L'Ecole Française du Maine

"Painting in Normandy and Beyond"

2012-01-30T14:12:00.003-05:00

"Normandy Horizon #21" Pastel on Paper
Suzanne deLesseps

Six artists on a painting and photography holiday in France
Joelle Feldman, Suzanne deLesseps, Bobbi Heath, Katherine Clark,
Anne Macleod, Mary Tetro

Opening Reception
Saturday, February, 11, 2012
4pm to 7pm
showing through the end of March

Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery
720 Route One; Yarmouth, Maine 04096
tel: (207) 846-7777

La lettre de la MLF

2012-01-27T13:09:00.001-05:00

The students of L'Ecole Française du Maine are featured in Mission Laïque Française's newsletter, alongside French schools in Ethiopia, Syria, Spain, Brazil, Nigeria, Bulgaria and China in their "Schools in image" rubric. This newsletter is distributed throughout the world to the 114 French schools of the MLF network.

Adult Education

2012-01-25T14:18:00.000-05:00

L’Ecole Française du Maine offers multiple options for adults seeking to improve their speaking and writing skills, or simply trying to keep up with their children!

Private Classes
Personal curriculum to be created and taught according to the level and needs of the person. Cost: $40 per hour. Instructor: Elodie Le Nezet
. . . . . .

Group Classes (10 persons per group maximun)
A session of 15 weekly classes that will meet from 6pm to 7:30pm. The curriculum consists of oral and written comprehension, and oral and written expression. The French textbook “Campus” and workbook will be required and can be purchased through EFDM. Classwork will cover: grammatical points with explanations and application exercises, vocabulary, phonetics and repetition of different sounds, conversation and practice of dialogue between the students, and cultural experience. Group classes are offered at different levels:

Beginner Level 1: Mondays, start January 30
Beginner Level 4: Tuesdays, start January 31
Beginner Level 5: Mondays, start January 30
Intermediate: Tuesdays, start January 31

Cost: $375 per person, or $700 a couple.
For more information or registration, please call (207) 865-3308.

Stage AEFE à l'Ecole Internationale de Boston

2012-01-23T19:05:00.001-05:00

Jean-François and Yassine participated in a workshop at the International School of Boston on the core curriculum, using the personal assessment booklets and individualized pedagogy.
Since 2005 the countries of the European Union have agreed on 8 key skills students need to have acquired at the end of their compulsory schooling in order to be independent and responsible citizens.
A common base of skills has been created, divided into three levels (end of grade two, end of grade 5 and end of grade 9). The personal assessment booklet is a tool to assess the acquisition of these skills:
    •    Mastery of the French language
    •    Main elements of mathematics, sciences and technology
    •    Human culture
    •    Social and civic skills
    •    Mastery of techniques for basic information and communication
    •    Independence and initiative
    •    Mastery of a second language

We are very satisfied by this training, which was brilliantly conducted by Ms Dubois-Lazzarotto, Inspector of the Ministry of Education in Paris. We were also able to exchange with colleagues from other French schools in the US (Boston, Houston, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco, New York and New Orleans) and Canada.

Bonhommes de neige

2012-01-23T19:04:00.001-05:00

Here are some of our creations. Snow is so much fun on the playground!

Chinese New Year

2012-01-23T19:04:00.000-05:00

Marylou

Sheila

We had a delicious lunch today, prepared by Marylou and Sheila, to celebrate Chinese New Year. We had chicken stir fry, dumplings and almond cookies. It was great, we even ate with chopsticks! Miam!

Art club with Elodie

2012-01-23T19:03:00.000-05:00

We have been starting a project on Picasso that will take us a few weeks. We will be exploring different works of his as well as techniques ; we started with a reproduction of the painting of a woman. We did a sketch of the outline and details and then proceeded in tracing it with a black pastel. We then colored it with pastels. The children have enjoyed discussing the many elements of the painting as well as trying to imagine the steps to achieve that work.

Vive la neige!

2012-01-23T19:02:00.000-05:00

On Friday, January 20, the students of grades 2-6 took advantage of the fresh new snow! They went cross country skiing in South Freeport with their teachers, Elodie, Dasha and Henri. They had a lot of fun and really enjoyed this beautiful day. Vive la neige!

Schools planning French program

2012-01-19T14:07:00.001-05:00

Thursday, January 19, 2012

North Yarmouth Academy and L'Ecole Francaise team up to offer students a degree recognized by France.

By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth and L'Ecole Francaise du Maine in Freeport plan to start the first high school-level French immersion program north of Boston that would offer a dual diploma endorsed by the French government.

The program, on track to begin next fall, would give students of the French primary school a way to continue their immersion education in Maine. It would allow the academy to expand its offerings and possibly attract French-speaking students from around the world.

"French schools are scarce in the States, so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw an influx of children of diplomats and other French-speaking people at the academy," said Willy LeBihan, founder and director of L'Ecole Francaise.

The French school and the academy both have strong academic programs and an emphasis on music education, LeBihan said, "so we're glad that our students would be able to continue their education there."

Students who enroll in the academy's French immersion program would take half of their courses in French, including history and mathematics, and half in English. French courses would be taught by professional teachers from France on sabbatical through the French Ministry of Education.

The curriculum would meet Maine educational requirements and be endorsed by the French government, so students would get diplomas that would be recognized at colleges and universities throughout the United States and the European Union.

"I love having a more international bent to our programs and being able to offer our students a unique academic track," said Brad Choyt, North Yarmouth Academy's head of school.

Founded in 1814, North Yarmouth Academy is a private day school that has 266 students in grades 5 through 12. Tuition is $24,500 per year.

L'Ecole Francaise, founded in 2002, has 80 students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 5. Tuition is $9,000 to $11,000 per year, depending on grade. Graduates continue their education at various private and public schools in southern Maine.

L'Ecole Francaise is one of only 40 French immersion schools in the United States and Canada that are accredited by the French government. L'Ecole Francaise is the only accredited U.S. school north of Boston. Only 12 accredited French schools in North America are high school programs.

The dual diploma that North Yarmouth Academy plans to offer is now available at only two French immersion high schools, in New York City and Miami. The French American Baccalaureate Program was developed two years ago by the College Board, Columbia University, Paris-Sorbonne University and the French Ministry of Education.

In recent months, LeBihan has met with French education officials in Washington, D.C., Ontario and Paris to win approval for the academy's French immersion program. An inspector from the French Ministry of Education visited the academy in October.

In the coming weeks, the academy is expected to hire a teacher from France and announce the start of enrollment for the fall semester. The first year could attract five to 15 students, including some young people from abroad, LeBihan said.

If all goes well and word of the program spreads, interest and enrollment could increase to the point that the academy would have to consider developing a boarding program, he said.

Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at: kbouchard@pressherald.com

Rencontre avec Pat Gallant-Charette, une incroyable nageuse

2012-01-10T10:02:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to visit the K-1 class blog for more amazing articles! (http://gscpefdm.blogspot.com/)

Cette semaine, nous avons eu la chance de recevoir la visite d'une dame qui vit des aventures formidables! Elle se lance des défis qu'elle accomplit grâce à beaucoup de préparation, de travail et de courage. This week we had the chance to receive the visit from a lady who lives incredible adventures! She challenges herself for these adventures and is able to succeed thanks to a lot of preparation, work and courage.
Cette année, elle a traversé la Manche à la nage, entre Calais (France) et Douvres (Royaume-Uni), ce qui représente environ 35 km de distance. This year, she swam accross the English Channel, between Calais (France) and Douvres (UK), which is about 35 km long.

Les élèves avaient préparé cette rencontre en se posant des questions, auxquelles Pat a répondu avec plaisir. Voici quelques exemples: The children had prepared this meeting by asking themselves questions, which Pat answered with great pleasure. Here are a few:

- Comment as-tu mangé? How did you eat?
- En absorbant de la nourriture liquide qu'on me faisait passer à l'aide d'une perche, car je n'avais pas le droit de toucher le bateau et que je devais avaler tout en nageant sinon mon record ne serait pas homologué. I took liquid food that was given to me through a pole because I was not allowed to touch the boat and I had to swallow while swimming otherwise my record would not be registered.

