March 7, 2026

Bonjour,

This week's newsletter is filled with important information and back-stage sneak peaks for our fast-approaching school-wide performance of Le Petit Prince at the Franco Center in Lewiston! The school is in full rehearsal-mode for our big spectacle, invitation details, as well as logistics and ticket information for an optional luncheon at the Franco Center, are all shared below. We ask that you please send Emily a note with your family’s travel plans and party numbers, so the school can keep track of everyone who will be attending on the big day. Looking forward to seeing you all in Lewiston! 

A final Sugarloaf Friday will follow the day of the performance, on Friday March 13th. Please reach out to be added to the group list for the last chance to hit the slopes with EFDM this season!

Parents and family members, mark your calendar for our first ever Career Day! On March 25th, students are invited to attend school dressed for their career of choice. Those who wish to share stories and experiences from their career (or past work experiences) are encouraged to sign-up, via the link sent directly from the office, for a 20 minute classroom presentation slot of their choosing. Parents who sign up to present can discuss, bring in items to show, or even offer a quick interactive activity illustrating their career path. Please consider visiting not only your student’s class, but other classrooms across the school as well! We greatly appreciate any time you can dedicate to inspiring our students and as they explore the wonders their professional future can hold. 

We have lots to share from recent snowy adventures! With all this fluffy snow, Anaelle and Jenny were excited to host a special “Snow Club” where kids went sledding together and enjoyed the outdoors after school. Fabien's and Jenny’s classes also tried their hands (or shall we say feet) at cross-country skiing with L.L.Bean Outdoor Center last week! Check out the photos below which recall all the fun.

Enrollment for 2026–2027 remains open at this time! Please be in touch if you have any questions regarding the enrollment process for next year, or are having trouble with the online system. We are here to help!

As always, please get in touch with the office with any questions at office@frenchschool.me



Merci beaucoup!

Emily and Willy

Upcoming dates to keep in mind

• Thursday March 12: School Theatrical Performance at 11 am Franco Center
• Friday March 13: Sugarloaf Friday
• Tuesday March 17: Grade 1 Showcase (French) at 8:45 am
• Thursday March 19: Grade 2-3 Showcase (French) at 8:45 am
• Friday March 20: Grade 4-6 Showcase (French) at 8:45 am
• Wednesday March 25: Career Day (Family Volunteer Day)

2025-2026 School Calendar

2025-2026 Events Calendar

==>> New !! 2026-2027 School Calendar

Extend the Celebration – Join the La Rencontre Luncheon!

After the performance, enjoy La Rencontre, an optional luncheon celebrating Franco culture in Maine. This vibrant event features live music by local entertainers and a delicious meal inspired by Franco traditions.

 Price: $17 per person (includes lunch and entertainment)

 Tickets: Must be purchased online by noon on Thursday, March 5, 2026

 Click Here to Buy Tickets

Schedule for the Day

• Doors Open: 10:00 AM
• Performance: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
• Luncheon: 12:15 PM
• 
  

For more information, contact the Franco Center at 207-689-2000 or visit us online to purchase tickets.

Don’t miss this unique celebration of culture, history, and community!

Event Schedule & Logistics:

 Meeting Point: Franco Center parking lot, 10:15 AM

Carpool Encouraged: We hope to organize a school-wide carpool to simplify transportation. Please let us know if your students require a ride.

 Timeline:

• 10:15 AM – Franco Center parking lot - Students gather with their class.
• 10:30–11:00 AM – Student Rehearsal
• 11:00–11:15 AM – Break
• 11:15 AM – Presentation
• 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Performance (Free Admission)
• 12:15 PM – Student Pickup (Early Release Day – No Aftercare Available!)

Franco Center parking lot - Students gather with their class.

• 12:15–1:30 PM – Optional “La Rencontre” Luncheon ($17 per person, pre-purchase required)

Important Notes:

•  Early Release Day: There will be no aftercare on this day. All students must be picked up at 12:15 PM from the Franco Center parking lot.
• All Students Will Perform: Every student in the school, including Petite Section, will be on stage, making this a truly special moment for our entire community!
• Carpooling Strongly Encouraged: With the whole school attending, we encourage families to organize carpooling to ensure smooth logistics. Emily will be reaching out to ask for confirmation of your travel plans and to help navigate carpooling.
• Snack Time for Students: Students can bring snacks from home and will have the opportunity to eat backstage before and after the performance.

