Friday, May 2nd 2025

Bonjour,

With sunshine in the air and birdsong all around, the final stretch of the school year is upon us—but there’s still so much joy, learning, and celebration ahead!

We're thrilled to bring back Crochet Club with Jeanette and a newly

enhanced Adventure Club with Fabien for a 5-week mini-session, running from May 1st through May 29th. These Thursday clubs are open to students age 7 and up (or those with prior crochet experience). Don’t forget to enroll now to secure a spot!

We’re also excited for the season’s first Spring Bike Trip on Friday, May 16th, at Wolfe Neck Center for students in Grades 1 and up. Details on drop-off and pick-up logistics are included later in this issue.

Please save the date for one of our most cherished traditions—Grandparents & Special Friends Day—taking place on Monday, May 19th, starting at 11:00 a.m. If you haven’t already, kindly send in the mailing addresses of your child’s special guests so we can mail formal invitations. From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., grandparents and special friends will have the opportunity to shadow their student in the classroom, experiencing a typical school day through their eyes. The celebration will then continue with a special lunch at 12:15 at the Community Hall across the street from the school, followed by our 5th Grade Exhibition at 1:00 p.m. After a brief intermission, we will conclude the afternoon with our Spring Suzuki Concert from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., showcasing the talents of all our piano, cello, and violin students.

This newsletter also includes a Call for Volunteers as planning ramps up for our Carnival celebration on Saturday, June 14th, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We rely on our amazing parent volunteers to make this magical day possible—please consider signing up for a task via the link provided.

Please note: There will be no school on Friday, May 23rd. All faculty and staff will participate in a full-day professional development workshop led by Marjorie Decriem, Pedagogical Advisor visiting from the French School of Toronto.

Finally, the 2024-2025 School Yearbook is now ready to pre-order! Books will ship in early June and be distributed shortly thereafter. Follow this link to place your order.

For any questions or further information, please feel free to 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 8th & 9th: Art Fest!
• May 14th: Carnival Meeting for Volunteers at 8:30am
• May 16th: Bike Trip for grades 1 and up, Wolfe Neck Center
• May 19th: Grandparents and Special Friends Day 11 am - 1 pm
• May 19th: 5th Grade Exhibition 1 PM
• May 19th: Suzuki Concert: Piano-Cello-Violin at 2-3 pm
• May 23rd: No School - Professional Day
• May 26th: Memorial Day - No School
• June 2-5: Trip to Montréal - Collège Stanislas
• June 14th: School Carnival 11 am - 2 pm
• June 17th: Last Day of School (full day of school, also carnival rain date!)

2024-2025 School Calendar

2024-2025 Events Calendar

Art Fest: Celebrating Nature – May 8th & 9th

We’re thrilled to introduce Art Fest, a new event at L'École Française du Maine that will take place over a day and a half—Thursday and Friday, May 8th and 9th!

Throughout the event, students from all grade levels will rotate through a variety of art workshops centered on this year’s inspiring theme: Celebrating Nature. These workshops will be led by our dedicated teachers, assistants, parent volunteers, and special guest artists from the local community.

Each session will last between 30 and 60 minutes and will be scheduled around our regular breaks, lunches, and nap times. Over the course of the Fest, each class will have the opportunity to participate in approximately 7 to 8 different workshops—exploring diverse mediums and creative expressions.

To conclude our Art Fest, we warmly invite you to a special vernissage at La Maison on Friday at 3:00 PM, with Art Fest organizer Lisa Stangarone where the students’ creations will be proudly displayed. Refreshments will be served as we celebrate their work together.

We can’t wait to see the creativity and joy this event brings to our school!

This past Monday, our music classes were treated to a special visit from local musicians Don and Cindy Roy, who joined Peter to share their deep-rooted expertise in traditional Québécois fiddle music. Students were captivated by the rich melodies and the rhythmic footwork dancing that accompanies this joyful tradition.

As the lively music filled the room, students eagerly tapped their toes and proudly revisited "La Bastringue"—the spirited dance they mastered for our Le Cœur du Maine performance in March. It was a beautiful moment of cultural connection and celebration!

A heartfelt thank-you to Peter for organizing this enriching experience. We’re excited to continue our exploration of self-expression through music and dance with more collaborations like this one.

Don Roy, a champion fiddler renowned for his uniquely Maine sound, draws inspiration from New England, Quebec, and the Canadian Maritimes. Together with Cindy, they’ve been central to groups like the Maine French Fiddlers and Fiddle-icious, and now perform internationally as the Don Roy Trio.