- Est-ce que tu es revenue à la nage? Did you come back swimming?
- Non! No!

- Est-ce que tu étais fatiguée? Were you tired?
- Non, car je suis très bien préparée. No, because I was well prepared.

- Est-ce que tu as eu froid? Were you cold?
- Non, car je m'entraîne dans le Maine où l'eau est bien plus froide que dans la Manche! No, because I train in Maine where the water is a lot colder than in the Channel!

- Est-ce que tu as vu des requins ou des pieuvres? Did you see sharks or octopuses?
- Une fois, j'ai senti comme une peau de requin qui m'avait frôlée, mais ce n'était pas ça. Je n'ai pas vu de pieuvres, mais une centaine de dauphins m'ont accompagnée pendant trente minutes pendant une traversée en Californie! Once I felt something like shark skin grazing me, but it wasn't a shark. I didn't see octopuses, but a hundred of dolphins accompanied me for 30 minutes while I was swimming in California!

- Est-ce que tu as fait d'autres traversées? Did you do other crossings?
- Oui, par exemple le Détroit de Gibraltar (entre le Maroc et l'Espagne), entre Catalina Island et la côte de la Californie... Yes, for example I crossed the Strait of Gibraltar (between Morocco and Spain), between Catalina Island and the coast of California...

- Comment as-tu été aux toilettes? How did you go to the bathroom?
- J'ai fait comme les poissons! Like the fishes!

Elles nous a également montré des vidéos de ses exploits (que vous pouvez retrouver sur son blog, CLIC). She also showed us videos of her accomplishments (that you can find on her blog CLIC).

Elle nage en l'honneur de ses frères disparus, des personnes malades et de sa famille qui la soutient beaucoup. En conclusion, elle a dit "Je ne l'ai pas fait, mais nous l'avons fait", car c'était un vrai travail d'équipe. She is swimming in honor of her brothers who are gone, in honor of sick people and her family who support her a lot. She said "I didn't do it, but we did it", because it is a great team work.

Nous l'avons félicité et avons chanté une chanson qui s'intitule "Nage, nage".
We congratulated her and sang a song called " Swim, swim".

Enfin, nous lui avons offert un recueil de dessins que nous avions préparé sur le thème de sa traversée. Finally, we gave her a collection of drawings we had prepared on the theme of her Channel crossing.

Merci pour ta venue, et encore bravo, Pat!
Thank you for coming, and congratulations again Pat!

CineClub: Elle s'appelait Sarah

2012-01-10T09:16:00.002-05:00

Come enjoy an evening filled with snacks and drinks, the opportunity to socialize in French and English and see a great French movie.

All films are in French with English subtitles.

6:30 PM: Conversation, food and drinks

7:00 PM: Start of the film

After the Film: Discussion and exchange of feelings and thoughts

Next movie on January 18:

Un film de Gilles PAQUET-BRENNER, 2010, 1h51, drame, avec Kristin SCOTT-THOMAS, Melusine MAYANCE, Niels ARESTRUP…

Synopsis : Sarah is a 10-year-old girl living with her parents and younger brother in Paris in 1942 when French authorities arrest them and other Jewish families and send them to Nazi prison camps. In present day Paris, Journalist Julia Armond is determined to bring to light the little-known event in French history. She becomes obsessed with finding Sarah, who she believes was not killed in a concentration camp, and goes on a hunt to discover what became of her after the infamous Vel' d'Hiv Roundup.

Au menu cette semaine:

2012-01-06T16:34:00.000-05:00

Bleu, vert, rouge et jaune!

2011-12-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

This month we have been working on colors. We created four panels: red, blue, green and yellow.
After painting the background with ink, the children looked for and gathered all the objects in the classroom in these colors. Then they glued them to their panel!
Each group made it’s own panel (group work).

Scéance de graphisme dehors:

2011-12-16T14:12:00.001-05:00

The preschool children practiced handwriting outside.
We worked on vertical and horizontal lines, circles and our names in sand, with different sizes since we had a lot of room!

Spectacle de décembre:

2011-12-16T14:11:00.000-05:00

Bravo to all our young artists and their teachers for the wonderful show of December 12! We had performances from the school band, la chorale des petits, la chorale des grands and every classroom. We enjoyed your skits, dances and songs.

Merci beaucoup to all the parents who helped setting up the room, taking photos and filming, and to Emilia for a delicious tea afterwards.

Cine-Club tonight!

2011-12-14T13:43:00.000-05:00

Please join us tonight at L'Ecole Française du Maine for our monthly Ciné-club!
It's a wonderful opportunity to socialize in French and English and see a great French movie. All films are in French with English subtitles.

6:30 PM: Conversation, food and drinks - 7:00 PM: Start of the film

Un film de Radu Mihaileanu, 2009, drame, 1h57, avec Mélanie LAURENT, Aleksei GUSKOV, Miou-Miou…

Synopsis : Thirty years ago, Andrei Simoniovich Filipov, the renowned conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra, was fired for hiring Jewish musicians. Now ekeing out a living as a cleaner at the Bolshoi, he learns that the Châtelet Theater in Paris has invited the Bolshoi orchestra to play there. He decides to gather together his former musicians and to perform in Paris in the place of the current Bolshoi orchestra. Set to accompany his old Jewish and Gypsy musicians, Andrei wants Anne-Marie Jacquet, a young virtuoso violinist.

Equilibre, variation et modération – How to Eat Healthy

2011-12-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

In science class, we are currently evaluating our eating habits. We learned about the different aspects of foods. We learned that we can classify them into groups and realized how important it is to eat fruits and vegetables.  We then tried to create a healthy lunch, wrote a shopping list and calculated the cost of the food. We were surprised to see how much money we spend on only one meal.  With Emilia’s guidance, we then cooked our own special lunch. We made homemade pasta, fruit salad, a low calorie Caesar salad dressing, tofu, chicken, asparagus and more. It was difficult to cook all to satisfy our demands in the short amount of time we had but thanks to Emilia, we were all able to eat our own lunch on time… it was very tasty!

Un courrier d'Egypte

2011-12-09T13:48:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to visit the K-1 class blog for more amazing articles! (http://gscpefdm.blogspot.com/)

Cette semaine, nous avons reçu un e-mail de nos amis égyptiens.
This week we received an email from our friends in Egypt.

Ils n'ont pas beaucoup d'école en ce moment parce qu'il se passe des choses dans leur pays: des gens ne sont pas contents, il y a des problèmes dans les rues alors les écoles sont parfois fermées.
Ils nous disent qu'ils ne comprennent pas tout mais qu'ils sont contents de se retrouver en classe!
They do not have a lot of school lately because there is a lot happening in their country: some people are upset, there are problems on the street, so schools are closed sometimes. They told us they do not understand everything but they are happy when they are in school!

Ils nous ont envoyé des photos et des dessins de pyramides, qui sont tout près de leur ville, Le Caire. Les pyramides sont des tombeaux des anciens rois d'Egypte.
They sent us photos and drawings of the pyramids which are very close to their city, Cairo. Pyramids are the tombs of the ancient kings of Egypt.

Les trois pyramides de Gizeh

La pyramide de Saqqara

Ils ont répondu à nos questions: au Caire, il n'y a pas de girafes, d'ours, d'éléphants ou de tigres, mais il y a beaucoup de chats!
They answered our questions: in Cairo, there is no giraffe, no bear, no elephant or tigers, but a lot of cats!

Chez eux, il n'y a pas de tempêtes de neige, mais des tempêtes de sable!
En ce moment, dans leur ville, il fait 20 degrés Celcius (68 degrés Farenheit) et ils trouvent qu'il fait froid!
They do not have snow storms but sand storms! It is currently 20°C (68F) in their city, and they think it is cold!

