October 7, 2021
Bonjour,
How quickly these first few months of the school year have passed! We can't believe it's time for October vacation already! As a reminder, there will be an Early Dismissal half day tomorrow, October 8th. Dismissal is at 11:30; no need to pack a lunch!
Those who expressed interest in a vacation camp will have already received their invitation to enroll. We will be here Tuesday-Friday next week for those who require childcare. For everyone else, please have a safe and fun October break! Be sure to check our COVID protocols or inquire about traveling specifics if you have any questions.
Our photos from Picture Day are available for your review and to order! Please find the link below to view your child's portraits from the gallery, and thank you for supporting local artists!
Details introducing this year's Halloween Parade plan are outlined below; hopefully, costumes and family preparations can be made soon! It's always a "treat" of an event that the students look forward to each year.
Please note, alongside this week's article regarding the IB we are announcing a recently decided upon Professional Day to support our teachers. There will be no school Friday, November 19th, to accommodate the teachers' training. Would you please use this advance notice to plan accordingly? We will consider this additional professional day and any potential snow days in determining the end-of-year calendar when the time comes.
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Indigenous Peoples Day- Monday, October 11th |
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Our hope is that with this Indigenous Peoples Day (this coming Monday, October 11th), we can work to bring about more inclusion and diversity of perspective and experience within our small school community. Exploring ways to bring relevant additions to a curriculum is a never-ending endeavor; admittedly, this process is a long one, in conjunction with constantly shedding light on our implicit biases and acknowledging that we are not yet experts in teaching these concepts. Ideally, together as educators and parents, we can join the process of learning alongside students, and the additions we invest in each year will bring about learning long after a Monday in October.
In this effort, we are excited to announce that EFDM will be the host of a traveling exhibit from the University of Maine Hudson Museum called, "People of the Dawn: Past and Present". This made-for-school exhibit includes display panels showcasing drawings and photographs illustrating traditional life from 1600 to the present for members of the Wabanaki tribes (the five tribes of Maine: Mik'maq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Abenaki).
Also included are many hands-on materials: examples of traditional artistry in baskets, birch bark work, and other tools. Reference books, videos, and CDs also come with this traveling trunk of knowledge. English classes will be taking charge of preparing this exhibit in La Maison, and it will be available for all classes to tour and explore. We plan to also open up this temporary "gallery" for families during certain after-school hours so that the learning can continue at home. Please check back once we have received and prepared the exhibit for specified viewing times! "People of the Dawn: Past and Present" will be visiting us from the end of October into early November.
You might also wish to check out more about the Hudson Museum, including their online gallery tours and contemporary artist and Wabanaki elder video interviews.
Also, we recently added new additions to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion section of our school library. The following list of books will be available to each age group at L'Ecole, to introduce concepts and inspire discussions about Indigenous cultures, peoples, and the complicated history of this land, Maine, and the United States at large. Many of these children's stories focus on themes of inclusion, empathy, and kindness. These books will soon join the options to take-home library selections, so you'll be able to read and enjoy them too!
In English:
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School Portrait Photos by Grant Reid |
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The beautiful photographs from school picture day are ready for your review! Yarmouth photographer Grant Reid's artistic eye captured some truly brilliant and unique personalities this year on what was a perfect fall day at L'Ecole. Feel free to peruse the gallery for your student's watermarked individual and sibling portrait shots.
Please consider purchasing your child's photos for editorial downloading rights-- you'll be able to make infinite copies, prints, holiday greeting cards, etc., at your choosing. Grant's picfair site also has the option to purchase framed prints of the photos.
We are happy to offer the opportunity for local independent artists to help us out during picture day. Thank you for making their efforts and time worthwhile!
For those who missed picture day or wish to request a re-take, please let us know at office@frenchschool.me. We will plan another date that works for all after the October break. Merci!
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Call for donations-- Tools! |
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It came to our attention during the bike trip that L'Ecole needs to build its toolbox! Do you have any extra screwdrivers, hammers, or other tools that could still be useful in a new home? Please consider bringing your donations of tools and hardware to school for us to build our collection. A box will be available in the glass entryway for any tools you are willing to donate. Thanks for taking a look in your garage, and we look forward to seeing what you find!
We will also put the tools to great use for an upcoming building project. We are lucky to have a "Builder Papa Extraordinaire" in the EFDM family- and he has agreed to help our students build a Little Free Library. These free libraries, listed on a nationwide map, encourage reading for all ages! Thanks, Doug! (Papa to Noa, Tessa, and Nelson) - More details to come!
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Enrollment is now open for our DELF continuing education this school year. Information, including schedules as well as enrollment opportunities, can be found via the link below:
Reach out to Emily office@frenchschool.me or Laura delf@frenchschool.me for more information about continuing education at EFDM.
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"Café et Conversation" sous la tente |
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This fall, our "Café et Conversation" resumes "sous la tente" each Wednesday morning from 8:30-9:00, and as long as the weather is cooperative! These meetings provide an extra opportunity for our school community to gather and share experiences. We hope you will mark your calendars and try to attend. As before, a theme each week but no real agenda, and last-minute drop-ins are welcome :-)
Wednesday morning from 8:30-9:00
October 20: Grades 1-2 with Elodie and Raphaël
October 27: Grade 3-4-5 with Simon and Alex and Raphaël
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Halloween Parade Friday October 29th |
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EFDM is happy to carry on a favorite school tradition this year. With extra safety measures in place, we invite you to join the fun!
