May 6th, 2024

Bonjour à tous,

Spring has finally sprung here at EFDM, and we are all deeply excited for this last leg of the school year!

You are all hereby invited to attend our May Showcases coming up in our English Classes -- Families of all grades are welcome to attend Showcases across the school.

The 2023-2024 School Yearbook is ready to order! Follow this link to place your order and get an exclusive sneak peek at this year's cover :)

With Afterschool Clubs being such a hit this year, EFDM Afternoon Clubs are returning to the stage with an encore: a final mini-session! For the last 5 weeks of school, starting the week of May 13th, we will have Crochet Club with Jeanette on Tuesdays and Explorer's Hiking Club with Fabien on Wednesdays! These clubs are for Grades 1 and up. Be sure to enroll here to join in on the fun!

Grandparents and Special Friends Day, a highly-anticipated and kid-favorite day on the EFDM student calendar, is just around the corner on Monday, May 20th. Please RSVP with the mailing addresses of your students' guests to the office so we can send off proper invitations ASAP! For more information on how grandparents or special friends are welcomed into the classroom, please see the article below.

Grandparents Day will share the afternoon with our first spring Suzuki Concert, celebrating the year-long achievements of our young Pianists and Cellists (Monday, May 20th, from 2-3 pm). Violin students will have their concert the following day (Tuesday, May 21st, from 2-3 pm). Both concerts will take place in the Community Hall across the street from the school!

This newsletter also includes a Call for Volunteers as preparations begin for this year's Carnival celebration, set to take place on Saturday, June 15th, from 11-2 pm! We kindly ask all parents to please sign up and pitch in however you can, as it takes many hands to pull off a successful Carnival. Please follow this link to find out how you can help. Merci <3

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

• May 14: Grade 2 Showcase #3 at 8:45 am with Sarah
• May 15: Grade 3-4 Showcase #3 at 8:45 am with Sarah
• May 20: Grandparents and Special Friends Day 10 am - 1 pm
• May 20: Suzuki Concert: Piano and Cello at 2:00 pm
• May 21: Suzuki Concert: Violin at 2:00 pm
• May 27: Memorial Day - No School

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

Sometimes being a Mainer means you luck out: this was certainly the case for this year's April "Staycation"ers! Not only did we have perfect weather throughout the week, but we made the most of it too! Our small camp took daily jaunts around town for exploring, crafting, learning, and of course trying out the greatest playgrounds Freeport has to offer. From Winslow Park to L.L. Bean, we saw it all!

We were so happy to be able to provide childcare for families who needed it during this break, and we hope you keep us in mind for next year's "vacation" weeks. Thank you to Sarah, Lisa, and Jeanette for creating an awesome, fun-filled week for our campers.

Mark your calendar for Monday, May 20th, 2024!

EFDM is proud to host this year's Grandparents and Special Friends Day on Monday, May 20th, from 11 am to 2 pm. Invitations will be mailed out soon: Thank you for providing the mailing addresses of grandparents/special friends ASAP so we can invite your child's special someone.

Guests will tour the school and visit classrooms with their kid host, before attending a presentation and luncheon. In the afternoon, guests are invited to a coffee reception before heading across the street to the Community Hall to conclude the day in music as our students perform in our Spring Cello and Piano Suzuki Concert. We are expecting a large turnout and are looking forward to a great day! 

Please note: If your students' grandparents cannot attend, feel free to invite another special friend in their lives, such as an aunt, uncle, or neighbor!

The Piano and Cello Suzuki Concert will be on Monday, May 20th, followed by the Suzuki Violin Concert on Tuesday, May 21st. Both events will be from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the hall across the street from the school. We hope to see you there!

Wheels are already in motion for this year's School Carnival, an event beloved by all! This event relies heavily on our parent volunteers, without whom we would not be able to bring this magical day to life.

This year's Carnaval will take place on Saturday, June 15th, from 11 am- 2 pm, with a rain-date set for the Last Day of School Tuesday June 18th. We kindly ask parents to please sign-up for at least one duty/task in assisting with the carnival preparation and implementation to ensure our students fully enjoy this wonderful day which celebrates their achievements this year . 

Of course, signing up for more than one task is also encouraged and appreciated! 

• Funds from the Parent Association Account will reimburse all shopping for supplies (excluding donated raffle items).

• Example themes for raffle baskets: "Maine Made," "Movie Night," "Beach/Summer," "France," etc.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to Emily, office@frenchschool.me, with any questions regarding the specific volunteer roles.

Wednesday, May 15th

Carnival Meeting for Volunteers

All are welcome,

8:30 am under the tent!

There's no denying it: Our English Classroom at La Maison is pretty awesome, especially on these bright sunny days when it's just a short walk from our desks to sitting beneath a tree or under the tent to continue journal writing!

After the long winter, students got outside in the warm sun this week to write in their English notebooks. We hope to take advantage of the spring weather every chance we can get to see how nature will inspire us!

It is almost the end of the unit Colors insight different reactions under the theme of "How We Express Ourselves" which looks at the role of art in expressing (and understanding) our feelings in La Moyenne Section. Students worked to recognize the emotions of various monsters before building their own emotional monsters and presenting them to the class!

Next up, La Moyenne Section will be examining seeds and how they grow under the theme of How The World Works! A perfect time of year to discover the world of gardening!

Garden enthusiasts- prepare your gardening gloves to be called into the classroom as experts!

To prepare for a very special Mother's Day project, the Grande Section class went on a surprise trip to Estabrook's Nursery in Yarmouth! Here, they learned about growing seeds and also got some special gifts to make for Mom!

The stunning suspension mobile created entirely by the CP/CE1 class is nearly complete! Using their recycled egg cartons, string, and found natural materials, students have been working together to paint, string, and build this beautiful sculpture for their classroom - as colorful as spring itself!

Spectators got front seats to a truly memorable showcase in CE2 and CM1 as the classes presented their projects on natural disasters! The students had worked hard and become experts on their disaster of choice. Parents and other students alike were impressed and thrilled to see these creative takes on earthquakes and tsunamis in action.

Before the April Vacation, the class also performed a fun experiment where they tried their hand at making their own lava lamps-- Kudos to Anaëlle for coming up with such inspiring and inventive activities!

With Afterschool Clubs being such a hit this year, EFDM Afternoon Clubs are returning to the stage with an encore: a final mini-session! For the last 5 weeks of school, starting the week of May 13th, we will have Crochet Club with Jeanette on Tuesdays and Explorer's Hiking Club with Fabien on Wednesdays! These clubs are for Grades 1 and up. Be sure to enroll here to join in on the fun!

The annual yearbook is a great keepsake for every student's bookshelf at home. With pictures from the classroom, playground, and various events and trips throughout the year, it's always fun to look back and see how much we've grown and all that we've learned in a year! To place an order for the 2023-2024 school yearbook, please follow this link. A group order will be made later this month for printing, and books will be distributed in mid-June. Be sure to place your order sooner than later to ensure you receive a copy!

This summer, we have a wonderful new crew of summer camp counselors arriving from France and staying in Maine for the season! We would love to offer them the full experience of living with an American host family. No matter if you are only able to host for one, or a few weeks, we would love to piece together a plan for these exchange teachers!

Hosting a French Camp Counselor offers a rich cultural exchange and language learning opportunity. Do not hesitate to contact Willy for more information about hosting a summer camp counselor: wlebihan@frenchschool.me

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.

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### 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.

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- **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.

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### 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.