Ils nous disent aussi qu'ils parlent tous arabe et anglais, mais qu'ils apprennent le français à l'école, tout comme nous!
They told us they all speak Arabic and English, but they are learning French at school, just like us!

C'est très intéressant de correspondre avec cette classe, cela nous permet de découvrir un environnement très différent!
Nous allons très vite leur répondre et leur parler du Maine et de l'Amérique!
It is very interesting to correspond with this class, we are discovering a very different environment!
We are going to answer them very quickly and tell them about Maine and America!

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-12-09T11:47:00.000-05:00

Tour de chant à la maison de retraite

2011-12-09T11:45:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to visit the K-1 class blog for more amazing articles! (http://gscpefdm.blogspot.com/)

Aujourd'hui, nous avons offert un tour de chant à des personnes âgées. Ces personnes ont été ravies de recevoir des enfants!
Today we sang for elderly people. They were happy to receive children as visitors!

Nous avons chanté cinq chansons de la chorale, quelques élèves ont joué du violon et dit des poèmes.
We sang five songs of the chorale, and some students played the violin and said poems.

Ce fut aussi l'occasion pour nous de répéter notre spectacle devant un premier public. Nous essaierons de faire aussi bien devant les parents lundi prochain!
Parmi notre public, deux personnes étaient francophones et furent enchantées d'écouter leur langue natale!
It was also an opportunity for us to rehearse our show in front of a public audience. We will try to do as well for our parents next Monday!
There were two people in the audience who speak French, and they were delighted to listen to their mother tongue!

Nous avons même chanté "Alouette", une chanson traditionnelle française, avec une dame qui la connaissait!
We sang "Alouette", a traditional French song, with a lady who knows it!

Merci à eux pour leur accueil et pour leurs encouragements!
Thank you for welcoming us and for your support!

La princesse à la gomme

2011-12-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

After studying the book La Princesse à la gomme the second grade students created a card game with the characters of the story, such as Princess Galathée, the school director Turlututu, Mademoiselle Lagrignotte, the cat, the king and the queen, etc.
On one side of the cards, there is a drawing of the character. On the other side, there is the character's name and his/her characteristics. The children worked on vocabulary and drawing.
They also worked on their memory and oral language skills by remembering characters met in previous books during the year.

Jean-Claude Redonnet, Paris-Sorbonne emeritus professor to collaborate on "Des ponts et merveilles"

2011-12-05T17:15:00.005-05:00

Elodie Chancelier, French as Second Language Teacher (FLE)
Jean-Claude Redonnet, Professor emeritus Paris-Sorbonne
Willy LeBihan, Director of L'Ecole Française du Maine

Professor emeritus from Paris-Sorbonne, Jean-Claude Redonnet has offered his collaboration for the major theatrical project "Des ponts et merveilles" planned for May 2014 as avant-première to the Congrès Mondial Acadien (August 2014). This production will celebrate the Acadian history and bring its rich culture onto the stage. The play will continue where "La Cachette du Francais" left off four years ago. At the time, students of l'Ecole Française du Maine wrote a script entirely in French, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Champlain's discoveries throughout New-England and Quebec. The play was in the form of a mystery, featuring a detective searching for the "French" in Maine today. More than 500 spectators attended the show at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston, which got great reviews from the French, Canadian and Quebecquois Cultural Attaches while building enthusiasm in the francophone public of Maine.

Cast of "La Cachette du Français" May 7, 2008

In "Des ponts et merveilles", Jean-Claude Redonnet will help teachers and students write portions of the script while supervising its historical accuracy and cultural relevancy with the themes of CMA2014.

The title for the play, "Des ponts et merveilles", suggested by Jean-Claude Redonnet, presents two principal themes that will be developed on stage: bridges (ponts) between cultures, lands, past and present and communities and wonder (merveilles) such as the wilderness of Acadia and the francophone identity.

Through history, the Acadians will be portrayed as participants of the American revolution who helped bridge the French, Canadian and early American cultures and languages. Then, when displaced during the Grand Derangement, the Acadians maintained with determination a rich culture, serving as a bridge between a tragic past and the hopes for a better future; the play will then depict the settlement in the St John River Valley with the romanticism of Evangeline and its nostalgia as narrated by Longfellow and Emerson.

Finally, the play will share the Acadia of today: the land, the forest, its home in Maine, a unique identity with a rich past on which can be built a francophone future.

Samuel de Champlain in "La Cachette du Français" May 7, 2008

Scott Vaillancourt, music instructor at l'Ecole Française du Maine and Acadian from the St John Valley, will be responsible for the musical accompaniment. The school is currently seeking volunteers and sponsors and will be finalizing a date and ideal location for the venue.

Jean-Claude Redonnet recently published Héritages francophones: An innovative program of cultural readings designed for college French classes at the upper-intermediate level and beyond, Héritages francophones is an introduction to several living Francophone cultures in the United States. The communities that are introduced include the descendants of the Acadians in the St. John Valley of Maine; the Haitian community of Miami; and immigrant peoples from Africa, Asia, and Europe. The focus then widens to the countries or areas of origin of these various groups. This emphasis on the diversity of interrelated Francophone issues shows students that French is indeed an international language, with relevance to their own world. Héritages francophones was granted the official patronage of the Académie française in 2007.

When not enjoying his retirement home in Maine on Casco Bay, Jean-Claude Redonnet volunteers for the The French Heritage Language Program, of the French American Cultural Exchange FACE, in partnership with the French Embassy in the United States. Since 2005, it has helped over 1,000 children, students and adults from under-served communities of francophone background maintain a good working knowledge of the French language and keep strong bonds with their respective cultures and identities. Similar programs are planned in Augusta and Lewiston next year through the Maine French Heritage Language program.

Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB) at North Yarmouth Academy

2011-12-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

Laurie Hyndman (NYA Admission Director); Myriam Fournier-Dulac (Inspector for the French Ministry of Education - French Embassy in Ottawa, Canada); Willy LeBihan (Director of l'Ecole Française du Maine); Friederike Munz (French Immersion - Math Teacher) and NYA ninth grade students Anna and Elise who are preparing the DNB exam. Final Exam will be taken on June 7 and 8 at the International School of Boston.

Philomène Rossini - above - teaches History and Geography using CNED generated lesson plans while Elodie LeNezet-Soule -below - prepares Anna and Elise for the French portion of the Diplôme national du brevet (DNB) in the Priscilla Savage Middle School classroom provided by North Yarmouth Academy.

The Diplôme national du brevet (DNB) is a diploma given to French pupils at the end of the Ninth grade. To be awarded a diploma, pupils must acquire the 7 common core skills (socle commun de connaissances et de compétences). Anna and Elise will be the first Maine recipients of the Diplôme national du brevet (DNB). Quite an accomplishment !

This unique opportunity was made possible through a partnership between L'Ecole Française du Maine and North Yarmouth Academy.

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-12-02T16:51:00.002-05:00

Nathan Kolosko's Composition "Tonadilla" Performed by Marlène Lemay

2011-12-02T12:25:00.007-05:00

Excerpt from the Gala Concert organized for the 25th anniversary of Les Production d'Oz, November 2nd 2011 at the Henri-Gagnon Concert Hall, in Louis-Jacques-Casault Building in Quebec City at Laval University.

