Playground fun

"The finest souls are those that have the most variety and suppleness. "
Michel Montaigne, Essais de la Vanité

photos by Steven Koskinen

"Children learn to smile from their parents"
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

YMCA Adaptive Services Auction: Win French classes at EFDM!

Enter your bid in the auction to win
adult education French Classes at
L'Ecole Française du Maine while supporting the YMCA !

for complete details, click here

Happy Trails at Sugarloaf

Students in grades 2 through 6 enjoyed some great spring skiing on the happy trails of Sugarloaf. With half a foot of new snow covering the mountain, there were plenty of opportunities for great runs. Sugarloaf instructors provided in the morning "Perfect Turns" lessons for the beginners while Didier, Valerie and parent volunteers explored many trails with the advanced skiers. Together, everyone enjoyed the Whiffletree trail and the SuperQuad lift which gives access to intermediate blues, beginner green slopes and newly developed terrain through the woods.

Cool Raoul, Relax Max, à l'aise Blaise !

not bad for a Friday morning on a school day !

Leaving the lodge after the lunch break

Perfect Turn Clinic

Playing with gravity: flying and spinning over the snow

When do we go back ?

Science Experiment: dissection of an Owl Pellet

The 4th, 5th and 6th graders are currently studying the eating habits and environments of animals.
As an example, we dissected an owl pellet to find out what this raptor eats. Owls often swallow prey whole. The indigestible parts of the prey (bones, teeth, fur, feathers) are compressed in the gizzard to form an oval-shaped mass known as owl pellet. This pellet is regurgitated back through the mouth about 12 hours after the prey was first consumed. We were amazed by the amounts of bones and fur that we found in the pellets.
You are welcome to see the results in the 4th, 5th and 6th grade classroom.

Race to Nowhere

A concerned mother turned filmmaker aims her camera at the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children's lives. Race to Nowhere points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace; students are disengaged; stress-related illness and depression are rampant; and many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired. Race to Nowhere is a call to action for families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens.

“An education film that gets it” Washington Post

“Must see movie” NY Times

“Another Inconvenient Truth” George Lucas Educational Foundation

Brad Choyt, NYA incoming Head of School is featured in the film and will be on hand as part of a panel discussion immediately following the screening. The panel will include Ted Hall, Yarmouth High School Principal; John Drisko, Head of NYA’s Upper School; Marissa Markonish, Head of NYA’s Middle School; students and parents.

When: Wednesday, March 30

Where: Yarmouth High School Theater

Time: Film at 7:00 pm; panel discussion at 8:30 pm

Tickets: $10 in advance; $15 at the door

If you would like to buy tickets in advance,

please go to http://rtnyarmouthhs.eventbrite.com/

Au menu cette semaine:

Au menu cette semaine:

Rehersal for "Les Petits Poissons d'avril"

Students are actively rehearsing for their performance of April 1st at the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston. The theme of the show is of course " Les petits Poissons d'avril".
The free performance will start at 12:30pm and is likely to be "sold out" like most years with 400 plus spectators.
Please call the school or the Franco-American Heritage Center in Lewiston for more information (207-783-1585 )

Skype Session in French with Istanbul-Turkey

Sultan Ahmet Mosque

Street trolley in Taksim Square

Music session with Aidan on the guitar in the Metro stop in Levent, Turkey

Students compare recess games in Maine and in Istanbul

A favorite topic: comparing lunch menus

Aidan responding to students' questions in French

Students at l'Ecole Française du Maine celebrated "La semaine de la Francophonie" by communicating over the internet in French with three former students of the school now attending the renowned French School "Lycee Pierre Loti" in Istanbul, Turkey. Students had prepared questions about what could be the life of a Maine student attending a French school in Turkey. The session lasted over an hour and was conducted entirely in French: a great way to celebrate International French Week! Our students were happy to share the news about the new playground and wished their friend a great last trimester before their return to Maine.

