Geology field trip to Winslow Park for the 7th graders

Photos by Warren Miskell

Suzuki guitar graduations


Congratulations to Chloe (Book 2), Colin (Book 2) and Maille-Mac (Book 1) 
for such an accomplishment. Nathan Kolosko 's Guitar Studio had an amazing year
 with steady progress.



It is not too late to register for NESI (New-England Suzuki Institute) where 
Nathan will be leading numerous workshop from June 27th to July 3rd, 2010
http://www.newenglandsuzukiinstitute.org/
The New England Suzuki Institute at Saint Joseph’s College, on Sebago Lake in Standish, is open to students of violin, viola, cello, piano and guitar and their parents who work with a Suzuki teacher and study the Suzuki repertoire. Traditional students of piano and guitar are also welcome, and traditionally trained teens may participate in the Young Artist Program. Daily offerings include the core curriculum, enrichment classes, recitals, parent classes and recreation. In addition, we offer two opportunities for Teacher Education: ‘Every Child Can!© An Introduction to Suzuki Education’ and Violin Teacher Training Unit 3. NESI is committed to offering a comprehensive and quality curriculum for all ages in an atmosphere of individual attention.

Erika and Katie at L'Ecole Française du Maine

Erika and I have been working at L’Ecole Française du Maine for a little over three weeks. Here is what they have to say about the experience:

It has been quite the experience. The children have taught me more than what I expected. I have learned to laugh at myself when I am with the kids, and I hope they have learned something from me in return. They have accepted two brand new strangers with open arms, which to me shows strong character that each and every one of them possesses. - Katie

My time here at L’Ecole Française has been eye opening. The children never cease to amaze me with their abilities. Through my interactions with the kids, my understanding of French has improved. I have learned more from them than I thought was possible. The students and teachers have been accepting and helpful in my attempt to learn French. I am grateful that I was given the chance to come to L’Ecole Française, and I look forward to coming back to visit. - Erika

Citation

Photo Warren Miskell

“To have another language is to possess a second soul.”
Charlemagne

Gala FACCNE

Ambassador of France to the United States Mr. Pierre Vimont
, Beth and Willy
, Mr. Maurice Gervais, President of the French American Chamber of Commerce in Boston


Consul General of France in Boston Mr. Christophe Guilhou
, Ambassador of France to the United States Mr. Pierre Vimont
, Beth and Willy
, Mr. Maurice Gervais, President of the French American Chamber of Commerce in Boston



Honorary Consul of France in Maine Mr. Severin Beliveau
, Beth and Mrs. Cynthia Beliveau

Every year, the FACCNE hosts the Business Award Dinner to honor a company who has demonstrated an exemplary contribution to the French-American business relationship. This year, the FACCNE honored the Chairman, President and CEO of Charles River, Mr. James C. Foster.



There was several notable guests at this dinner, such as the French Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Pierre Vimont. Also present was the Consul General, Mr. Christophe Guilhou and the president of the FACCNE, Mr. Maurice Gervais, along with the Secretary for Housing and Economic Development for the State of Massachussetts, Mr. Gregory Bialecki.



This formal event was attended by 200 guests, including CEOs and senior-level executives representing French, American and other nationalities. Other confirmed sponsors for this year's gala included Air France, Arnold, Natixis Global Asset Management, Idenix, Dassault Systemes, Essilor, and Vacovec Mayotte & Singer.

Putting a Precocious Palate to Work

Photo by ROBIN FINN - New York Times

Please use the following link to view an article in the New York Times about Pascaline LePeltier, wine director at Rouge Tomate in New York: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/nyregion/03entry.html?ref=nyregion
Pascaline is a friend of Elodie Le Nezet-Soule and we hope to invite her in Freeport next year for a wine tasting.