25 compositions 80 p., Level 3
(CD included) Marlène Lemay, guitar

We are celebrating in 2011 the 25th anniversary of the publishing house Les Productions d'OZ. In 2009, I invited 25 of our composers to write an original piece for this event. All of them accepted immediately, with great enthusiasm, and it was the beginning of a beautiful journey. I entrusted my daughter, Marlène Lemay, to bring to life these compositions, both on this recording and on stage, knowing that she would display her wonderful talent. When she was born in 1990, I dedicated my guitar method to her with the citation: "To Marlène, for whom everything begins." Today, after more than 20 years, it is 25 composers from around the world who are dedicating their pieces to her. What could be more gratifying and stimulating for a publisher than having such a wonderful project as this, with composers, a special performer, and dear friends involved in the creation of a book and recording!
- Sylvain Lemay

Jean-Marie Raymond - La cité d'Émeraude
Thierry Tisserand - Yamandou
Máximo Diego Pujol - Misterio
Adrian Andrei - Ronde transylvanienne
Nathan Kolosko - Tonadilla
Roland Dyens - The Wiz'
Daniel Boyer - Éclats de Ré
Claude Gagnon - Paysage roumain
Andrew Zohn - Marlène's Song
David Gaudreau - Sentiments oubliés
Denis Mortagne - Perpetuum mobile
Simone Iannarelli - Matteo
Jürg Kindle - Magma
Yvon Demillac - Nina
José-Luis Narváez - Alla cubana
Claudio Camisassa - Song for Marlène
Giuliano Belotti - Valsarab
Bernard Piris - La presque valse
Patrick Roux - Milonga del Mar
Mark Houghton - Marlène's Rag
Jim Ferguson - Requiem for a Fallen Artist
Francis Kleynjans - 25 printemps
Gilbert Clamens - Prélude et valse
Takashi Ogawa - Parapluie de Kyoto
Annette Kruisbrink - Tendresse

Critically acclaimed guitarist/composer Nathan Kolosko has performed throughout the US, Europe and Asia. As a musician, Nathan is compelled to expand the voice of the guitar through composition, improvisation, and collaborations with both musicians and visual artists. He is currently collaborating with visual artist Ling-Wen Tsai on several inter-disciplinary projects, and performs regularly with flute player Carl Dimow. Nathan has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including grants from the Allied Arts Foundation and D'Addario Strings. As a composer, Nathan has made numerous contributions to the repertoire for the guitar. His works are currently published by Doberman-Yppan & amp; Productions D'Oz.

In addition to being a performer and composer Nathan teaches guitar at l'Ecole Francaise du Maine.

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-11-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving lunch

2011-11-23T07:13:00.000-05:00

Merci Emilia for the delicious Thanksgiving lunch you prepared for us before our Thanksgiving break!

Hopper's Maine - Part 2

2011-11-23T07:12:00.000-05:00

The second part of our activity on Edward Hopper is now available for viewing in the hallway!

The children selected a piece painted by Hopper that was part of the exhibit we had seen in October. They sketched it in every detail and then used watercolor to finish it. Some chose to stay very true to the colors used by the master while other students experimented a little with colors.
Their watercolors are absolutely beautiful. They have done a fantastic job so please come encourage our little artists!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T07:10:00.000-05:00

A big thank you to all the parents and students of L'Ecole Française du Maine who donated food to support Freeport families during Thanksgiving. The Parents Association divided the food into several packages, and the children of grades 4, 5, 6 made lovely cards for each package. Caryn and Stephanie took the packages to the Freeport Community Center.

Merci beaucoup à tous!

Suzuki Concert on November 21, 2011

2011-11-22T15:17:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to all of the students on their beautiful performances at the first Suzuki concert of the year. Everyone played so well, and their hard work was evident through the music. The concert began with a special treat, as we were inspired by an older student, Elise, now a freshman at NYA. She played Mozart with DeeDee to the delight of all and the students were motivated by this performance. Next the chorus sang a song, which was followed by solos in cello, violin, piano and classical guitar. Some students performed for their very first time, while others continue to advance in their instruments, playing more and more advanced pieces. One guitar student celebrated his Twinkle graduation, an important milestone in the Suzuki Method. We concluded with a trumpet solo of "When the Saints Come Marching In". Thanks to all of the parents who continually support their children by attending lessons and practicing with them each day, and to their teachers who have given them the precious gift of music!

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-11-14T08:33:00.002-05:00

Edward Hopper’s Maine

2011-11-04T17:12:00.000-04:00

In October, the class CM1, CM2 and 6eme researched the life and artwork of Edward Hopper to prepare for their visit of the unique exhibit that was shown at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.
We went there on a beautiful sunny morning. We discovered the beautiful artwork of Hopper, mainly composed of oil paintings representing landscapes and buildings and wonderful watercolors. In their research, the students discovered the themes the artist enjoyed (architecture, coastal landscapes), more reasons for him to paint Maine.

After the visit of the exhibit, the students got their pencils and sketchbooks ready, found a spot on the lawn in the campus and started sketching buildings. Back at school, the following week, the students experimented with watercolors and sublimed their beautiful drawings.

You can come see them on the hallway walls, by their classroom door.

We are now working on another Edward Hopper project you will admire and hear about very soon…stay tuned !

Des arbres Klimt

2011-11-04T16:25:00.001-04:00

Nous avons utilisé les belles couleurs d'automne du Maine pour composer un arbre à la manière de Klimt, un peintre autrichien, qui utilisait les spirales pour son célèbre "Arbre de vie".

We used the beautiful colors of autumn in Maine to create a tree in the style of Klimt, an Austrian painter who used spirals for his well-known "Tree of Life".

Pour sortir du cadre de la feuille, nous nous sommes essayés à un travail en trois dimensions, en faconnant des arbres en volume, avec des fils d'aluminium travaillés en spirales et plantés dans des cubes de polystyrène peints avec une belle couleur cuivrée.
To change the medium from paper, we tried a work in 3D, creating a tree with volume, made with aluminum wire worked into spirals and stuck into polystyrene cubes painted with a beautiful copper color.

Le résultat est très réussi, avec des oeuvres toujours différentes malgré une consigne commune. Bravo les artistes!
The result is a real success, with pieces of artwork always very different while working from the same instructions. Bravo to the artists!

Don't forget to check the K-1 blog to see more of their amazing projects!

N'oubliez-pas d'aller sur le blog des GS/CP pour voir d'autres projets fantastiques!

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-11-04T15:00:00.002-04:00

Parent Association Halloween Supper

2011-11-04T12:22:00.005-04:00

The Parents Association prepared a wonderful dinner for school parents and students. There was a choice of chili or soups and baguette. Everything was delicious!

Pie contest

2011-11-04T12:13:00.003-04:00

One of the attractions this year for our Halloween Festival was the first annual pie baking contest. Several entries made for a tasty competition, and Emilia served as judge for the contest. Yumm! We ate the pies for dessert!

Halloween games

2011-11-04T12:06:00.002-04:00

After the parade, the Parents Association had prepared a lot of fun games and activities for us. There was an apple toss, a pumpkin toss and a witch photo station. We could also have our photo taken to make Halloween cards! Thanks to all of the parents who volunteered and made this such a fun event!

Halloween parade

2011-11-04T12:05:00.003-04:00

After lunch everyone put on their Halloween costumes... even the teachers and some of our parents! We had princesses and witches, animals, superheroes, magical creatures, historical characters, cartoon characters, etc. When we were all ready, we formed a parade and went all the way to the post office, where Angie gave us all some candy and Debbie distributed little gifts from the Parents Association! Merci beaucoup!

Spooky Halloween Lunch

2011-11-04T11:00:00.002-04:00

Merci Emilia for the amazing lunch you prepared for Halloween! We went from surprise to surprise, with a spooky salad, a ghostly banana, green milk, Dracula cupcake, treats to take home, etc.

It was perfect!

Candy Buy-Back Fundraiser - Nov. 1 to 3

2011-10-31T17:22:00.000-04:00

NYA Reach Out Project

2011-10-28T15:40:00.001-04:00

On October 19, students from North Yarmouth Academy came to L'Ecole Française du Maine to help us clear brush in the woods and on the playground. It was a wonderful effort, and the children pitched in to help the "big kids" from NYA during recess. They loaded the branches and sticks onto a tarp and into a truck, to be taken away. We are grateful to the hard-working high school students and the NYA French teacher, Irene Marchenay, who also helped with the project. It was cold and damp outside, so Emilia served a cup of hot chocolate and biscuits to warm them with a well-deserved treat!

