June 26, 2023 – August 25, 2023

Summer Camp is 90% full, and space will be limited! Please join us if you want a safe place for your kids to enjoy the summer! Mornings will include a fun French activity, and afternoons will be filled with arts & crafts, games, and plenty of time for free play. In addition, early childhood children will be offered time for rest in the afternoon. Open to children ages 3-12.
Hours: 8:30 am -3:30 pm, with extended day offered from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm
If you would like to enroll, please fill out the form below.
Concert and Grandparents/Special Friends Day
Mark your calendar for Monday, May 22nd, 2023
Grandparents and Special Friends Day will be on May 22nd, 2023, from 11 am to 3 pm. Invitations will be mailed soon; thank you for providing addresses so we can invite your child's special someone. On Monday, May 22nd, our guests will tour the school, visit the classrooms with their special child, and then be invited for a presentation and luncheon.  After the luncheon, the students will perform during our spring Suzuki Concert (Violin, Cello, and Piano) at the Community Hall of South Freeport to conclude the day in music! We expect a large turnout and are looking forward to a great day! 
COVID-19 Protocols - UPDATED 09/05/22
The graphic chart below indicates what you need to do if your child is exposed to or contracts COVID-19. These protocols are subject to change. We will publish updates in this newsletter should they occur.

To help keep our community healthy:
Should your child be exposed to COVID or experience symptoms, please test before coming to school.
Thank you for keeping your student home when unwell!
Got a question? Let us help!
Please use the email address office@frenchschool.me for general school correspondence. Questions and requests sent to this address are forwarded as needed. We do our best to respond to emails as quickly as possible; thank you for your patience.
Alternatively, please don't hesitate to call us anytime for an immediate response! School Office Phone: (207) 865-3308
Just for fun, we asked ChatGPT about Maine
Question: Is Maine a great place for kids to grow up?

Maine can be a great place for kids to grow up for several reasons:

  • Safe and friendly communities: Maine is known for its safe and friendly communities. It's a small state where people tend to know each other, which can create a strong sense of community and belonging. This can be especially beneficial for kids, who may feel more secure and supported when they have a strong network of friends, family, and neighbors.
  • Access to nature: Maine is home to some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the country, including Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, and the Maine Coast. Growing up in Maine can provide kids with ample opportunities to explore and appreciate the great outdoors, which can positively impact their physical and mental health.
  • Quality education: Maine has a strong education system, with high-quality schools and dedicated teachers. The state has a high High School graduation rate and a strong emphasis on college readiness, which can prepare kids for success in their future careers.
  • Diverse cultural experiences: Despite being a relatively small state, Maine is home to diverse cultures and communities. From the vibrant arts scene in Portland to the Franco-American heritage of northern Maine, kids growing up in Maine can access a range of cultural experiences that can broaden their horizons and help them develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Overall, Maine can be a great place for kids to grow up, offering a mix of safety, natural beauty, quality education, and cultural experiences to help them thrive.

Ayuh, ChatGPT!

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