Enregistrement de la chorale

Tuesday May 18 was an important day for the little singers of L'Ecole Française du Maine.
After a year of hard work and many beautiful performances, it was time to record a CD.
Satronen Sound came to school that morning, and we created our very own recording studio in the Community Hall of South Freeport. We started with La chorale des petits (Pre-K through Grade 1) who were then joined by La chorale des grands (Grade 2 through 7) to record one song together: La Mère Michel. La chorale des grands then proceeded to record their 2009-2010 repertoire.

You can click on the videos above for a sneak peak of their beautiful job.
The CDs will be available shortly ($10). Please call the school at (207) 865 3308 if you would like to receive a copy.

CJ Sweets

Does your child have a birthday coming up?, or are you planning a get-together sometime soon? Don't stress about the dessert- these school moms have got you covered! Just give Caryn and Jessica a call and they will put their creativity to work. They will design a cake or other dessert to your liking, and it will almost be too pretty to eat! We all got to see (and taste...yum!) samples of their talents at the school's concert in the park this weekend, and we couldn't resist sharing this delicious news with you. We wish Caryn and Jessica all the best with their new venture, CJ Sweets!

Citation:

photo: Casco Bay at Winslow Park by Warren Miskell

"A different language is a different vision of life."

Federico Fellini, Italian movie director (1920 -1993)

France Dionne, Quebec Delegate at l'Ecole Française du Maine

On May, 25, 2010 France Dionne visited each classroom of l'Ecole Française du Maine;
Ms. Dionne, from the Kamouraska region, has been the delegate of Quebec in Boston since 2004.
She conversed in French with our students about the visit last March of the planetarium ASTER.
Students also shared their experience at l'Ecole. Ms. Dionne will work with Willy to supplement the school library.

From 1985 to 1997, Ms. Dionne was a member of the Quebec National Assembly as well as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology of Quebec. Ms. Dionne’s experience also includes posts with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department, most notably at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva.

Heritage Hall Grand Opening Week

Programme de sciences à la ferme

The class of CE1/CE2/ CM1 (Grades 2/3/4) went on five field trips to Wolfe's Neck farm within the last three weeks.
The activities were designed to enrich the science curriculum on the study of living animals and plants.

The program was:
- What's up with waste ?
- How does the garden grow ?
- Healthy food from healthy soils.
- Doing it ourselves...
- Cycles and celebrations.

We did some real farm work, but we also played games, and we learned a lot by observing and experimenting. We are a lot more aware of the importance of healthy products grown on a farm, and that we need to respect ecosystems and our environment. It was a wonderful program and we were very exited and motivated to learn while having fun on the farm!

Les poussins des GS / CP

New Consul General of France makes visit to Maine

Severin Beliveau, left, Maine's honorary French consular, escorts Christophe Guilhou, France's new consul general. Courtesy photo

The Portland Press Herald - May 19 - By JULIANA L'HEUREUX

Supporting the French language and Franco-American culture were topics discussed by the new consul general of France during visits to Maine last week. Christophe Guilhou arrived at the consulate in Boston on Aug. 24.

Last week was Guilhou's first official visit to Maine, although he previously attended informal gatherings here. His schedule included meetings with Maine's Franco-Americans as well as French language educators, municipal officials and some representatives from the state's economic and business development programs.

Gov. John Baldacci welcomed Guilhou to Maine. A lunch was hosted with a delegation of state leaders at the Blaine House.

Maine's honorary French consular, Severin Beliveau of Hallowell, escorted Guilhou during his busy schedule.

Baldacci said Guilhou's visit supports Franco-American cultural creativity and the shared heritage of 35-40 percent of the state's population. He said protecting Franco-American culture and the French language is important for the large number of Maine people who claim at least some French-Canadian ancestry.

"We should all take pride in our family's ancestry," said Baldacci.

Guilhou spoke with leaders who want to improve the communications between various groups of Franco-Americans who live in southern Maine's cities and in northern Maine's French-Acadian towns. Cultural events like state festivals, language programs and educational seminars are generally organized independently of one another. Lewiston's Mayor Laurent Gilbert suggested a central cultural resource center.