Au menu cette semaine

2011-10-28T15:37:00.000-04:00

Promenade en forêt

2011-10-28T15:22:00.000-04:00

We went on a nature walk to collect the beautiful autumn leaves and then we used our colorful leaves to make projects in the classroom. It was fun!

Motricité chez les PS/MS

2011-10-28T11:10:00.000-04:00

To develop our gross motor skills, we play lots of fun games in "motricité"!

You can see having fun with the hula hoops!

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-10-24T08:28:00.000-04:00

Play detective in the forest on a weekend walk…

2011-10-21T14:00:00.004-04:00

Families are invited to a special walk at Freeport Conservation Trust’s Calderwood preserve, Sunday, October 23, 2-4 PM. Walk leader Jay Espy is a Freeport resident with a long career working to preserve Maine's special places, a keen interest in the natural world, and many hours spent in the woods with his kids. Interpretative part of the walk will be targeted at elementary school-aged children through adults.

Jay and walk participants will try to discern the history of the now forested landscape: Did people once live here? How can we tell? Did this place used to look differently? We’ll also share what we know about the trees, plants and animals seen at the preserve.

Walk involves a 1-mile, flat terrain loop on the inland side of the road and a half mile loop along the shore of Maquoit Bay.

Directions: From the LL Bean retail store follow Bow Street/Flying Point Road towards Brunswick for just over 5 miles.

For more information: freeportconservationtrust@gmail.com, 869-1012 or 712-0035 or on facebook.

Loup mon oeil!

2011-10-19T11:42:00.001-04:00

Première séance de cuisine, CE2
First cooking class, 3rd grade

Les CE2 ont cuisiné leurs propres tourtes au poulet avec Emilia. Ces tourtes sont spéciales. Pourquoi? Elles sont à thème: les cochons. Les élèves lisaient le livre 'Le loup mon œil' de Susan Meddaugh pendant la classe de lecture.

The third graders cooked their own chicken pot pies with Emilia. These pot pies are special. Why? They are pig-themed. The students were reading the book, 'Le loup mon œil' [The wolf, I doubt it!] by Susan Meddaugh in their reading class.

Cet album s'agit d'un cochon qui se perd en essayant de rentrer à la maison. Il est attrapé par un loup, qui a envie de le manger en soupe. Heureusement, notre cochon est astucieux. Il invente une histoire : sa mère connait la meilleure recette de soupe, et il peut la lui enseigner. Donc, le cochon convainc le loup d’accomplir quatre tâches très difficiles pour rassembler les ingrédients. Il se fait mal à chaque fois. La dernière tâche était de ramasser des trèfles au milieu du lierre toxique, ce qui fait que le loup se gratte beaucoup. Le cochon explique au loup que s'il le libère, il arrêtera 'son sortilège,' appelé 'Le loup mon œil.' Finalement, le cochon s'échappe.

This book is about a pig who gets lost trying to return home. She is caught by a wolf who wants to eat her in a soup. Fortunately, our pig is clever. She makes up a story - that her mother knows the best soup recipe, and that she can explain it to the wolf. So the pig convinces the wolf to do four unbearable tasks to collect the ingredients. He gets hurt or in trouble each time. The last task was to collect clovers that were in the middle of poison ivy, which caused the wolf to scratch himself quite a bit. The pig explains that if the wolf lets her go, she will stop "her spell," called "The wolf, my eye!" She escapes at the end. 

Les élèves ont mélangé la farine avec du lait et d’autres ingrédients pour faire une pâte. Ils ont découpé le visage de leurs cochons dans cette pâte. Puis, avec le reste de la pâte, ils ont formé les jambes, les oreilles et les nez.

The students mixed flour with milk and other ingredients to make a dough. They cut out the face of their pig from this dough. Then, with the remaining dough they shaped the legs, the ears, and the nose of their pig.

Ils ont ensuite mélangé la sauce aux petits-pois avec des carottes. Après avoir versé ce mélange dans une tasse, ils ont mis dessus les visages des cochons. Les élèves ont ajouté des détails: le nez, les oreilles, les jambes. Emilia a cuit les tourtes une fois que les enfants ont eu terminé. Chacun a reçu son propre cochon à la fin de la journée, prêt à être mangé!

Following that, they mixed the pea sauce with carrots. After having poured the mixture into a cup, they put the faces on top. The students added many details: the nose, the ears, the legs. Emilia cooked the pot pies when the students finished. Everyone went home with their own pig at the end of the day, ready to eat!

Les plantes

2011-10-19T10:18:00.000-04:00

In Science class, we are currently studying how plants change and adapt throughout the seasons. Therefore, we are learning about trees, annuals and perennials. Besides other experiments, we did also plant some tulips for spring color.

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-10-17T15:22:00.000-04:00

Party on Mt. Olympus

2011-10-06T10:34:00.009-04:00

Artemis

Zeus

Poseidon

Aphrodite

Athena

Apollo

Zeus

Bard

Hermes

Ares

Demeter

Many Gods and Goddesses gathered at the end of our unit on Greek Mythology to celebrate with a party on Mt. Olympus.
Our school chef helped the students prepare food fit for the gods, including ambrosia, nectar, fruits, pitas, hummus, and shish kebabs. While enjoying the feast, they shared stories about themselves and their many adventures.
In attendance were Artemis, Apollo, Zeus, Demeter, Ares, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Athena, and Hermes, as well as storytellers from the past.

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-10-03T10:17:00.001-04:00

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-09-23T16:08:00.001-04:00

La démarche scientifique

2011-09-23T11:09:00.005-04:00

Observation

Hypothèse

Expérimentation

Traitement des résultats

Conclusion

9-11 Memorial Monument

2011-09-22T12:08:00.014-04:00

Students of l'Ecole Française du Maine interviewed Douglas Piehl of Freeport Services who designed and crafted Freeport's 9-11 Memorial monument. The replica of the twin towers is made of two 8-foot long steel beams recovered from the elevator shaft of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Senator Susan Collins dedicated the monument on Sept 11, 2011 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The two beams were donated to the Town of Freeport by the Masonic Lodge of Freeport which coordinated with the Deparment of Homeland Security and the National Guard to have the beams delivered from New York City to Maine. All the work and efforts were donated by Freeport Services and others involved.

Doug Piehl explains how the steel beams were cut using an oxygen torch.

Dedication ceremony - Courtesy: Photo: Paul Cunningham / For The Forecaster

Merci beaucoup!

2011-09-22T10:06:00.004-04:00

Many thanks to the Parents' Association for decorating the school with beautiful fall decorations. The mums, corn stalks and pumpkins really give the school a welcoming look. Stephanie and Caryn went out to purchase the decorations and were joined by several parents who pitched in to help decorate on Monday afternoon. Thanks to all for your help and for this visible display of support for the school. Thanks also to Aaron who watched children on the playground while parents volunteered. This type of community effort is what makes our school such a special place. Merci beaucoup!

Clichés Instantanés de l'école

2011-09-22T08:31:00.002-04:00

Merci madame Sweetser

Art Class

Soccer Clinique

La Chorale des petits

Group discussion

Let's take a break!

English Class discussion

String Ensemble

Monkeys invading Winslow Park

Les petits Chefs

Les loups

2011-09-19T13:11:00.007-04:00

Yassine reads us stories about wolves. So, to discover a European artist (Netherlands), we have composed wolves in the Mondrian style. Look at our beautiful paintings on display in the school hallway!

After School Music and Crafts with Amélie

2011-09-19T12:33:00.003-04:00

We have fun learning about rhythm and music with Amélie in the after-school club on Monday afternoons. Amélie plays music for us and we tap to keep the beat. We discover all sorts of percussion instruments and we repeat rhythms with the various instruments. Towards to end of the club sessions, we will be making our own instruments. If you would like to join the fun, it's not too late, just stop by the office and sign up!