Maine celebrates Franco-American Day

Courtesy: Capital Weekly

Governor Paul LePage joined nearly 100 people at the State House Wednesday, March 16, in celebrating Maine’s 10th annual Franco-American Day.

Throughout the day, events recognizing the French heritage were held in the House of Representatives, Senate and Hall of Flags. Historical and cultural exhibits were on display at the Statehouse, as well. According to a press release from the Governor's Office, legislators, staff and visitors enjoyed French music performed by a variety of musicians, including the LeBlanc Family Singers, Sylvian’s Acadian Aces and Lewiston Strings, whose melodies of echoed throughout the halls.

“The Franco-American community here in Maine has a proud, long history," said LePage in the release. "For over 400 years, the language, history and people have enriched our state. I think it's very, very important that the 30 percent of Mainer's with French heritage take pride in their history, culture and diversity. And it makes me very proud to be only the second governor of this great state to have come from French heritage."

During a presentation of new inductees to the 2011 Maine Franco-American Hall of Fame, LePage welcomed dignitaries from the French and Canadian consulates in Boston. The governor congratulated those inducted into the Hall of Fame, thanking them for their contributions to the state's French-American culture.

Those inducted into Maine's Franco-American Hall of Fame were Patrick Paradis of Augusta, Terry Ouellette of St. Agatha, and Claire and Gilles Auger of Sanford. Members inducted posthumously were Dr. Edward Martin and Sister Solange Bernier.

Beth and students at the State Capitol meeting Maine's First Lady: Anne LePage

Students were special guests of State Representative: David Webster of Freeport

Students served as Pages in both the Senate and the House of Representatives

Students preparing to enter the chamber. State Representatives gave them a standing ovation.

Student learning the duties of the perfect page in the House of Representatives.

Meeting the volunteers of the Acadian Village of Van Buren - Maine

Dancing and singing with Acadian musicians in the Hall of Flags:
LeBlanc Family, Michael Parent, Greg Boardman and Robert Sylvain from the Band Boreal Tordu.

Student Chorus performing as foreign dignitaries and Maine Legislators arrive.

ESL at L'Ecole Française du Maine

Congratulations to all our ESL students who have made huge progress in English with Bonnie Hannigan. They are well on their way to become bilingual. Bravo a tous!

Au revoir Charlène and Julie

After a month spent in Maine, Charlene and Julie returned to France to resume their Masters Degrees in Elementary Education at the University of Bourgogne - Dijon. They are both anxious to finish their teaching certificates so they can have their own classrooms. Students enjoyed their company very much and staff appreciated their great help in the classroom.
Charlene and Julie couldn't leave Maine without a delicious "Lobster Dinner" prepared at school by Chef Emilia.
Bonne chance et a bientot,

The new playground is finished!

Let the fun begin!!!

The new playground is finished! Sincere thanks go to Doug Piehl and all of his crew at Freeport Services for a fantastic job well done! They faced great challenges with the installation due to large quantities of snow and ice, but they stuck to their goal of installing the playground during the March vacation none the less. This was no small task, and the children of the school are extremely grateful. The playground is a huge success, one we are all thrilled and proud to have achieved. The School is also thankful to Bath Savings for their support in financing this important project.

Semaine de la Francophonie: Cooking class on March 19

Join Chef Steph for an afternoon of cooking and great chamber music provided by advanced students of the Pineland Suzuki School http://www.pinelandsuzuki.org/
Stephanie will share her Mémé's Franco-American recipes with the class participants in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Space will be limited so reserve your spot in this unique class today!
Child care will be be provided.

St Patrick's Day

Thank you Emilia and crew for all of the St.Patrick's Day decorations and for a delicious Irish meal. It was a feast to remember! We all enjoyed corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and carrots, Irish soda bread, and pasta salad with pasta in the shape of shamrocks! For dessert, we had a delicious and beautiful shamrock cake!

The "wearin' o' the green" was respected by all, and the "craic " was mighty!

Éirinn go Brách !!! (Erin go bragh!)