Questions? If you have any questions about the performance or logistics, please contact us at office@frenchschool.me

We are proud to introduce our guest speaker for EFDM's Le Petit Prince next week: Etienne Farreyre, who has been Attaché for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs – Director of Villa Albertine in Boston since September 2025. Working in the cultural world for about twenty years, he has held various positions within the French diplomatic network in North America. He served as Press Attaché and Communications Manager (2008–2010) and Deputy Cultural Attaché (2010–2013) at the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles, then as Cultural Attaché in Vancouver, Canada (2016–2020).



More recently, before his arrival in New England, he was Head of Cultural Promotion at the Museum of Fine Arts of Bordeaux (2022–2025). A graduate in political science from the Grenoble Institute of Political Studies, and in history and geography, Etienne also holds a Master’s degree in management in Cultural Organization Management from Paris Dauphine University.

We are very grateful Etienne Farreyre for taking the time to join us for our performance at the Franco American Heritage Center. Un grand merci!

In preparation for the Petit Prince show, the Moyenne Section has been working hard to create props for the performance. Their current unit under How We Express Ourselves: Colors insight different reactions fits perfectly with the preparations for our upcoming performance, exploring: The transformation of colors in art and in the natural world; Our relationship to colors and how art helps us understand our feelings; and The role of colors in expressing our emotions. By combining previously learned writing and fine motor skills, the children carefully crafted their crowns and lanterns that will be used on stage. This activity allowed the students to practice precision, creativity, and patience while reinforcing the skills they have been developing throughout the year.

They first practiced tracing, cutting, and decorating shapes, before assembling their crowns and lanterns using a variety of materials. The Moyenne Section took great pride in adding their own artistic touches by choosing the colors of their crowns, making each prop unique. This hands-on project not only helped prepare for the upcoming show but also strengthened coordination and confidence.

Through this collaborative effort, the students experienced how classroom learning can be applied in a creative and meaningful way. The Moyenne Section is excited to see their work come to life during the Petit Prince performance and share it with families and the school community.

The impromptu "Snow Club" of Anaëlle and Jenny was a major hit! Students enjoyed sledding at a local hill with friends and had tons of fun outside after school. We'll be sure to keep families posted regarding any future luge outings (depending on if weather holds up/the snow continues to stick)! Until then, the ever elongating afternoon sunlight promises the return of our spring Adventure Club! Thanks to all who participated and made memories with us at this first Snow Club event!

Over the past few weeks, students in grades 1 through 6 have been carefully preparing the sets for their show of The Little Prince. Working in small groups within their classes, they have progressed step by step in the creation of the various elements that you will discover during their show on March 12!

Each class participated in the creation of various decorative pieces. Grade 1 students were tasked with cutting, assembling small pieces, and drawing and painting larger elements of the decor. They were often the first to start the projects, followed by the older students, who were responsible for more specific tasks, such as assembling the larger elements. This work required close collaboration between the students across all grade levels, strengthening their communication skills and ability to work together, qualities that are fully in line with the values and profile attributes of IB learners.

Without revealing too much, we can confirm the creation of a cardboard airplane, a cotton sheep, and a large rose handmade from chicken wire, crêpe paper, and pure imagination!

Throughout these creations, they manipulated different tools, materials and formats, which pushed them to become more adaptable, and when things didn't go as planned, students brainstormed solutions together and learned to adjust their work during the process. These abilities to adapt and reflect are key elements of the values and attributes of the IB learner profile, allowing them to move projects forward without slowing down progress. They are so excited to show you all the work they have done and are beyond proud to present you their creations!

With the winter performance fast approaching, students of Grande Section and CP have been hard at work creating props while continuing their IB unit under How do we express ourselves: Stories help us express ourselves, think, feel, imagine and understand others. Through this unit, they are exploring questions such as: How to tell a story, How to bring a story to life and Why we need stories and how they are told around the world. 

During the past few weeks, they’ve produced some creative props for the play: a luminescent planet and a flower bracelet. For the planet, they first had to paint the inside of a container with a special glow-in-the-dark paint. Once dry, they cut out some stars and glued them on the outside, creating a beautiful planet that will captivate the audience on the big day. To create the flower bracelet, students cut small circles of paper towels, colored the edges in red and sprayed water to make the colors bleed beautifully. Each petal was then carefully glued inside a small pot to form a rose. When the roses were dried, they could remove their creations and be ready to wear their delicate, hand-made flowers on stage. 