Ciné-Club: Astérix Mission Cléopâtre

2011-09-19T11:45:00.007-04:00

Please join us Wednesday, September 21 at L'Ecole Française du Maine for our first Ciné-club of the year. This is an opportunity to socialize in French and English and see a great French movie.
All films are in French with English subtitles.

6:30 PM: Conversation, food and drinks
7:00 PM: Start of the film
After the film: Discussion and exchange of feelings and thoughts
(Donations are appreciated)

Here is more information on this week's movie: Astérix Mission Cléopâtre
Movie by Alain CHABAT, 2002, comedy, 1h47, with Christian CLAVIER, Gérard DEPARDIEU, Alain CHABAT, Monica BELLUCCI…

Synopsis: Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, decides to build a huge, sumptuous palace in the middle of the desert for Julius Caesar, the head of the Roman Empire, to prove the supremacy of her society over his own. If she completes the task within three months, Caesar has to admit in public that the Egyptians are the greatest of all the people in the world.
Cleopatra calls upon the help of Edifis, an enthusiastic, energetic architect, to help her secure victory. If successful he will be covered in gold, but if not, his fate will be in the hands of hungry crocodiles. Edifis, aware of the great cost of defeat, enlists the help of his old friend Panoramix, the Druid, who travels to Egypt under the protection of Asterix and Obelix.
However, things aren't going to be so simple. Not only does Caesar intervene to avoid public humiliation, but when Cleopatra's official architect Amonbofis gets wind of the fact that Edifis has been chosen in favor of him to complete the task, he will do whatever it takes to foil his competitor.

Pique-nique a Winslow Park

2011-09-19T11:41:00.002-04:00

Mardi 13 septembre, nous avons profite d'une belle journée pour nous rendre au Parc Winslow. Au menu: jeux, photos de classe et pique-nique.
Nous sommes partis vers 10h.
On Tuesday, September 13 we took advantage of a beautiful day to go to Winslow Park. On the menu: games, class photos and a picnic. We left at 10AM.

Les enfants ont crié de joie en arrivant!
Nous nous sommes tout de suite mis à jouer à un jeu d'adresse en équipe.
The children were very happy to be there! We started playing team games immediately.

Nous avons également profité de l'aire de jeux.

We also enjoyed all the playground equipment at the park.

Nous avons attendu notre tour pour prendre une superbe photo de classe avec l'océan en arrière-plan!
We waited our turn to take a beautiful class photo with the ocean in the background!

Nous sommes ensuite allés déjeuner: hot-dog, limonade et gigantesque gâteau! Les parents étaient invités à nous rejoindre. Nous avons passé un agréable moment tous ensemble. Merci pour votre bonne humeur!

Then we had lunch: hot dogs, lemonade and a gigantic cake! The parents were invited to join us. We had a good time together. Thank you for all of your positive energy!

Le papa de Daphne joue au monstre! Il a eu un succès énorme!

Daphne's dad is playing monster! He was very popular!

Nous sommes ensuite rentrés vers 13h30, pour travailler un peu en cette journée!

Then we went back to school at 1:30PM to work a little!

Vive la rentrée!

2011-09-19T11:37:00.003-04:00

Après deux mois et demi de vacances, tous les enfants, les nouveaux comme les anciens, avaient hâte de se retrouver à l'école.
C'était un jour pluvieux mais heureux!
After two and a half months of vacation all the children, new and returning, were happy to be back at school.
It was a rainy day, but a happy day!

Les GS découvrent leur nouvelle salle de classe.
The Kindergartners are discovering their new classroom.

Lors du délicieux déjeuner préparé par Chef Emilia, nous avons pu fêter le premier anniversaire de la classe!
During the delicious lunch prepared by Chef Emilia, we celebrated the first birthday of this class!

De retour en classe, les enfants sont plongés dans le projet annuel de notre classe, qui est une invitation à la découverte du monde!
Back in the classroom, the children are concentrating on our yearly class project: an invitation to discover the world!

La rentrée des Petites et Moyennes Sections

2011-09-19T10:17:00.009-04:00

The Preschool class had a very busy and happy start of the year!
We have been coming to school for a week and a half now and we have done a lot already. We made new friends, played outside during recess, created beautiful artwork, baked delicious cookies, read books, and worked very hard... in French of course! It is a lot of fun.

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-09-16T17:00:00.004-04:00

2011-09-15T16:49:00.003-04:00

If you would like to have beautiful books in French at home, the book club offered by L'Ecole des Loisirs is a wonderful opportunity. There are books for all ages and you can sign up through the school. Your child will receive a book every month from November through June. Participation in this club also helps us build our school library, as we receive one subscription for the school for 8 children enrolled. There are samples and order forms available in the office, and Elodie can answer your questions about this opportunity. Bonne lecture!!

South Freeport Church Flea Market & BBQ Dinner

2011-09-13T20:01:00.007-04:00

South Freeport Church Fall Festival is on Saturday, September 24. Pick up great bargains at the annual flea market from 8 am to 3 pm. Don't miss the BBQ dinner from 5 to 7:30 pm, presented by the Riverfront Barbeque & Grille restaurant in Augusta. The buffet menu includes slow smoked pulled pork, hardwood grilled chicken on the bone, smoked St. Louis ribs, BBQ beans, crispy cole slaw, jalapeno cornbread, apple crisp, gingerbread and drinks. Tickets for dinner are $15 in advance for adults ($18 at the door) and $5 for children. Call the church office at 865-4012 for tickets.

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-09-12T08:01:00.001-04:00

Au menu cette semaine:

2011-09-05T22:28:00.001-04:00

Bienvenue à Daria Betts

2011-09-05T22:06:00.002-04:00

It is our great pleasure to introduce Daria A. Betts to you. “Dasha” will be assisting Yassine in the K-1 classroom. Dasha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Teaching, Department of Romance Languages from Voronezh State University - Voronezh, Russia, and Masters of Science in Education: MTL and Applied Literacy from the University of Southern Maine, ETEP/ Extended Teacher Education Program. She is a K-12 certified teacher through the State of Maine. In addition to her Maine teaching certification, Dasha holds a DALF diploma, (Diplôme Approfondi de la Langue Française), Advanced French Language Diploma, certified by the French Ministry of Education.

Originally from Russia, Dasha now lives in Monmouth with her husband and their 18 months old daughter Amelia. As it is the classroom project this year to take the children on an educational trip around the world, Dasha will be able to enrich that project with her personal experiences of growing up in Russia. Dasha’s teaching experience is extensive and varied, having taught French as an intern at Freeport High School and as a full time teacher at Boothbay High School in Maine, as well as teaching both English and French in many situations in Russia.
Dasha is a talented artist and holds an Honor Certificate from the Voronezh Youth Fine Arts School. She enjoys painting, ceramics and drawing. She also enjoys piano, choral singing, rhythmic gymnastics and choreography. As a camp counselor both in Maine and in Russia, Dasha has shared these artistic interests with children of all ages. Dasha is looking forward to the experience of working with young children in a total French immersion environment, and we are thrilled to welcome her into the school.

Bienvenue à Jean-François Fouque

2011-08-14T08:06:00.024-04:00

Jean-François Fouque (2nd and 3rd grade teacher) comes from Saint Christol d'Albion, a pitoresque little town situated on the high plateau of Albion near the mountain ranges of Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux near the Luberon Regional Park in Provence. This area of Vaucluse, rich in culture and history is famous for its lavender fields.