"We might be able to create a cultural clearinghouse where Franco-Americans and others can find out what's going on in the culture, regardless of where they live," said Gilbert.

A morning reception May 11 at Thornton Academy in Saco introduced Guilhou to the school's faculty members and state and local municipal leaders. Headmaster Carl Stasio Jr. spoke about the secondary school's international boarding students. Thornton Academy is interested in reaching out to students in Western Europe, especially from France, said Stasio.

Guilhou, 48, was born in Lille, France. His diplomatic experiences include several posts representing France with the United Nations. He speaks French, English and Arabic. Before being consul general, he was a permanent representative of France to the U.N. in Geneva, Switzerland.

Boston's consulate office provides diplomatic services for French citizens living in the New England states, excluding Connecticut.

Additionally, Guilhou is hearing from Franco-Americans about how to protect their cultural heritage, especially learning and speaking French. He hopes to visit groups in Maine several times each year.

In Saco, Guilhou learned how people in Biddeford and Saco routinely spoke French in their workplaces, schools and businesses. English has replaced the Quebecois French commonly spoken.

Meanwhile, many families practice French traditions learned from their French-Canadian memeres and peperes.

University of Maine in Augusta French students told Guilhou about their Franco-American family members who won't speak French at home anymore. They were told they don't speak real French, said professor Chelsea Ray, who leads the UMA language studies. "They think people won't understand them," she said.

Guilhou responded by saying people who speak French with an accent should not worry about being understood. "Everybody has an accent," he said. In fact, where he grew up in Lille, the people are known by their particular accent. He hopes Franco-Americans will speak French at home and in their neighborhoods again.

Beliveau told students how appreciative French people are when they meet Americans who speak their language. "Our French-Canadian accent is not a problem for the French," Beliveau said.

Information about the consul general is available at www.consulfrance-boston.org.

Juliana L'Heureux can be contacted at: juliana@mainewriter.com

Concert in the park 2010

Help us raise money for our community playground. It's a family affair!

It's a free concert but donations are appreciated. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be sold.

22 May - Saturday 4PM-7PM
Rain Date: 23 May - Sunday 4PM-7PM

Location: L'Ecole Française du Maine
99 South Freeport Rd
South Freeport, Maine

French dignitary visits Franco Center in Lewiston

Christophe Guilhou, left, Consul General of France in Boston, chats with Raymond Lagueux, President of the board of the Franco-American Heritage Center, during a reception for the visiting French dignitary at the heritage center in Lewiston on Tuesday.- Jose Leiva/Sun Journal

By Rebekah Metzler, Staff Writer - Sun Journal - May 12, 2010 12:00 am

LEWISTON — Christophe Guilhou, Consul General of France in Boston, was honored with a small reception at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston on Tuesday afternoon.

Guilhou, who was recently appointed to his post, made stops in Biddeford and Saco before coming to Lewiston, and was set to visit Augusta and Freeport before ending his Maine trip.

During remarks made in French to the audience of about 20 people, Guilhou said he had served as a dignitary in other regions of the world and has always tried to learn a bit about the local culture.

When he was in Africa, for example, he learned some Swahili and Arabic, he said. The same policy goes now that he's in Boston.

"Vive la Red Sox!" he said, laughing.

Board members of the Franco-American Heritage Center were happy to show off the newly renovated facility to Guilhou and local guests.

“It's beautiful,” said Elizabeth LeBihan, of the L'Ecole Francaise du Maine in Freeport.

Ray Lagueux, president of the Franco-American Heritage Center, said he was proud of the investments made in the building.

“It is a gathering place that's functional and attractive,” he said.

Donald Christie, a Franco center board member, said the visit from Guilhou was meant to foster connections with the French government and enhance cultural opportunities at the Franco-American Heritage Center.

