EFDM School Store

For clothing items:
*If ordering 2XL or larger, add $2 to t-shirt price or $3 to sweatshirt, fleece or polo price
**Add $2 to each item ordered if requesting rush order
(we must have a minimum of 12 items to place an order at listed bulk prices)

For novelty items:

These are in stock currently and do not have to be ordered. If you choose to order these items via the order form instead of during school store hours, please make sure I have contact information to let you know when you can pick up the order from the office.

At the beginning of each school year, each child enrolled at EFDM will be given one screen printed t-shirt that will be required to be worn on field trips unless otherwise noted. If your child shows up on a field trip day without his/her t-shirt, one will be provided to your child (to be returned to the office at the end of the field trip) for a fee of $4.00. Also note that if your child's provided t-shirt is lost or damaged, you will be responsible for purchasing a replacement shirt for your child.

Product	Item #	Colors offered	Sizes		Price
Hats/Caps
6 panel twill baseball cap	A4007	dark royal, light pink, white, grey	One size		$18.00
Knit Cap, no cuff, 9" length	TNT	navy/cream, grey, royal	One size		$15.00
Fleece
Adult fleece vest	M985	black, hunter, true royal	S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL		$35.00
Youth full zip fleece	M990Y	black, hunter, true royal	Youth S, M, L, XL		$37.50
Ladies full zip fleece	M990W	black, hunter, true royal	S, M, L, XL, 2XL		$37.50
Mens full zip fleece	M990	black, hunter, true royal	S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL		$37.50
Sweatshirts
Toddler full zip hood sweatshirt	3346	heather, navy, pink, red	2T, 3T, 4T, 5/6		$25.00
Youth 50/50 midweight nublend full zip hood sweatshirt	993B	oxford, navy, pink, red, royal	S, M, L		$32.50
Ladies full zip hood sweatshirt, 2 sided-2 color fleece	9945	navy/cardinal purple, grass/carbon	S, M, L, XL		$65.00
Mens full zip hood sweatshirt, 2 sided-2color fleece	9997	sweat blue/carbon, grass/carbon	S, M, L, XL, 2XL		$65.00
Youth Pigment-dyed ringspun fleece crew	11561Y	periwinkle, poppy, willow	S, M, L		$25.00
Pigment-dyed ringspun boxy crew	1941	celery, denim, mocha, periwinkle, poppy, washed plum	S, M, L, XL, 2XL		$35.00
Polo shirts
Toddler polo	RS4600	light blue, navy, pink, red	2T, 3T, 4T, 5/6		$18.00
Youth 50/50 jersey polo	437Y	black, lt blue, pink, true navy, true red, true royal	S, M, L, XL		$18.00
Ladies 50/50 jersey vneck polo	337W	black, lt blue, pink, true navy, true red	S, M, L, XL, 2XL		$20.00
Mens 50/50 ultra blend jersey polo	G8800	black, lt blue, navy, red, royal, gold	S, M, L, XL, 2XL		$20.00
T-shirts
Toddler 100% ultra cotton tee	G2000P	white, lt blue, lt pink, navy, red, royal	2T, 3T, 4T		$8.00
Youth 100% ultra cotton tee	G2000B	white, jade dome, lt blue, lt pink,navy, red, royal	XS, X, M, L, XL		$8.00
Ladies 100% ultra cotton tee	G2000L	white, jade dome, lt blue, lt pink, navy, red, royal, violet, yellow haze	XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL		$8.00
100% ultra cotton tee	G2000	white, jade dome, lt blue, navy, red, royal, purple, gold, forest green	S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL		$8.00
Ladies organic scoop neck tee	AA6021	bark, coal, moss, mulberry, ocean	S, M, L, XL		$16.50
Organic PE tee	AA1973	brown, black, green, grey, navy	XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL		$20.00
Bags/Backpacks
100% cotton canvas book tote	HS008	royal, light blue, natural			$12.00
Pigment-Dyed raw edge messenger bag	1908	black, denim, khaki green, putty			$35.00
Backpack		royal			$30.00
Oxford Shirts
Boys short sleeve oxford shirt	E9003	white	Youth 5/6, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16, 18/20		$25.00
Boys long sleeve oxford shirt	E9002	white	Youth 5/6, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16, 18/20		$30.00
Girls short sleeve poplin blouse	E9007	white	Girls sizes 6/6X, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16, 18/20		$25.00
Girls long sleeve poplin blouse	E9006	white	Girls sizes 6/6X, 7/8, 10/12, 14/16, 18/20		$30.00
Novelty items
Berringer Classic Pen	42421	Sky blue/silver with black ink			$2.00
24 oz stainless fitness bottle	42594	Dark royal with white logo			$16.00
Coffee mug	40591	Almond with black foot and black rim			$11.50
Coffee/liquid tumbler	41193	Dark royal with stainless steel inside			$12.00
EFDM Car Cling window sticker	36514	Clear with teal letters			$4.00