After graduating as a Biology and Mathematics major from Lycée Paul Cézanne in Aix-en-provence, Jean-François completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Provence. Jean-François soon realized he particularly enjoyed working with young children while working at various summer camps. After serving as a Corporal in the French Marine Artillery Regiment for his military service, he decided to pursue his teaching certification and joined the teaching Training Program of Aix en Provence (Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres of Aix en Provence). Jean-François has been teaching all grade levels throughout the provence region, often in rural settings. He is particularly experienced with multilevel classrooms, his last teaching position was a combined 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade. Jean-François enjoys hiking and cycling through the inviting landscapes of Mont Sainte Victoire in provence, famous through Cezanne's paintings. He loves rugby and is known for his outstanding "omelette aux herbes de provence". His love of traveling and teaching are bringing him to l'Ecole Française du Maine, where he can combine his interests and share his experiences with the CE1-CE2 students.

Bienvenue à Amelie Le Gall

2011-08-09T14:58:00.013-04:00

Amelie Le Gall (Preschool Teacher / Professeur des ecoles) comes from Saint-Paul de Vence in the beloved Mediterranean Provence Region of France. Amelie is a Renaissance Woman with an advanced degree in mathematics and a passion for classical piano. After studying mathematics at the University of Nice, she graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences while pursuing her education in piano and musical theory at the Cagnes Sur Mer Music Conservatory.

Amelie then decided to join the Institut Universitaire de Formation de Maitres de Draguignan (Teacher Training Program) to become a preschool and an elementary school teacher. She happily taught for six years in various classroom levels from preschool through 5th grade throughout the provence region. Amelie has a preference and fondness for the petite and moyenne section levels (preK). She has created countless innovative activities to help the little ones grasp new concepts and learn socialization skills. Interestingly, she uses puppets to model desired behaviors to her students, particularly, her favorite puppet, "Souris", a little mouse of her own creation who is an active participant in the the daily life of her classroom. "Souris" interacts with the children, assists Amelie in and telling stories, and gives the children another avenue through which to express themselves. Amelie finds that using puppets helps break through to some children and that they can open up to puppets in a manner different than they do with people. Her students are also fond of her musical activities. In France, Amelie volunteered her time in after school programs by offering musical education to young children. L'Ecole Française du Maine is thrilled to welcome Amelie to its faculty.

Amelie, teaching a song to the children of L'Ecole Française du Maine during her visit to the school in March, 2011.

Bienvenue à Yassine Merchi and Philomène Rossini

2011-08-07T09:18:00.024-04:00

Yassine Merchi (Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher) comes to Maine from the Joseph Haydn School in Immendingen, Germany where he has taught preschool/kindergarten for the past two years. Originally from Northern France, he has been teaching for the French Ministry of Education in the Metz region for the past seven years. After a math/science Baccalauréat Yassine studied History and Geography at the University of Metz, and joined the Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres (Teacher’s Training Program) to teach younger children, and he became a certified teacher.

For the first few years of his career, Yassine taught all elementary levels and he was an intern at the Staatliche Europa Schule European School in Berlin, Germany. He is particularly interested in innovative technology, history and visual arts. Yassine has developed computerized games to help students with phonological concepts: some of them can be used on Yassine's blog which compiles innovative activities and art work of Kindergarten students from the Joseph Haydn School in Immendingen, Germany.

Yassine has travelled extensively, mixing family time and academic research. He is a cyclist and an accomplished table tennis player (French National level) and was a certified official referee for that sport. Yassine and his wife Philomène are thrilled to bring their passion for teaching to L’Ecole Française du Maine.

Philomène Rossini (Assistant Teacher) comes from Metz, capital of the Lorraine region at the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg. After earning her Baccalauréat Degree (French High School Equivalent), she went on to complete a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Metz, majoring in European History. Philomène has taught in preschool and elementary schools throughout the Lorraine Region; She also taught high school history and helped her students prepare presentations on the role of women during the French Revolution.

She has a strong interest in children's literature and has been involved in various school libraries (Bibliothèque Centre Documentaire d'école -BCD), offering workshops and activities using books and innovative technologies to engage students in preschools and elementary schools.
Her interest in education and history of art were further reinforced by her extensive travels with her family (Paris, Rome, Venise, Prague, Austria and Germany). She is an avid runner and practices hiking throughout the Alps and the Pyrennees. Philomène loves to read, cinema and she is quite a decent cook!

Summer reading and activities

2011-08-04T15:24:00.006-04:00

Kindergarten and First Grade:
Collections Petit Tandem and Premières Lectures - Edition NATHAN

2nd grade:
L'île aux pirates by A. Almeras - Edition Bayard Jeunesse
Hors jeu by R. Godel - Edition Bayard Jeunesse
Le Roi de la bibliothèque by M. Knudsen - Edition Grund
Entre chat et chien by E. Battut - Edition Autrement jeunesse
Petite poupée s'en va-t'en guerre by J. Hoestland - Edition Hatier Facettes
Comment devenir un prince charmant en 10 jours by D. Levy - Edition L'Ecole des Loisirs
Pierrot ou les secrets de la nuit by M. TOURNIER - Edition Folio cadet / Gallimard Jeunesse
La montagne aux trois questions by B. Béatrice - Edition Albin Michel Jeunesse
Charlie et la chocolaterie by R. Dahl - Edition Gallimard Jeunesse

3rd grade:
Comment devenir parfait en 3 jours by S. Manes - Edition Rageot
Histoires minutes by B. Friot - Edition Milan
Journal d'un chat assassin by A. Fine - Edition L'Ecole des Loisirs
Les doigts rouges by M. Villard - Edition Syros
Le hollandais sans peine by M.A. Murail - Edition L'Ecole des Loisirs
John Chatterton détective by Y. Pommeaux - Edition L'Ecole des Loisirs
La belle lisse poire du prince de Motordu by Pef - Edition Gallimard
Marie et le chat sauvage by J. Chessex - Edition Grasset
Okilélé by C. Ponti - Edition L'école des loisirs
Qui a tué Minoubonbon ? by J. Périgot - Edition Syros

Comics:
Yakari - Edition Le Lombard; Marion Duval - Edition Bayard jeunesse
Astérix - Edition Hachette/Albert René
Tintin - Edition Herge
Papyrus - Edition Dupuis
Johan et Pirlouit - Edition Dupuis / Le Lombard

4th grade:
La vallée des dinosaures, Mary Pope OSBORNE
La petite poule qui voulait voir la mer, Christian JOLIBOIS
Fantastique Maître Renard, Roald DAHL
Fifi Brindacier, Astrid LINDGREN
Mademoiselle Zazie et la robe de Max, Thierry LEVAIN

5th/6th grade:
La Sixième, Susie MORGENSTERN
Caïus et le gladiateur, Henri Winterfeld
La Bibliothécaire, Gudule
Théo et l’Enigme des diamants, Didier LETERQ
Blart : Chroniques d’un crétin trouillard qui devait sauver le monde, Dominic BARKER

Website with math excercices for students in elementary grades:
Choisissez un pseudonyme et cliquez sur "Connexion"
==> Pick a username and click "Connexion"

French Camping Retreat - September 16-18

2011-08-01T15:04:00.000-04:00

From Friday, September 16, at 5:00 pm, until 10:00 am on Sunday, September 18, French-language enthusiasts will gather for Le Français au bord de la mer, at Blueberry Cove Camp, in Tenants Harbor, for what promises to be a fun, action-packed learning experience, lived entirely in French. Penobscot School in Rockland and French at UMA are co-sponsoring this French immersion weekend for high school juniors and seniors and college students who have studied French for at least two years; French teachers who would like a refresher; and adults with an intermediate level of spoken French. Activities will include games, a treasure hunt (including beach-combing), discussions about contemporary issues, poetry-writing, sports, singing around the campfire, and many other fun things, using French at all times. There is a big lodge where participants will prepare and share authentic meals together, using local, organic ingredients wherever possible. Accommodations at Blueberry Cove Camp are very rustic. The cabins have bunk beds; most have no heat source and no electricity or running water. There are flush toilets and hot showers, just not in most of the cabins. Says Schulz, “C’est le camping en français!"