In 2018, Don and Cindy Roy were honored with the National Heritage Fellowship—the highest recognition in the U.S. for folk and traditional arts—in tribute to their outstanding contributions to preserving and sharing our nation's cultural heritage.

Mark your calendars for one of EFDM’s most cherished traditions—Grandparents & Special Friends Day—happening on Monday, May 19th, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.!

If you haven’t already, please send in the mailing addresses of your child’s special guests so we can mail formal invitations. Whether it's a grandparent, an aunt, uncle, neighbor, or another meaningful adult in your child’s life, we warmly welcome all special friends to join this joyful celebration.

The day will begin with Classroom Time from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., where guests will shadow their student in the classroom, enjoying a firsthand glimpse into a typical school day at EFDM.

At 12:15 p.m., guests will head across the street to the Community Hall for the rest of the day’s events:

• 12:15–1:00 p.m. – Grandparents and special friends will be seated and served a festive lunch.
• 1:00–1:20 p.m. – Our 5th grade students will present their PYP Exhibition Projects, a milestone event that highlights their research, inquiry, and creativity.
• 1:30–2:00 p.m. – While volunteers set up the space for the concert, guests are invited to enjoy a coffee reception outside on the church lawn.
• 2:00–3:00 p.m. – The afternoon concludes with our Spring Suzuki Concert, featuring performances by all our piano, cello, and violin students.

We are expecting a wonderful turnout and look forward to sharing this meaningful day of connection, learning, and celebration with our community.

5th Grade IB PYP Exhibition: A Milestone Moment for EFDM

Following a joyful luncheon at the church’s community hall, grandparents and special guests will be invited to witness a meaningful and memorable highlight of the day—our 5th Grade students will present their IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition Projects at 1:00 PM.

The PYP Exhibition is a significant and culminating event of the Primary Years Programme. It is a student-driven, collaborative inquiry that encourages learners to explore real-world issues that matter to them. Throughout this process, students demonstrate their knowledge, research skills, critical thinking, and personal growth, while taking action on topics they are passionate about.

This year marks a historic first for our school: it is the inaugural 5th Grade Exhibition at EFDM! Our students have worked diligently under the guidance of their dedicated mentors—Elise, Jenny, Katherine and Riley—who have supported them in selecting meaningful topics, formulating thoughtful questions, conducting research, and preparing engaging presentations.

The Exhibition is not just an academic milestone—it reflects the values of student agency, reflection, and international-mindedness. It gives students a platform to show what they’ve learned over the course of their IB journey and how they plan to make a difference in their communities.

We are so proud of our pioneering 5th Grade class and cannot wait for them to share their work. Their presentations promise to be both inspiring and insightful—a true celebration of learning, growth, and student voice.

Following the 5th Grade Exhibition presentation, grandparents, parents, and students alike will gather again in the community hall for the Spring Suzuki Concert. This event will be for ALL music students, piano, cello, and violin and will take place on Monday, May 19th, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Come one and come all, to this year's Spring Carnival! Wheels are already in motion for this year's special event, a celebration of the school year that is 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 14th, from 11 am- 2 pm, with a rain-date set for the Last Day of School Tuesday June 17th. We kindly ask parents to please sign-up for at least one duty/task in 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! 

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

Wednesday, May 14th

Carnival Meeting for Volunteers

All are welcome,

8:30 am under the tent!

Gears are turning in preparation of the first spring Wolfe Neck Center Bike Trip of the 2024-2025 school year for students grades 1+ ! If you are interested in chaperoning this trip and spending the day with your students' class, please let us know!

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 on Friday May 16th, 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 through 4 (CP through CM1) 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.

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.

Thank you for helping make this event possible!

EFDM Afternoon Clubs – Final Mini-Session for May!

We’re excited to wrap up the school year with one last mini-session of EFDM Afternoon Clubs! For the final five weeks of school—starting the week of May 1st through May 29th—students in Grade 1 and up are invited to join:

• Crochet Club with Jeanette – Thursdays

• Adventure Club with Fabien – Thursdays

Don’t miss out on the fun! enroll here to secure your spot and read full club descriptions.

From left to right: Ellen Burdge, MLF America Pedagogical Advisor from the French American International School of San Francisco; Emmy Decker, Curriculum Coordinator at FASTB Tampa; Catherine Caillet, MLF America Pedagogical Advisor from the French International School of Oregon; Jenny Lemaire, Curriculum Coordinator at EFDM Maine; Marjorie Decriem, MLF America Pedagogical Advisor from the French School Toronto.