Le Petit Nicolas

As you may know, Le Petit Nicolas is a very famous childrens' book, written by Goscinny and Sempé, known and adored by generations of French people.

It tells the story of little Nicolas, his life with his parents, his adventures at school with the teacher and his many friends. The children of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades have read and studied some of those adventures in class, both last year and this year. It then seemed very exciting to show them the film that was released in France last year.

The screening of the film was a big success among the children! Lots of laughter and discussion filled the air. Back to school the following week, we had little activities prepared for the students as a way for them to reinvest the information they had gathered. We had four groups composed with students from all levels. Each group had 30 minutes to answer questions, describe characters, discuss whether they enjoyed the film or not and explain why. We then all shared together. It was a great experience!

Concerts at Jewett

Yard sale fundraiser

Thanks for all the support we received for the yard sale on Saturday. It was a successful fundraiser for the school playground fund. Fortunately, it turned out we had a beautiful weekend for the sale! Thanks again for all your help and donated items! We are looking forward to another successful yard sale in the spring.

Sincerely,

Caryn Bickerstaff and Stephanie Bowden

Greek mythology

Fifth and Sixth grade students have been working hard in English class reading Greek mythology, researching, taking notes, reporting on Greek Gods, and creating their own myths. To celebrate the end of the unit, they invited the 4th graders to join them on Mount Olympus for ambrosia, nectar, and pomegranate juice.

Yard Sale Fundraiser!

Yard Sale Fundraiser at EFDM on Saturday 10/2/10 from 9am-2pm.
Come help us raise money for the school and the playground!

If interested in selling/donating, please contact us at efdmpa@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Citation:

“When love is deep, much can be accomplished”

Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

Turkish lunch

Merci beaucoup à Adil et Nil Yilmaz!

We had a special lunch at school today. Sophia's family had prepared a lunch from Turkey. We had Turkish meatballs (Koefta), Turkish fries, salad and rice pudding.

It was delicious! Merci!

La première semaine des GS/CP:

Dans notre classe nous avons huit chenilles. Nous nous en occupons bien.
(We have eight caterpillars in our classroom. We take good care of them)

Nous étions à Winslow Park. Nous avons joué et nous avons pique-niqué.
(We went to Winslow Park. We played and we had a picnic.)

Les GS apprennent à parler français.
(The Kindergartners are learning to speak French.)

Les CP travaillent à leur table. (The 1st graders are working at their desks.)

C'est l'heure du repas. (It's time for lunch!)

French at UMA

Calendar of Events

French Conversation Table
Wednesday, September 1st
4:15 - 5:15pm
UMA Honors Lounge

Film | Réveil: Waking Up French (2006)
Wednesday, September 8th
6:30 – 9:00 pm
Michael Klahr HHRC
Maine filmmaker Ben Levine’s documentary explores the stigma of language loss faced by Maine’s Franco-American communities. Witness the story of Maine’s French heritage from Canadian immigration through persecution by the Klu Klux Klan to the cultural renaissance of today.

Lecture | The Destiny of New England's Franco-Americans
Wednesday September 15th
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Michael Klahr HHRC
Presenter: Eric Waddell – Professor of Geography, Laval University

Roundtable | Melting Pot or Salad? The Hidden Cost of Assimilation
Wednesday, September 22nd
7:00 - 9:00pm
Who are the true Mainers? And who is from away? Join us for an open community discussion.

Field Trip
Saturday, September 25th
8 a.m.
Embarking from the Forks on the Kennebec River, explore the history of the Canada Road on foot with Franco-American scholar Barry Rodrigue

Film | The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Wednesday, September 29th
6:30 - 9:00pm
An epic adventure and passionate romance set in the Colonial America of 1757, during the brutal conflict between the British, French, Scots-Irish, and Native
Americans. Stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe.

Please click here for more events.

Ciné-Club: Les MERCREDI CINÉ

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
(Donations are appreciated)

Upcoming Films in 2010/2011

September 22: Le Petit Nicolas de Laurent TIRARD
. . . . . .
October 20: Le Souffle au coeur de Louis MALLE
. . . . . .
November 17: Pierrot le Fou de Jean-Luc GODARD
. . . . . .
December 15: Ma Nuit chez Maud de Eric ROHMER
. . . . . .
January 19: Après Vous de Pierre SALVADORI
. . . . . .
February 16: Un Flic de Jean-Pierre MELVILLE
. . . . . .
March 16: Molière de Laurent TIRARD
. . . . . .
April 27: Entre les murs de Laurent CANTET
. . . . . .
May 18: Coco avant Chanel de Anne FONTAINE
. . . . . .
June 15: La Chèvre de Francis VEBER

Adult Education

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! For more information, please contact our Adult Ed Coordinator, Elodie Le Nezet-Soule (Phone: 207-865-3308).

Private Classes
Personal curriculum to be created and taught according to the level and needs of the person.

Group Classes (10 persons per group)
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 three different levels:

Beginner 1: September 13
Beginner 3: September 14
Intermediate: September 13

Cost: $375 per person, or $700 a couple.

A fund-raising event supporting Freeport Community Services

Le Français au bord de la mer

From Friday, October 1, at 5:00 pm, until 10:00 am on Sunday, October 3, 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 is 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.

Organizer Julia Schulz says, “It will feel like you are visiting cousins in rural Québec or France—cousins who don’t speak English! And being immersed in the language in a fun and relaxed setting is the best way to learn.”

Accommodations at Blueberry Cove Camp are very rustic. There are cabins with 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 weekend is $105 for full-time students and $145 for adults. Please inquire about group discounts. Teachers will receive CEU's.

For more information and a registration form, please contact Julia Schulz at mmetoffi@yahoo.fr or Penobscot School: 207-594-1084.

The South Freeport school adds a prestigious accreditation from France's Ministry of Education

The Portland Press Herald
Friday, June 18, 2010

By Kelley Bouchard kbouchard@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Photos by Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

(Click here to watch video)

FREEPORT - Tara and William Magaw moved to Maine so their children could attend L'Ecole Francaise du Maine.Gretchen and John Baker's children travel 90 miles from Hartland, near Skowhegan, to attend the French School of Maine.

Both couples saw something special in the 70-student school, in the pastoral village of South Freeport.

So, too, did the Ministry of Education in France.

On Thursday, the French consul general came from Boston to deliver an accreditation certificate recognizing the school as a bastion of French language, culture and education.

"It means the school meets our educational standards, both academic and administrative," Christophe Guilhou said before presenting the certificate to Willy LeBihan, a founder and director of the eight-year-old school.

"For the French government, this (accreditation program) is important because these students will know the French language and culture and they will share it," Guilhou said. "They will have a special link with France that has the potential to influence their careers and their relationships throughout their lives."

The French School of Maine is the third school in New England to be certified by the French government, after the International School of Boston and the French-American School of Rhode Island in Providence.

It's one of 40 accredited French schools in the United States that serve about 13,000 students and adhere to the French National Curriculum, which promotes bilingual and multicultural studies. The French School of Maine also bases its curriculum on the standards of Maine Learning Results.

Guilhou presented the accreditation certificate at South Freeport Church during the school's annual graduation and awards ceremony, which included student singers and musicians performing French songs. Four students graduated from Grade 7: Anna Bilodeau of Monmouth, Anna MacLean of Camden and Elise LeBihan of Freeport, and another who did not want to be identified.

To become accredited, the school produced a 100-page education plan, and French education officials observed classes in action. The review took nearly three years.