Tuition for the week end is $105 for full-time students and $145 for adults, Please inquire for group discounts; CEUs available for teachers

To Register click here

L'Ecole is ready

2011-08-01T12:27:00.000-04:00

The school is ready for a new school year to start!

L'Ecole has been entirely painted (outside and inside) with new furniture, new white boards, new computers and all materials and supplies have arrived from France after sailing safely across the Atlantic. A special thanks to Adrianna Ulery for her beautiful mural of "Van Gogh's Starry Night" now adorning the boys' bathroom.
She did a beautiful job!!
Merci Annie for sharing your artistic talents with the school!

Les mercredis Ciné - Upcoming Films

2011-08-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

Come enjoy an evening filled with snacks and drinks, the opportunity to socialize in French and English and see a great French movie. All films are in French with English subtitles.

(Donations are appreciated.)
6.30pm: Conversation, food and drinks
7.00pm: start of the film
After the film : discussion and exchange of feelings and thoughts

September 21 : Astérix Mission Cléopâtre de Alain CHABAT

October 19 : La Fille coupée en Deux de Claude CHABROL

November 9 : Ponette de Jacques DOILLON

December 14 : Le Concert de Radu MIHAILEANU

January 18 : Roman de Gare de Claude LELOUCH

February 15 : Séraphine de Martin PROVOST

March 21 : Crime d’Amour de Alain CORNEAU

April 25 : Oss 117 de Michel HAZANAVICIUS

May 16 : Les Petits Mouchoirs de Guillaume CANET

June 20 : Potiche de François OZON

Tahitian Luau and school Graduation- June 2011

2011-07-31T10:13:00.000-04:00

The end of the year graduation celebration was a huge success, thanks to all of the teachers, students and staff who contributed to the program. The students created and performed skits, the chorus sang French songs, students recited poems, delivered moving speeches, played band music, and received certificates and awards.

After the graduation ceremony, the festivities began! Emilia, the school's chef, prepared a luau-themed lunch for all to enjoy, including a pièce montée dessert in the shape of the Eiffel Tower: simply delicious and beautiful! Entertainment was provided as a magician performed in the school's playground, mesmerizing the children and getting many laughs. It was a wonderful closure to the school year, to be surrounded by the friends and families of the school in celebration of the children and their accomplishments.

Bonne vacances a tous!

Poetry Café

2011-07-28T11:39:00.001-04:00

The Poetry Cafe of l'Ecole Francaise du Maine met after lunch time this week in the 4-5-6 grade class. English Language Arts Teacher, Bonnie Hannigan, treated her students with delicious snacks and drinks. Each student read aloud his/her compositions of quatrain, cinquain, alexandrain, Haiku and/or limerick to their poetry enthusiast classmates. The atmosphere at the Cafe is joyful, busy, brilliant and contemplative; you can sit and laugh while nursing a juice and a brownie. The class hosted an 8th grade poet who came to share her original writings. Parents are welcome to attend the next reading session.

2011-07-20T14:43:00.000-04:00

Merrill Auditorium, Portland, July 28, 2011, 7:30 pm
Pre-performance lecture by company dramaturg
Calien Lewis one hour before the show

An opera filled with sensory pleasures, The Daughter of the Regiment is the sophisticated story of a young girl raised by a regiment in Napoleon’s army. It’s an opera filled with improbable and hilarious situations as it spins the charming love story of the “daughter” meeting her first lover. One of the outstanding examples of the bel canto (beautiful song) repertoire, the opera features many brilliant arias and ensembles, including the famous tenor aria with nine high Cs.
An evening of musical entertainment you won't forget!

Ashley Emerson grew up in Bangor, Maine. She got the opera “bug” singing in the PORTopera chorus of Lucia di Lammermoor in 2003. She enrolled in the USM School of Music and was selected to be a PORTopera Young Artist and appeared in other PORTopera productions. She then entered and won the important Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition and was immediately invited to the prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Program of the Metropolitan Opera. She has subsequently sung at the Met, Seattle Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, and others and will debut in the title role in The Daughter of the Regiment at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in May and June.

Le défi lecture

2011-06-14T11:10:00.003-04:00

Last week, after a few months adventure, the 4 groups of children met for the final questions and exercises on the three books they had to read for the défi lecture. The three books were Le Chevalier qui cherchait ses chaussettes de C. Oster, Le Jardin de Max et Gardénia de F. Bernard et Le mystère de la chambre jaune de G. Leroux.
The students took a few meeting sessions to solely read the books and then started to work on different activities, based on reading activities they had encountered before : questions, true/false, actions to put back in order. We kept the last session to guide them and help them build more substantial activities.
For about an hour and a half last Monday morning, they worked very hard in teams to answer all the questions and did a fantastic job.
Congratulations to all of them for such a tremendous défi lecture and especially to the winning team!
We are excited to start it again next September !

Normandy Day

2011-06-10T15:19:00.000-04:00

Students attended Normandy Day International Picnic at Winslow Park. The event was well attended, friendly, festive and convivial The objective was for our students to kindle and strengthen the memory of June 6th, 1944 and celebrate freedom, peace and democracy while sharing a picnic at the beach. The school chef Emilia prepared a French Flavored lunch with Pan Bagna, Piemontaise salad and cascading watermelon. Following this delicious meal, students enjoyed games planned and coordinated by teachers. In class, students discussed the values that characterized D-Day : courage, determination, cooperation, honor and ambition. Special thanks to Jeremy and Hal who helped decorate the shelter and to the Winslow Park staff for their help and support. L'Ecole Francaise du Maine was the first American school to officially participate in this event and partner with Normandy Day organization in France which provided the school with the official table cloths.This year marks the 67^th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, which was the major turning point of WWII in Europe. Early in the morning of June 6, 1944, the largest military operation in history began as 135,000 Allied soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy, to begin the liberation of Europe, and change the course of history. With Normandy Day, l'Ecole Française du Maine expressed its gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifice of so many for today's freedom.

Les Petits Chefs

2011-06-10T12:36:00.012-04:00

This semester, School Chef Emilia started an after-school club " Les Petits Chefs" which has become very popular. As parents noticed, not only do students learn about table etiquette, good nutrition and dietary choices, they also learn how to prepare their favorite dishes. Students can take their delicious creations home or sometimes even eat them directly following the activities. A special thanks to Adrianna, Emily and Miriam who helped supervise the cooking classes.

University of Bourgogne at Dijon-France

2011-06-10T11:27:00.009-04:00

L'Ecole Française du Maine has partnered with the Teacher Training Institute (IUFM) of University of Bourgogne at Dijon, France. This year, the school was glad to welcome four intern teachers looking to complete their student teaching experiences. After four weeks spent in Maine, graduate students Aurore Blouet and Aline Michelin went back to Dijon, to the dissapointment of all the children. We wish them good luck with their studies and futures.
A special thanks are extended to the host families who graciously and generously opened their homes and who made this exchange possible.

Mountain Bike Trip

2011-06-10T11:25:00.012-04:00

Students loaded their bikes onto the trailer especially built by Thornton Ring, and headed to Recompence Shore for mountain bike activities planned by Didier and Valerie. A special thanks to James DeGrandpre, Manager of the campground at Recompence Shore near Wolfe's Neck farm. Students enjoyed the games and the long loops following the sea shores. Great vistas and a lot of fun!

Les chansons de la chorale

2011-06-10T10:42:00.007-04:00

Music is a very important part of the school life at L'Ecole Française du Maine. All the children have music lessons and most of them learn to play an instrument. All the children also sing in the 'Chorales'. La chorale des petits is made of the Pre-K & K-1 classes, and the students of grades 2-3-4-5-6 sing in La chorale des grands.
Peter Nenortas of Satronen Sound professionally recorded both chorales on May 26 and compiled their performance in a wonderful CD. It features songs learned this year:

An ideal gift and a great souvenir of our students' musical achievement.
To order a copy: 207-865-3308 or info@efdm.org
Here is an extract of the CD: