March 6th, 2024

Bonjour,

Have you enjoyed the little hints of spring this week? We found the misty and warm recesses to be promises of warmer weather soon to come!

This week, we have Parent-Teacher Conferences and an Early Release day this Friday, March 8th. Dismissal will be at 11:30 a.m. for all. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding conferences. Sign-up links were shared previously with all families and are also included below!

Mark your calendar for the upcoming Showcases this month: The Maternelle classes will be on display next week. You'll be on your way to work before 9 a.m.; stay a while to see what's going on!

Summer Camp enrollment is also open at this time, and some weeks have already filled up. Summer Camp is open to current students and children from the greater community.

April Vacation Camp Offerings:

We are so excited to share that we have some very fun plans for April Break!

Both options are full-day camps.

April Vacation Childcare Camp:

Monday through Friday from 8:30-3:30

We are hosting a childcare "camp" for those who need something fun to do during the week off from school.

Reader's Theatre Club: A Full Day Camp for writers and actors!

Monday through Friday, 8:30-3:30

Sarah, our English language Arts Teacher, is offering a very special Reader's Theatre Club to students in grades one and up.

Take a look at the article below for more information and the link to enroll!

For any questions or further information, please contact us at:

office@frenchschool.me.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community.

Warm regards,

Emily and Willy

Upcoming dates to keep in mind

• March 8: Parent Teacher Conferences: Dismissal at 11:30am
• March 12: EC3/PS Showcase at 8:45am
• March 14: EC4/MS Showcase at 8:45am
• March 17: K/GS Showcase at 8:45am
• April 9: Grade 1 Showcase at 8:45am
• April 10: Grade 2 Showcase at 8:45am
• April 11: Grade 3-4 Showcase at 8:45am
• April 15-19: April Vacation (Childcare Camp and Reader's Theatre Camp!)

2023-2024 School Calendar*

* Please note, calendar linked above and on our school website have accurate April vacation dates of the 15th-19th

2nd Semester Events Calendar

It's time to Re-Enroll for 2024-2025! Current students should secure their spots for next year ASAP. Enrollment is now open to interested families outside of those currently enrolled!

Click ==> Discover our new Curriculum Guide

Just a reminder: Friday, March 8th, will be an Early Release Day to accommodate Parent-Teacher Conferences during the afternoon. Dismissal for all students will be from the playground gate at 11:30 a.m.; there is no need to pack a lunch!

If you want to check the conference schedule, please find the links below for each teacher!

Beth Petite Section

Raphael Moyenne Section

Alison Grande Section

Fabien CP/CE1

Anaelle CE2/CM1

Sarah English Language Arts

June 24- August 23, 2024

Hours: 8:30-3:30, with extended days offered from 3:30-5:30

Summer Camp Sign-up:

Our camp enrollment is filling up fast! Please note there is a waitlist for some weeks already. Enroll as soon as possible to ensure your spot using the link here.

Can you host one of our French Summer Camp Counselors?

This year, we have a new crew of summer camp counselors planning to spend the season here from France. If anyone is interested in being a host family for these young adults, please let us know. They would love to experience life in an American family and share their language and culture with you! It could be just for a week or two; you do not need to commit to the whole summer.

Due to a good number of families expressing interest, we are looking forward to hosting a special April Vacation camp with options!

There will be a childcare camp for anyone who is looking to have some fun during the school break, open to all ages of current students at L'Ecole. Mornings will include a fun French activity and afternoons will be filled with arts & crafts, games and plenty of time for free play outside. 

Early Childhood children will be offered time for rest in the afternoon. 

Hours will be 8:30am-3:30pm, with no extended day offerings. Sign-up for childcare camp can be found here!

In addition, Sarah will be hosting a very special camp for those in grades 1 and up! Read the poster below for more info, and if interested sign-up here for the separate Reader's Theatre Club!

La Petite Section has been busy on line work, focusing on starting at one point and stopping at another. They have been making algorithms with bears of different colors and sizes and going shopping in the classroom for a certain number of objects. It has been lots of fun! Bravo! 

The Moyenne class has been working on a very interesting project, "Le Petit Chaperon Rouge" (The Little Red Riding Hood) where they are using a story box. This is a box filled with objects symbolizing characters and places of the story. To make things even more fun, Angelique told the story in Swahili, while Sarah told it in English, and Raphael told it in French, all using the same story box! It was very interesting to hear the same story told in three different languages.

Grande Section students are getting their share of cooking projects! They enjoyed a fantastic crêpes party last week where they made crepes together following a recipe, and of course enjoyed them as a treat later the same day. Bravo tout le monde!

We are so happy to have such energy and enthusiasm for the new session of spring clubs! Origami, Cooking, and Art Club have officially begun and are off to a great start. Please reach out to Emily with any questions !

We are looking for two host families for five nights from March 13 to March 18.

Enola will be back in Maine in May, so there will be more opportunities later this spring however, we just need five nights for now!

Hosting a French Student Teacher offers a rich cultural exchange and language learning opportunity. Please meet our interns with their biographies below. Do not hesitate to contact Willy for more information about hosting a graduate student: wlebihan@frenchschool.me

Camille Le Siou, a 20-year-old native of Brest, Brittany, in the west of France, profoundly appreciates her Celtic heritage and culture. Currently pursuing studies in English Literature, she aims to enhance her conversational skills through an exchange program in Maine and Florida.

Fueled by a passion for exploration, Camille finds joy in traveling and immersing herself in diverse environments, especially those adorned with mountains, landscapes, and lakes, where she indulges her love for hiking. 

With a patient and inquisitive disposition, she eagerly embraces new experiences, evident in her varied interests and pursuits. Camille engaged enthusiastically in tennis, basketball, swimming, and table tennis in her youth. However, the artistry and rhythm of modern jazz dance resonated with her the most. Beyond athletics, she delved into the realm of music, mastering instruments like the chromatic accordion and clarinet and embarking on piano lessons alongside her older sister.

Eager to broaden her horizons, she eagerly anticipates the opportunity to immerse herself in the culture and traditions of her host country.

Enola Le Boëdec, a 20-year-old native of Brest, Brittany, France, is currently exploring English literature and civilization. Set to embark on a two-month internship at L’école Française du Maine, Enola is recognized for her patience, curiosity, and trustworthiness.

Enola divides her time between home—shared with her parents and 17-year-old sister—and her independent living quarters near her university. Enola, a devoted pet owner to Eliot and her faithful dog, seamlessly adapts to households with furry companions. Interested in Brittany’s Celtic heritage, Enola is captivated by its rich traditions, folklore, and profound connection to nature. 

Beyond her academic pursuits, Enola finds fulfillment in traveling and experiencing diverse cultures. She loves literature and music. Enola enjoys theater, which fostered her self-confidence and a decade-long passion for roller skating, for which she volunteered as a coach.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, 580 schools, including primary schools, middle schools, and high schools, located outside of France across 139 countries, provide education aligned with the standards of the French national education system. These accredited institutions, collectively known as the French Overseas Education Network (AEFE), uphold essential humanist principles such as tolerance, gender equality, equal opportunities, intellectual curiosity, and the promotion of critical thinking. They offer a comprehensive educational journey from early childhood education to the completion of the baccalaureate. Operating within a vibrant, appealing, and globally connected international network, these schools provide students with an exceptionally enriching educational experience.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) is highly regarded for its comprehensive approach to education, aiming to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people. Here are several reasons why the IB PYP is particularly effective in fostering risk-taking and inquiry qualities among students:

### Focus on Inquiry-Based Learning

- **Student-Centered**: The PYP curriculum is designed around inquiry-based learning, which places students at the center of their own learning journey. This approach encourages students to ask questions, seek answers, and explore concepts in depth, fostering a natural curiosity and love for learning.

- **Research Skills**: Students develop strong research skills by engaging in inquiry-based projects. They learn to gather, assess, and interpret information from various sources, a crucial aspect of risk-taking and inquiry.

### Encouragement of Risk-Taking

Safe Learning Environment: The PYP emphasizes creating a safe and supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable taking intellectual risks. This encouragement helps students not fear making mistakes but understand them instead as opportunities for learning and growth.

- **Confidence Building**: Through the process of inquiry and exploration, students build confidence in their abilities to tackle unknown problems and situations. This confidence is key to developing risk-takers who are fearless in stepping out of their comfort zones.

### Development of Essential Skills

- **Critical Thinking**: The curriculum promotes critical thinking by encouraging students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information as part of their learning process. This skill is crucial for successful inquiry and risk-taking.

- **Problem-Solving**: Students are often faced with open-ended questions and challenges that require innovative solutions. This nurtures their ability to approach problems creatively and effectively.

### Interdisciplinary Learning

- **Connecting Concepts**: The PYP curriculum integrates subjects into a coherent whole, helping students make connections between different areas of knowledge. This interdisciplinary approach fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of how the world works, encouraging students to explore and inquire across boundaries.

- **Real-World Relevance**: The curriculum connects learning to real-world issues and contexts, which motivates students to engage in their learning deeply and see the value in taking risks and asking questions.

### International Mindedness

- **Global Perspective**: With its international focus, the PYP encourages students to think globally and consider multiple perspectives. This exposure broadens their understanding and appreciation of different cultures and viewpoints, encouraging open-mindedness—a key trait for successful inquiry and risk-taking.

The IB PYP supports the development of risk-taking and inquiry qualities by providing a holistic, supportive, and challenging learning environment. It equips students with the skills, confidence, and mindset necessary to navigate and contribute to an increasingly complex world.