"It has been a long, hard process and it's really nice to have our work validated and recognized," said Beth LeBihan, a founder and director of the school.

LeBihan said accreditation will help the school recruit teachers from France because it's now considered part of the French school system. When teachers take sabbaticals to work in Maine, they will continue to advance up the pay scale and contribute to their pension plans in France.

In addition, students who have at least one parent who is a French citizen can apply for scholarships from the French government, LeBihan said. The French School of Maine has about 15 students who have French citizenship ties, and receive about $100,000 in scholarships. The school's annual tuition ranges from $9,000 for preschool programs to $11,000 for grades 1 through 7.

Tara and William Magaw moved to Portland three years ago after visiting the French School of Maine. They had lived abroad for several years and wanted to send their children to an international school.

Now, 4-year-old Kale Magaw is in the preschool program and 15-month-old Madison Magaw is waiting in the wings. William Magaw commutes daily on the Downeaster train to his job at State Street Bank in Boston, where he oversees employees in several countries, including 20 people in China.

Given their global experiences, the Magaws said they're glad that the French School of Maine also teaches Mandarin Chinese.

"With the world changing the way it is, it's important to be able to learn about and adapt to other cultures," Tara Magaw said.

For Gretchen and John Baker, a family physician in Newport, the French School of Maine offered small classes and a full-time gifted-and-talented program for their children, Breac, 11, and Maille, 7.

"The bilingual component is an add-on," Gretchen Baker said. "What we have here is excellence in education."

Baker and her kids have learned to make the best of the 180-mile, three-hour round trip each day. While on the road, the kids do homework on custom-built desks, practice guitar or watch DVDs. They stop along the way for hockey or lacrosse games in Gardiner, dance lessons in Augusta or Scout meetings in Hartland.

The kids' grandfather, Darrell Neal, assumes driving duties a few days each week. While they are in school, Baker or Neal naps in the minivan, runs errands in the Portland area or visits the local library. Their days start around 6 a.m. and end around 7:30 p.m.

"The drive is the only hard thing my kids do," Baker said. "And they both love to go to school."

Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at:

kbouchard@pressherald.com

Graduation Commencement Speaker: Norman Beaupre

photo by Nick Cowenhoven

Norman Beaupré was born in Southern Maine and grew up speaking French in Biddeford, Maine. He did his undergraduate studies at St. Francis College in Biddeford Pool and then moved on to Brown University for graduate work and received his Ph.D. in French literature in 1974.

In 2000, he became Professor Emeritus after 30 years of teaching Francophone and World Literature at the University of New England. Traveling extensively, he spent two sabbaticals in Europe where he got the inspiration for several of his books.

Beaupré writes in French and in English. His first book, L'Enclume et le Couteau - the Life and Works of Adelard Coté, was published in 1982 by the National Materials Development Center in Bedford, N.H and is now out of print.

Last summer, La Souillonne, Deusse, was released by Llumina Press. It is a sequel to his very well received 2006 book, La Souillonne, monologue sur scène. La Souillonne was performed in Paris in October 2007 with a Maine actress, Marie Cormier. Then it was on to Dijon and Angers.

In 2009, Beaupre released Voix Francophones de Chez Nous, a collection of tales and stories in French with several contributors who each wrote their tales and the English translation of his very popular earlier work, La Souillonne.

To receive timely announcements relating to Beaupré and other Franco-American writers, join the Franco-American Connection mailing list or subscribe to the Franco-American Connection blog.

L'École française du Maine homologuée par l'AEFE

Les enfants de l'école élémentaire de l'École Française du Maine devant les portes de l'établissement, à South Freeport.

Jonas Cuénin - 16 juin 2010

L'École Française du Maine reçoit aujourd'hui l'homologation par l'agence pour l'enseignement du français à l'étranger (AEFE) en présence du consul général de France, Christophe Guilhou. Une reconnaissance de 3 ans de travail.

L'École française du Maine, basée à South Freeport, sera officiellement reconnue ce jeudi l'Éducation nationale. Par l'annonce du consul général de France Christophe Guilhou, elle deviendra la 40^e école aux États-Unis homologuée par la France. « C'est la suite d'un processus de trois ans », explique Willy Le Bihan, directeur de la structure indépendante qu'il a fondée il y a 8 ans.

Évaluée pendant cette période par l'inspecteur de l'Éducation nationale pour l'Amérique du Nord, Georges Alzina, l'École française du Maine a dû remplir un certain nombre de critères pour obtenir la reconnaissance de la France. « On doit être une école à la française, explique Willy Le Bihan. Avec un conseil d'école dans lequel se réunissent équipe pédagogique et parents. Ce qui est propre au système français. Avec un projet d'école sur 3 ans approuvé par l'inspecteur et qui dévoile plusieurs axes précis pour améliorer l'enseignement. Et surtout avec des professeurs français qui ont passé leur diplôme en France (ndlr, CAPES). C'est l'histoire de la poule et de l'œuf. »

Avant cette décision, l'École française du Maine bénéficiait d'un statut provisoire dit « d'habilités ». Pour le directeur, l'homologation a alors une « valeur très importante et juste ». « Je pense que c'est une décision pédagogique mais aussi diplomatique car la France reconnaît l'importance de la culture française dans l'État du Maine, ajoute Willy Le Bihan. Par le biais de notre école, nous allons la renforcer. »

Toutefois, seuls les 1^er (maternelle et grande section) et 2^e cycles (CP au CE2) seront reconnus. Pour le 3^e (CM1 et CM2), il faudra encore attendre. « Nous n'avons pas fait la demande pour ces classes car, dans le souci d'avoir un dossier solide, nous pensions que les 2 premiers cycles étaient plus forts », répond le directeur de l'école, dans laquelle une année scolaire coûte entre 8 000 et 11 000$.

L'AEFE, une organisation interministérielle qui observe l'enseignement du français à l'étranger

Créée en 1990, l'agence pour l'enseignement du français à l'étranger (AEFE), structure placée sous la tutelle du ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes, est chargée du suivi et de l'animation d'un réseau de 243 établissements à programme français (77 en gestion directe et 166 conventionnés) répartis dans près de 130 pays à travers le monde.

L'organisation doit assurer la continuité du service public d'éducation pour les enfants français (47 % de l'effectif total de ces écoles), de contribuer à la diffusion de la langue et de la culture françaises auprès des élèves étrangers et de participer au renforcement des relations entre les systèmes éducatifs français et étrangers. Une autre de ses missions est de veiller à la maîtrise de l'évolution des frais de scolarité pratiqués dans les établissements dont elle a la charge.

Infos pratiques :

École française du Maine

http://www.efdm.org/

Maine French School Poised to Win Rare Accreditation from France

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network
06/16/2010 Reported By: Tom Porter

Click here to listen.

Less than two miles from Route 1 in downtown Freeport is a little piece of France. The French School of Maine, or L'Ecole Française du Maine, is the state's only French immersion school, where children from pre-school to grade seven are taught in French from day one. Tomorrow's a big day for the school -- and not just because it's graduation. The 'Ecole' is to receive full accreditation from the French government -- an honor only given to two other schools in New England.
That's according to director Beth Lebihan, a native Mainer who co-founded the school with her French husband Willy, both of whom are experienced educators. "This is our eighth operating year of the school. We originally opened the school in Winthrop, where we had 12 students, and five years ago we moved down to the Freeport area, and we have now 70 students enrolled."

As the description suggests, children learn to speak French like a native by being immersed in the language and culture of France.

Beth Lebihan: Everything is French. People think it's just a school where they learn French, that's not right. They're learning math, and science and history. They're learning it all, they're just learning it all in French. French is the language of instruction.

Tom Porter: So as soon as they walk through those doors in the morning, no more English.

BL: Exactly, and we try to make it culturally as authentic as we can. We bring all of the materials from France, all of the books, even the paper -- in France the paper has lines both vertically and horizontally -- and so we have all the paper, the 'stiloplumes,' everything as if they were a student in France. When sit down at their table, or when they enter the classroom, it's like walking into France."

This group of kindergarten and first grade children are unknowingly sharpening their French-speaking skills with a game of 20 questions. First grader Alexis Eckert, says speaking French is now easy.