Inspiration from Texas: Jenny Lemaire, Curriculum Coordinator, attends French Pedagogical Seminar in Austin, TX



From April 28 to 30, our Curriculum Coordinator, Jenny Lemaire, represented L’École Française du Maine at the annual MLF America seminar, hosted this year by Austin International School in Texas. The event, organized by the Mission laïque française, brought together school leaders and pedagogical coordinators from across the Americas for three days of innovation, leadership, and collaboration.

The seminar featured a dynamic program of keynote talks, hands-on workshops, and peer exchanges centered on timely educational topics such as artificial intelligence in schools, intercultural leadership, curriculum alignment, and math instruction in multilingual settings.

A highlight of the gathering was the “Idea Marketplace” where each participating school showcased a signature educational initiative. Jenny presented an engaging project that combines theater and language acquisition, implemented at our school as part of French as a Second Language instruction. The project drew great interest for its creative and effective approach to developing students’ linguistic and expressive skills.

Among the many innovative ideas shared, Jenny was particularly inspired by a school radio project. Launching a school radio station would provide students with meaningful opportunities to practice oral language production, active listening, discourse organization, and vocabulary development—while also fostering autonomy and collaboration. It’s an exciting idea we may consider developing at L’École Française du Maine in the near future!

Jenny returned from Austin energized and full of fresh ideas and practical tools to share with our team—further strengthening our commitment to innovation, excellence, and global-minded learning within the dynamic MLF America network.

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 2024-2025 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!

A Springtime Adventure for Petite Section

At the start of spring, our Petite Section explorers set off on a magical outdoor adventure along a local vernal pool nature trail! Guided by PS parent and hydrologist Maggie Mills, along with her herpetologist colleague Kevin, the children discovered the wonders of seasonal wetlands and the fascinating creatures that inhabit them.

From frogs and salamanders to curious insects, our young scientists observed firsthand how living things adapt and build habitats in harmony with the changing environment. This enriching field trip perfectly complemented our classroom unit on habitats and ecosystems, bringing learning to life through sensory-rich, hands-on exploration.

A heartfelt thank you to all the parent volunteers who made this experience possible—your support with transportation helped turn a simple walk in the woods into an inspiring and educational journey!

An Astronaut at EFDM – A Journey to the Stars on May 8!

A truly extraordinary event awaits our students at the French School of Maine! On Wednesday, May 8, we will have the incredible opportunity to connect with Elaine Hyde, scientist and astronaut, for a live Zoom presentation about her recent mission to space!

A Unique Encounter with a Real Astronaut

Elaine Hyde is more than a groundbreaking researcher in microgravity—just one month ago, she became the first woman with dual Australian and American citizenship to travel to space, flying aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule. During this historic suborbital flight, she conducted a scientific experiment and carried handwritten messages from students of the French American School of Tampa Bay.

Now, students in Maine will be able to meet Elaine virtually, ask her questions, and hear about her incredible experience—live from the classroom to the stars!

An Educational Mission that Sparks Dreams

Elaine will speak (in French!) about her journey to becoming an astronaut, the training involved, her scientific research, and what it felt like to soar over 62 miles above the Earth. She’ll share videos and photos from her spaceflight and offer students a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into life aboard a space capsule. Her inspiring message encourages all students to dream big, stay curious, and never stop exploring—reminding them that there's no time to waste when there’s a universe of wonder to discover. We are thrilled to welcome Elaine (virtually!) and can't wait for our students to hear firsthand from someone who just returned from space.

To learn more about Elaine and her mission, visit www.spaceelaine.com and watch this video: Elaine Hyde – Blue Origin Flight

Thank you, Elaine, for bringing the stars a little closer to our school community!

We are excited to offer once again this year our summer childcare/camps from June 23, 2025 to August 22, 2025.

Enrollment is now open and space is limited!

If you are looking for a safe and enriching place for your kids to enjoy the summer, please join us! Mornings filled with fun French activities, and afternoons of arts & crafts, games, and plenty of time for free play, the Bilingual Summer Camp is l’ultime Maine summer fun! (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.

For a detailed description of weekly themes, please read more on our website!

Listen to students tell how they’ve become stronger, more caring, and courageous in the PYP. The learner profile encourages the development of these social and emotional skills, among others. The PYP ignites curiosity and encourages learners to ask questions. In this video, PYP teachers and students explain how inquiry and critical thinking skills are used in the classroom and beyond.