Friday, April 7th, 2025

Bonjour,

The 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade’s Food Dive was a resounding success! We had such a great response and would like to thank everyone who donated to the cause! This effort was organized by their English Class as part of their IB unit highlighting the ways we can become heroes in our communities. Details on the class’ carefully counted and sorted tally, are shared below. Bravo everyone! Please keep an eye out for more information regarding the ongoing Earth Month Bottle Cap and Plastic Drive for the Art Program which will be focusing on reusing plastics to turn students' trash into treasure.

The spring calendar is filled with field trips, visitors, events, (and hopefully soon some warmer weather!) Today, the CP/CE1 class raised their anchors to make way to the Maine Maritime Museum! Thank you to our chaperones who set sail with our savvy crew on this epic adventure! Earlier this week, the Moyenne Section visited the Portland Museum of Art for a special guided visit to examine the relationship between colors and our emotions! For Parents, Showcases for the upper grades are also happening this week, be sure to take a look at the schedule below and plan accordingly!

It is safe to say that mud season is officially upon us, as we hope, once more, that April showers will bring May flowers (soon). Please pack extra clothes if your student is sent home with a muddy outfit in their backpack, and ensure they have rain gear for rainy/wet days as they will be playing outside. 

Summer Camp sign-up for all ages is still available, although enrollment is filling up quickly! Summer Fun at EFDM is available to current and future families alike as well as those not enrolled in our school-year program. These fun-packed themed weeks filled with bilingual games and activities are not only a wonderful transition into the school year, but also a great way for interested families to learn a little more about life at l'école. If you don’t want to miss out on the fun, don’t forget to sign up while spaces are still available!

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

• April 8th: Grade 1 Showcase (French/Fabien) 8:45am
• April 9th: Grade 2 Showcase (French/Fabien) 8:45 am
• April 10th: Grades 3-5 Showcase (French/Jenny) 8:45am
• April 18th: Early Dismissal 11:30 am for all
• April 21-25: April Vacation (no camp offered)
• May 19th: 2025 Grade 5 - PYP Exhibition
• May 19th: Grandparents and Special Friends Day 11 am -1 pm
• May 19th: Suzuki Concert: Piano-Cello-Violin at 2:00 pm
• May 26th: Memorial Day - No School
• June 14th: School Carnival 11 am - 2 pm

2024-2025 School Calendar

2024-2025 Events Calendar

As part of their How We Express Ourselves IB unit “We use different means of communication depending on when we are, where we are, and the resources at our disposal”, the 1st and 2nd graders have been exploring different methods of communication. 



In their research, our young 2nd-grade writers have embarked on a very special project: writing letters to their favorite authors. Along the way, they’ve now mastered the art of letter writing—from how to address an envelope, to how to put words to expressing admiration and curiosity. In a fun real-world twist, each student was given exactly 73 cents in order to request a stamp—practicing both communication skills (and a bit of budgeting!)

Now for the next phase: waiting for replies (a crucial part of non-instantaneous communication!) Some of the authors the 2nd graders have written to live halfway around the world, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for international mail. But a response has already arrived, coming from someone close to home—a beloved Maine author and illustrator. 

You may recognize a familiar character below... Can you guess who it is?

As part of their inquiry into:“ The characteristics and cultural beliefs about heroes in various cultures and throughout history help define individual beliefs”, the English Class of Grades 3-4-5 organized, with the help of their English Teacher, Riley, a Local Food Dive! This community-hero event was a resounding success with an astounding 335 items donated to the Freeport Food Pantry! 

Students had a blast carefully counting and sorting the donations, and although they may not actually wear capes to school, they can all feel proud of how they encouraged everyone to become heroes for those who need it most in the community.

Thank you so much to all who donated to this worthy cause, and to les grands (and Riley!) for putting together this wonderful event!

Our Moyenne Section class embarked on a jolly-holiday-esque adventure with Raphaël at the Portland Museum of Art this week, stepping “through” artworks to study their How We Express Ourselves IB unit: Colors insight different reactions. 

Their mission? To uncover how colors spark different emotions. Wandering through the galleries, the students became tiny art critics and color explorers—observing how different shades, shapes, and brushstrokes made them feel. Some pieces brought calm, others excitement, and a few even inspired spontaneous wiggles and twirls as the children explored how art moves not just the mind, but the body too!

A huge thank you to the Portland Museum of Art for warmly welcoming our curious artists and for a truly fantastic tour. It was a day filled with wonder, color, and creativity—and we’re still buzzing with inspiration!

Most recently in our Guest Artists Series, we were thrilled to welcome Catherine Worthington, to EFDM, who visited our CE2/CM1/CM2 class earlier this month! 

From Catherine: "I am a mixed media textile artist who designs and makes art for the decoration of homes, offices and public spaces. My textile art represents places and elements inspired by the natural world and made from my process of painting and surface design techniques on cloth, collage piecing and stitching."

With Catherine's guidance, students were able to try their hands at fabric painting, playing with textures, tools, layers of color and tone. Trying out new techniques with a professional artist was an incredible opportunity and we are so grateful for the time, wisdom Catherine shared with us! Thank you for an inspiring workshop!

We would also like to thank Lisa Stangarone, our fabulous art teacher, not only for organizing this series but for all of the thought and care she puts into our art programme! For the past few weeks, Lisa has been encouraging the school to “Re-imagine”, by asking everyone to collect small plastic caps for a big Earth Month Project!

We have been very pleased with our collection thus far, and with spring now in full swing, we've had more than a few enthusiastic playground "treasure" hunters who’ve added to the bin (washed) caps from old snack pouches which have resurfaced from under the melting snow. 

If you have any bottle caps or other small plastic items you would like to discard, we are still collecting our materials for our re-new art pieces! We ask that you please drop off your small plastic trash so that we may turn them into new treasures!

La Grande Section class can’t wait to share their big news: after weeks of effort, teamwork, and determination, they've completed a 500-piece puzzle!

The Grande Section are passionate about puzzles, so their teacher, Anaëlle, decided to challenge them with a particularly tricky one. Day after day, the students gathered, searching for just the right fit, celebrating each small victory, and encouraging each other along the way.

The joy of placing that final piece was matched only by the pride of knowing they did it together. Through this project, the children practiced collaboration, problem-solving, and visual-spatial skills. So… what’s next for these puzzle pros? Bravo, les enfants!

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!

Dear Families,

L'Ecole Française du Maine continues to grow, and our successes have been noticed! We are proud to be an approved IB World School offering the PYP Programme and accredited by the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). These prestigious accreditations, along with our continued recognition by the Maine Department of Education, validate the dedication and hard work of our team and the unwavering support of our community.

Interest in the French School continues to grow, and we anticipate strong student enrollment for 2025-2026. Families from across the country and internationally inquire about admissions for all grade levels, which is exciting news for the future of our school.

French nationals can also apply for scholarships through the French Consulate in Boston; please contact them for more information on French Bourses. Additionally, our website provides details on all available financial aid programs.

Thank you for your trust and commitment; it is a privilege to work with your family!

Sincerely,

Beth LeBihan

Founder & Admissions Director

La première campagne des bourses concerne tous les enfants devant être scolarisés à la rentrée de septembre de l’année civile en cours. Les dossiers dûment complétés et accompagnés de toutes les pièces justificatives doivent être déposés ou envoyés au Consulat de BOSTON.

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.