Both projects encouraged patience and attention to detail. They explored different creative techniques and showed how small artistic choices can influence their performance on stage. These props will not only create visual magic for the public but also help our students feel more comfortable during their performance.

When you are watching our students giving their best performance next week, keep an eye out for the small details they have poured their hearts into to make their performance even more captivating! As The Little Prince once said: "It is the time you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important."

Grades 4, 5, and 6 have been hard at work organizing a special event that is fast approaching. Do the words “The Little Prince” ring a bell? Here at L’École Française du Maine, they certainly do! 

Through their current “Where we are in place and time” unit : Exploration of other worlds teaches us more about ourselves, students have delved into the fantastical world of Le Petit Prince, reading and analyzing the story in detail. The lines of inquiry of the unit examine: how different ecosystems and planets influence our perception of life, how history highlights universal human emotions and expression, and how storytelling across cultures teaches us about our humanity. These fit perfectly with the school Little Prince production and have provided the perfect opportunity for students to give their all to put on a show highlighting the research they have conducted across all these ideas. We can attest that the students are very excited for this upcoming show; constantly practicing their songs and learning their lines so they can impress you, the audience, by being the best actors possible on stage!

Indeed, it requires perseverance and a lot of work. Putting together a play is no easy task. Similar to learning poetry, one must learn how to shine by coordinating with fellow actors, managing volume and speech rate on stage, and controlling stress! This work is fully in line with the values of the IB program: Students develop their ability to be reflective by analyzing their performance and adjusting their technique, practicing open-mindedness, welcoming the ideas of others and exploring different perspectives and approaches.

In addition to this already challenging task, students must consider their movements and those of younger children on stage, while remembering their steps in the choreography. They have become full-time artists!

As with any great performance, it is important to take time to rest and enjoy nature before heading on stage, And fortunately, our artistes had the opportunity to relax a bit last week by enjoying an afternoon of cross-country skiing in the sunshine! Now, we can't wait to see them on stage!

Mark your calendars, Career Day, a new-to-l'école event, is scheduled for March 25th! Students will be invited to come to school dressed for their dream career as they listen to the presentations of the many parents and family members we hope to welcome into our classrooms for this special day of discovery and inspiration. We are excited to announce The Freeport Fire Department will be joining us as well!

Whether you would like to share stories from your current field or have stories from past roles, your presence and insights make this day truly inspiring for our students. Emily will be sharing a sign-up sheet where presenters will be able to choose their twenty minute time slots which will be available from 8:45 and will continue throughout the day. Presentators will also be asked in which classrooms they would like to present, although they are more than welcome to sign up to present in multiple classes to inspire students across the entire school. 

Thank you for helping us make this event an inspiring exploration of the many possibilities the future holds and be on the lookout for the sign-up link to share your career story at l’école!

One final chance this season to ski with the French School group remains for ages 7 and up, on Friday, March 13th! For more info be sure to reach out if you have not done so already. Families enrolled will receive communication about the morning rendezvous earlier in the week before the trip.

We're quite proud of the EFDM students who skied fast enough to make it onto the Carrabassett Valley Academy podium this winter! Our very own EFDM Winter Olympians! Bravo tout le monde!

The PS class has been actively developing their early learning skills through a variety of hands-on activities. Through their current How We Express Ourselves unit : We use different art forms to understand and share our emotions, la Petite Section has been actively exploring: How music is used as a tool to express oneself in the world; Visual arts as a means of discovering and listening to oneself; Dance and movement as a medium to express one's emotions. 



When not preparing for the upcoming show, les petits have been focusing on their pre-writing abilities by practicing how to start and stop a line in a specific place. This important skill helps build the control and precision needed for future writing tasks. Through guided practice and engaging exercises, students are learning how to carefully follow directions while strengthening their fine motor coordination. 

In addition to their pre-writing work, les petits have also been exploring three-dimensional construction using blocks. By building different structures, they are discovering how shapes fit together in addition to how to balance and support their creations. These building activities encourage problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration among classmates and work to promote this unit’s key concepts of form, change and perspective . Through both writing practice and block construction, the PS students are developing important foundational skills while enjoying the process of learning and experimenting together. Bravo les petits!

We are excited to offer once again this year our summer childcare/camps from June 22, 2026 to August 21, 2026.

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!