Bonjour,

With the turn of the season, we face another school year! Crisp Maine mornings and so many smiling faces have made for a delightful first few weeks here at L'Ecole. As we continue through September and become more familiar with new routines, classrooms, and vocabulary, there are some fun newsletter items we want to share- parents, please take note!

Below is information regarding an upcoming Bike Trip for Elodie"s and Simon's classrooms (grades 1+). We always welcome parent chaperones for these memorable days at Wolfe Neck Center. Please let us know if you are available for the day!

This newsletter includes information on our online art museum, Artsonia, for new-to-efdm families. Possibly mentioned during your Back to School week presentations, we will participate in the L'Ecole des Loisirs Book Clubs again this year. Seesaw classroom communications will appear in the following newsletter.

Read on for September's calendar and more information about the Kindness program we are incorporating into the school community this year.

Also below, please find updated allergy information and a reminder of current COVID protocols.

Warm regards from the entire team at The French School of Maine!

Upcoming dates to keep in mind

*Please note, Grandparents and Special Friends Day has been postponed from October 3rd to a later date this Spring TBD.

Everyone is excited for our first Wolfe Neck Center Bike Trip of the 2022-2023 school year for students grades 1+! For all 1st+ graders, Friday, September 23rd will be the day.

Please let us know ASAP if you are available to participate as a parent chaperone.

All 1st grade and up student(s) will need to be dropped off between 9:00 and 9:30 am at Wolfe's Neck Center instead of at EFDM, so those with younger students at EFDM can drop off at the school first.

The drop-off location: Recreation Field of West Bay (near the campground swingset)

Pick-up for grades 1-5 will also take place at Recreation Field of West Bay between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm, so those with younger siblings to pick up can get to EFDM between 3:00-3:30 pm.

Exploring the shore and farm center will be an optional way to spend the day for students who do not ride a bike. Please let us know if your student does not ride independently. Teachers and chaperones will be equipped with first aid kits, extra sanitizer, wipes, and other essentials to make this trip safe. Please send a packed lunch from home along with your child.

As the last of the Health Forms trickle in from families this week, we are excited to announce that there are presently NO food allergy restrictions this year in any of the five classrooms. Previously a tree-nut-free facility, we no longer restrict ingredients from lunchboxes or snacks.

Please feel free to send your student the food of your choosing. If changes arise in allergy protocol throughout the year, we will alert the community as needed!

Students who are new to EFDM will need parent approval for their Artsonia account; you will be able to set your preferred privacy settings for your student. New families should watch for an email directly from Artsonia with instructions. Teachers will begin uploading artwork for the year onto each student's profile. Artsonia is a win-win for all! For every keepsake purchased through the Artsonia website with a student's artwork, the school gets further funds to supply future art projects!

Please reach out to Emily office@frenchschool.me with any questions!

Being a member of our EFDM school community, you benefit from the most advantageous rate for the French Max Book Club. The MAX subscription offers eight books a year from November to June with audio to listen to the stories and activities.

You will have received a paper copy brochure (as well as an online link below) for your review from your classroom teacher. If you are interested in enrolling, please fill out the GROUP form (discounted rate) at the end of the brochure and give it back to your child’s teacher with your payment by check to l'école des loisirs- or proof of payment online made on www.regroupmax.com

A complete English presentation on the book club is available at : https://www.ecoledesmax.com/en-version.php

This year, in each classroom and throughout our school community, we will incorporate a program on kindness or more regularly called Social Emotional Learning. 

One of the specific organizations from which we will be learning is the Choose Love Movement by Scarlett Lewis, a Sandy Hook mother who built this program with the values:

COURAGE + GRATITUDE + FORGIVENESS + COMPASSION IN ACTION = CHOOSING LOVE

 Click here to view a short video on how she came up with this formula.

Above, please find the Choose Love calendar for September. We hope your family will participate in some of these activities and become as inspired as we are!

This year is going to be one of particular excitement. We are so happy to share the news that School Director Emily is expecting her first baby this winter! Current plans have Emily remaining at school through the December holiday season, taking her maternity leave in the new year. DELF Directrice, Laura Piehl, will be available in the office in her absence, as well as the Head of School, Willy LeBihan. We hope you will help us congratulate and support Emily throughout this exciting year ahead!

The Café et Conversation is a regular event at the school.

A revolving presence of school staff attends cafés. You are always welcome to participate in any gathering, even if your child is not in the classroom featured on a particular day. Attending other classrooms' café is a great way to meet school families and staff and learn how your child's experience will develop over the years.

Kindergarten/Grande Section with Victorien, Emily, and Willy

Location: "La Maison" adjacent to the school

Come on over after drop-off; we look forward to seeing you!

What a beautiful week! Before it becomes officially autumn, the Moyenne and Grande Section groups were able to take a summer walk through nearby Sayles Field this week. Inside the classroom, Moyenne students are already busy in their new environment practicing basics of graphisme and playing tons of new games.

For more information, check out their website and consider donating to the great cause (with a chance of some truly amazing prizes!)

The graphic chart below indicates what you need to do if your child is exposed to or contracts COVID-19. Please be advised that these protocols are subject to change. We will publish updates in this newsletter should they occur.

Should your child be exposed to COVID or experience any symptoms, please test before coming to school.

Designed to unite the global community around today’s most challenging issues, the Festival of Hope is an initiative that will create spaces for millions of young people to speak up and turn complex challenges into positivity and hope.