“Once you have these personal connections, it's easier to stay in touch,” Christie said.

Discussions about coordinating with Guihou's office to schedule visits of cultural performance artists and to develop local school programs promoting French culture have already begun, Christie said.

The event was coordinated by Severin Beliveau, who serves as Honorary Consul of France in Maine.

rmetzler@sunjournal.com

le supermarché

Tuesday, we went to Hannaford Supermarket in Yarmouth. Even if it's an unexpected place for a field trip, we had lots of fun and learned a lot. We went for a tour of the store looking for the three stars products (the healthiest ones); in the produce department, we ate a clementine. We also learned the most popular fruit in the USA is the banana and in the world, the mango. Then we went to the bakery where a baker showed us how she makes a flower out of frosting. Next, we visit the seafood and meat aisles; we touched a lobster and we got some stickers. Then we went into the ''secret place'' behind the store. There, we discovered what is going on behind the shopping. We even went into the ''chambre froide''. We left Hannaford with a bag of gifts and our teachers got a flower.

les petites et moyennes sections

Teddy bear clinic

Friday, we went to the Teddy bear clinic at Mid Coast Hospital. We had a good time. At the beginning, a lady read us a story about dental health. Then we went into a room where we met nurses who took care of our stuffed animals. They had a lot to do. Some of our teddies had injured their arms, legs, ears and even their noses. The nurses were great. One nurse explained how to fight pneumonia. Another nurse showed us some pictures of how it is to spend a few days at the hospital. She gave us gowns and masks. To finish, a nurse showed us some x-rays (of an arm, a bear who had swallowed a quarter, and a snake who ate two golf balls instead of eggs!). We learned a lot!

Les petites et les moyennes sections

Les petits à la ferme!

On Tuesday, we went to Wolfe’s Neck farm: we had lots of fun. We went for a walk in the woods. Jasmine explained how the woods wake up after the winter. Then, we went into the barn to see and touch the animals (goats, bunnies, chickens, etc.). We also had the opportunity to see newborn chickens. They were two weeks old.
To finish, we walked to the garden and Jasmine taught us what plants need to grow. Then, she helped us plant some peas. They are going to grow in the classroom and when they have grown enough we can plant them in the garden.

Les petites et moyennes sections.

Field trip to Wolfe's Neck farm

Photos by Warren Miskell

Le Mystère de la chambre jaune

Earlier this year, the students of 7th grade participated in a 'concours' on the French detective novel Le Mystère de la chambre jaune organized by the French consulate in Boston all through New England. The book was written by Gaston Leroux and published in 1907.
Our students read and studied the book through activities in class. They had the choice between three written assignments. Their papers were sent to Boston where a jury decided upon the best ones. The first prize was a trip to France and many other prizes.
I am very excited and pleased to announce that one of our students, Ellis, got a special prize. Félicitations to the winner and to all our 7th graders who worked very hard on this project and put their hearts into it. They all wrote wonderful papers…

Elodie LNS

Mathematics rally

This year the 3rd and 4th graders participated in a Math Rally, where they competed against other French Schools. We received a list with 16 Math Problems (number 1 easy – number 16 very difficult).
Together as a class, the 3rd and 4th graders were only allowed to solve 8 out of the 16 problems. It was not easy to decide which problems we would choose because we had to be sure to have the right answer in order not to lose points. We also had to decide where to play our two jokers. For these 2 problems we received double the amount of points or had to subtract double the amount of the points in case of a wrong answer.
The first part of the rally in February was very challenging because we were not used to solving logical problems like the ones given in the Math Rally. In addition, we did not quite find the right strategy while discussing amongst ourselves.
Luckily, in March after reflecting a lot, we played the second part of the Rally perfectly. We made no mistakes and were even able to solve the most difficult problems for which we played our jokers.
We are very proud to announce that we earned the silver medal in this contest, competing against other classes, even against classes with 5th graders!