Alexis Eckert: We were playing a game where we have to find out what a person brought to show people.

Tom Porter: How do you find that out?

AE: You guess -- in French.

TP: Is that difficult for you to do?

AE: Not really.

Valerie LeGenti -- originally from Brittany in France -- is outside supervising a kindergardeners' sack race. She's one of seven native French speakers on the faculty and teaches the school's younger children. The first few months, she says, can be confusing for new arrivals, as their young brains struggle to make sense of two different languages.

Valerie LeGenti: Especially at the beginning of the year and then they get used to it, and then they catch it, and now it's the end of the year and we only speak French.

Tom Porter: So you're probably the teacher that's teaching them when they make that click in their head and they go from being confused to being bi-lingual. How does that feel?

VL: It feels amazing. Sometimes we see just in one week they click. They can begin to speak to us in French, and they were speaking to us in English one week before. It's amazing, They are sponge!

"Developmentally, children in the pre-school age are picking up an average of 200 words a day," says school director Beth Lebihan. Lebihan says the earlier a child is exposed to another language the better. Indeed, the French School of Maine takes kids as young as a two -- as long as they're potty-trained.

"Their little minds are hearing words and sorting through them and trying then to place them and figure out what they mean and try them out. So that's really what they're doing just naturally and they're not interested in sorting out what language it's supposed to be, they're little sponges and it really works quite magically."

"I didn't understand that well, but after a couple of months I really enjoyed because I had new friends and stuff," says fourth-grader Eva Then, who is coming to the end of her second year at the school.

Eva Then: I would understand French like a couple of months later, and then I was able to speak and not be able to have to not know the words that well.

TP: And now if you want to suddenly just start talking in French you can do it without thinking about it?

ET: Yeah I guess.

All the programs taught by the school, follow French ministry of education directives. After a rigorous three-year inspection process, the French government is poised to recognize this commitment by awarding the school full academic accreditation -- something only given to 46 other schools in all of the U.S. and Canada.

TD Charitable Foundation Grant

We are thrilled to share the wonderful news that L'Ecole Française du Maine has just received a grant for $4,500 for our playground project.
This brings us closer to our goal of raising $50,000 dollars to build a new playground for our school and community. Special thanks go to Christelle Belleville for helping us present the grant proposal to TD Charitable Foundation; her participation made all the difference! Merci!

If your family is interested in contributing to this project, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and are fully tax-deductible. Please make checks payable to L'Ecole Française du Maine/ - Playground fund. Together we can make this dream come true.

Have a great summer!

Beth

Les Franco Americains: The French School wins accreditation

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

By JULIANA L'HEUREUX

Maine's French immersion primary school in Freeport recently received its full academic accreditation from the French government.

Willy Le Bihan, Director and Founder of L'Ecole Française (The French School) said the process for accreditation by Agence pour l'Enseignement du Français à l'Etranger took three years to complete.

"The accreditation process was rigorous," said Le Bihan. A two-week site visit by the Minister of French Education, conducted during this past school year, was required.

"Our immersion program supports Maine's Franco-American heritage," said Le Bihan. "We provide great opportunities for children to receive quality education while growing up to be bilingual in French and English," he said.

Helping to retain French as a language spoken in the homes of Franco-American families is one of the cultural goals of L'Ecole du Française.

"Some students speak French with their Franco-American grandparents in the home," said Le Bihan. This is particularly interesting because the grandparents grew up speaking French while their children, who are the students' parents, are often not fluent in the language. As a matter of fact, some students' parents are in a position of asking their children to translate conversations between them and the grandparents.

An official presentation of the academic accreditation will be made Thursday by Christophe Guilhou, Consul General of France in Boston, during the school's graduation ceremony in Freeport.

L'Ecole du Française joins the International School of Boston in Cambridge and the French-American School in Providence, R.I., as accredited French immersion schools in New England. With the addition from Maine, 40 French immersion schools are located throughout the United States, accredited by the French government's Ministry of Education.

With the accreditation, L'Ecole du Française is in the position of attracting more French teachers from France to teach at the Freeport campus. Teachers who are French nationals can receive three-year sabbaticals from their positions in France while on the faculty of L'Ecole du Française or other accredited schools. Their positions in France will be protected during the sabbaticals.

A three-year plan required for accreditation included two goals. One is to improve French language proficiency in speaking, reading and writing. The second is to educate the students about Maine's Franco-American history.

Students recently created a play covering Maine's 400 years of French history, beginning with Samuel de Champlain and his role in the founding of the St. Croix Island settlement in the St. Croix River, up until modern times. Student also interview Franco-Americans to learn more about the French presence in Maine.

All academic subjects at L'Ecole du Française are taught in French by native speakers of the language. Curriculum follows the directives of both the French Ministère de L'Education Nationale and the educational guidelines set by the state of Maine. Additionally, the L'Ecole anticipates receiving accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, it is hoped next year.

Seventy students attending L'Ecole in preschool through seventh grades are from the Portland, Camden and Lewiston areas. About 40 percent are from French European families. Graduates are accepted in schools throughout Maine and the U.S.

"Our curriculum is very strong. Our students do well on all the standardized tests," said Le Bihan.

"Clearly, the French government sees the accreditation as a long-term investment in Maine's French immersion education. This is a diplomatic recognition for Maine's French culture" said Le Bihan.

Information about L'Ecole can be found at www.efdm.org.

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

Suzuki concert of May 18: violin

On Tuesday May 18, 2010, the music students of L'Ecole Française du Maine performed for an audience of parents and friends. We enjoyed their wonderful performances on the violin, piano, guitar, mandolin and cello. Bravo to all the children!

Please click on the video above to watch an extract of Elise's violin performance. She was accompanied by Leah Neuchiller, piano teacher, and prepared this piece, La Folia by Corelli, with violin teacher Yasmin Craig Vitalius.

Suzuki concert of May 18: guitar

Guitar teacher Nathan Kolosko introduced Romain et Marine, who had prepared a very special duo.

Suzuki concert of May 18: piano

Maille-Mac played 'Over the Rainbow' by Arlen with her teacher, Leah Neuchiller.

Help finish the Cote family's new home!

International week

Special Thanks to the Yilmaz Family who prepared some traditional dishes from Turkey on Monday.
Mary-Lou cooked the rest of the week, and as usual- everything was delicious!

Menu May 24 to May 28, 2010:

Monday
Turkey
Beef Kofte
Fried Potatoes
Chic Pea Bean Stew
Rice
Salad
Rice Pudding

Tuesday
Germany
Schwaebische Maultaschen
German potato salad
Pumpernickel bread
Black forest cake

Wednesday
Japan
California roll
Beef teriyaki
Rice
Fruit

Thursday
Italy
Bean and tuna salad
Veal saltimbocca
Ravioli
Cheesecake

Friday
France
Cream of mushroom soup
Gougères
Chicken fricassee
Chocolate mousse

Concert in the park

Saturday, May 22, from 4 - 7 p.m. marked the kick-off event for L'Ecole Française du Maine's fundraising efforts to build a new community playground. The Picnic in the Park Concert featured the singing Sewall Family and the "Always One Band" who performed for the school and neighborhood community. Special thanks to school parent, Dan Sasse, for suggesting this wonderful band for our enjoyment!

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and baked goods were served. Valerie and Laura made crepes and a good time was had by all. One of the highlights included students dancing and singing with the band. Another highlight was the delicious and beautifully decorated cupcakes and baked goods Caryn Bickerstaff and Jessica Freedman provided by their newly formed company "CJ Sweets". Proceeds were donated for the playground renovation.

Many thanks go to all who supported the event by volunteering to help out with set-up, grilling and the other countless tasks, and to our sponsor, Fournier's Leadership Karate Centers, for donating the "fundraising thermometer" displayed on the school wall. The event raised awareness in the Freeport Community, and that was the first step in reaching our fundraising goal of raising $50,000 for a new playground in the South Freeport Community. Through this event and with thanks to your effort, interest and support, we have already begun to see thermometer rise!! Finally, we want to extend a very special "Merci beaucoup" to Tara Magaw for all of the time and care she put forth in organizing this wonderful and fun event!!

Field trip to Wolfe's Neck farm for the 5/6/7 grade class

Photos by Warren Miskell