Dear Families of L'Ecole Française du Maine,

Due to COVID-19 we unfortunately cannot hold our usual Welcome Gathering, 
but we have come up with a fun and original alternative to start the year! 

We are organizing a Welcome Parade in the South Freeport Village. 
August 13th from 5:30-6:00 pm  -  Please join in the fun!!!   

Please refer to the route map below to locate where your child's teacher will be.

The teachers will be socially distanced at various points along the parade route so you and your children can wave, honk and start the year off with a smile! 

We encourage you to decorate your cars, and include your child's name and class so we can give a proper personal shout-out greeting. 

Please drive slowly through the village, and feel free to make a few trips around the block. Please stay in your vehicle at all times. We cannot have parked cars and moving cars, and especially we want to be sure all children are safe in their family's vehicle! This will be strictly a drive-through event.

We all are looking forward to the day we can hold an actual gathering, but for now, this creative solution will at least allow the children a fun opportunity to see their teachers and the schoolyard prior to the first day of school.

We hope you all can make it for this memorable launching of the year 2020-2021!

As soon as all of the school directory forms are returned, we will be sending out the Family Directory so you can make personal connections with members of our school community.

PARADE ROUTE MAP

PLACEMENT OF STAFF ALONG ROUTE

Welcome to all!!   We are looking forward to a wonderful year!
School Supplies Lists

Each year we ask families to donate some general supplies to the school. The list has been modified this year to include some special items we will need in plentiful supply during COVID-19. We thank you for your generosity in furnishing these items for the benefit of all! Donations can be dropped off at your convenience this week in the glassed-in entryway or can be brought on the first day, whichever is more convenient. Please write your family name on the bags, and Merci Beaucoup!

Per family, we request you please provide the following:

General Supplies: 
√          paper towel rolls
√          3 tissue boxes                                         
√          4 containers of Clorox wipes
√          1 container of baby wipes (preschool)
√          1 pack of disposable masks
√          4 bottles of hand soap                                       
√          4 bottles of hand sanitizer
√          1 box of tall kitchen trash bags

Extra Supplies:
Additionally, alongside the CDC guidelines requirements, each teacher is preparing a list of extra supplies for their class. This list will be sent to you separately by class this week. Thank you for your help! These items can also be dropped off with your child's name and class clearly marked anytime this week, or on the first day of school - whichever is easier.  Thank you for your help!

Go Kit:
Each year, we ask families to prepare a "Go Kit" for your child 
(In case of a school evacuation, to be kept in teacher's "Go Kits" backpack)
Please prepare the following for each child"
√ Ziplock bag (Childs' name printed on the outside) containing
√ 2 granola bars (or similar packaged snack)
√ 1 box drink
√ A comforting note to your child with a family picture

Photo of your child for our School Community Bulletin Board:
Please also send in a 2"x3" recent headshot photo of your child for our community board. The kids LOVE looking at this bulletin board all year long and seeing the faces of everyone in the school in one place!  
If you cannot print the photo, please email to Emily at :  office@frenchschool.me
Reopening Plans and Covid-19 Protocols 08/03/2020 version
click to download:     
One small school offers lessons in safe return
L'Ecole Française du Maine was featured on the front page of The Maine Sunday Telegram and other Maine newspapers in a piece highlighting the school's safe reopening.  PDF: Article by Rachel Ohm
2020/2021 School year starting on August 17, 2020
The school community overwhelmingly supports the idea of beginning the school year in August instead of the traditional post Labor Day start in September. This will allow us to bank the most possible in-person school days before we potentially face a second wave of COVID-19 that could possibly result in another school closure. 
 We are glad the school community supports the idea of doing whatever it takes to give the children the most possible in-person school days. They need to play, be with their friends, and just be kids again. We want them to return with enthusiasm and experience success, so the main focus of the first month of school in August will be to make the most of the fine weather, speak French, get outdoors as much as possible and have fun. We will ease back into the curriculum in a way that ensures every child is able to enjoy a positive school experience. 
 
In the meantime, we wish you a wonderful summer!!! 
- and we look forward to seeing many of you at our Summer Camp program!!

Implementing Maine CDC Protocols Safely
Everyone gets their temperature taken at the start of the day- Even Emily!