As in years past, we will have all students participate in a walking parade around South Freeport village, fully in costume! This event will occur from 2 PM to 3 PM on Friday, October 29th, as listed on the academic calendar. We ask that ALL student Halloween costumes include their face mask. Students should NOT wear any additional costume masks on top of their protective masks. Parents who would like to join us for our walkthrough of South Freeport Village will also be required to wear a mask. With the help of parents, teachers will be separating their class groups, and we'll ask you to help maintain extra distance between bodies.
Older students in Elodie and Simon's classes will depart the playground precisely at 2 pm. Students from Victorien, Marie, and Alison's class will follow at 2:15 pm. Parents can feel free to meet their class outside at the designated times.
Parents of younger children may plan to park down at the Freeport Wharf and walk up to meet our group on the school playground so that the little ones can drive back to school after the walk down. Together, we will parade from the playground, down Park St. to the Bernard residence, and onward down the hill toward Brewer's Marina.
A small celebratory treat will be waiting for all at each stop, after which parents can drive or walk back up the hill to school with the group for dismissal as usual. We extend special thanks to our hosts- the Brewer and Bernard families for inviting us to "trick-or-treat" each year!
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Making messes and memories in Petite Section this week! Lots of artwork and beginning skills of graphisme being practiced by all. |
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Another awesome week in MS-- be sure to ask your student about the new sport games they played on the playground this week, and the treat they each had a hand in making with a bundle of apples! |
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This week, Victorien's class (as well as all of La Maternelle) got to enjoy some chorus time and further their musical introductions by practicing their repetition of sounds and rhythms, and learning some new French songs. |
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Forest fun is in full swing as the leaves change and begin to fall these days. Inside and out, Elodie's class has no shortage of fun and interesting games to keep them engaged! |
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Book review presentations began again this year in the CE2, CM1, CM2 class! Students make a poster and offer a brief presentation to their classmates about a French book they recently read. A great way to get to know our ever-growing library selection and improve our speaking skills! |
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Meet your IB PYP Coordinator! |
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As EFDM moves forward as a Candidate School, we are happy to introduce you to the school’s IB Coordinator: Elise Le Bihan. Elise is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she studied Creative Writing, French, and Violin Performance. Through the Sarah Lawrence Paris Programme at Reid Hall, she attended the Conservatory: L’École Normale de Musique de Paris, in the Professional Division. She then went on to complete a Masters in Creative Writing at The University of Edinburgh and became a Certified Cambridge English Language Teacher. Some of you may remember Elise from her role as Creative Writing Teacher as part of the English Teaching staff in the school year of 2019-2020. Others might recognize her from Summer Camp in 2020, or even as EFDM’s first student and oldest alum. Having studied in the UK, the US, and France, we are so happy to have Elise lead us as we pursue this internationally recognized programme.
What is an IB Coordinator?
An IB Coordinator is the person who is designated to communicate directly with the International Baccalaureate Organization as the school moves through the necessary steps towards IB Primary Years Prorgamme Accreditation. Elise will be helping the school community, (students, teachers, and families) throughout this project. As teachers prepare work to be submitted to the accreditation committee, Elise will be compiling the final portfolio that is sent to IB at the end of this long process. She is also in charge of the professional development of our staff and integrating the IB philosophy into our curriculum and school community.
Please Note:
We have recently decided to add an extra Professional Development day on Friday, November 19th. There will be no school on this day to accommodate support for teachers as we meet and discuss the start of their IB training and implementation. Thank you for your understanding as we embark on this exciting journey.
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Please find the most recent version of our school calendar here.
Upcoming dates to keep in mind:
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Fri. October 8th: Early Release, dismissal at 11:30
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Mon. October 11th: Indigenous People's Day (no school)
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Mon. Oct. 11-Fri. Oct. 15th: October Vacation (no school, optional camp)
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Friday Oct. 29th: Halloween Parade!
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Thursday Nov. 11th: Veteran's Day (no school)
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November 19th, Professional Day: No School
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Covid Protocols and Recommendations |
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To reinstate our protocols for this year, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the following presentation:
Download ==> 2021-2022 protocols and recommendations.pdf
Here is a summary of our 2021-2022 protocols and recommendations:
- We encourage all parents/caretakers/older siblings to get vaccinated.
- Masks will be required for all members of our school community inside the school during operating hours (teachers and staff, students, and parents, as well as vendors, volunteers, and visitors) and are recommended outside on the school grounds.
- Masks will be required inside regardless of vaccination status.
- Access to the school building is limited to essential workers and students.
- COVID 19 PCR will not be required before school starts.
- Domestic travel doesn't require testing either before or afterward.
- International travel requires testing 3-5 days after return.
Procedures if Someone Becomes Ill or Exposed to COVID-19
- If a child becomes ill during the day, they will be isolated in the room near the main office, and the school will notify parents to pick them up immediately.
- If a staff member becomes ill during the day, they must go home.
- If a child or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, the school will notify the entire school community. Possible outcomes include staying open, closing a classroom temporarily, or closing the school temporarily. Regardless, rigorous cleaning and sanitizing of the school, inside and out, will precede any return of students and staff.
Guidelines for quarantine after exposure to a person with COVID-19:
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Exposure to COVID is defined as having close (within 6 feet) contact with a COVID-positive person for a period of at least 15 minutes in a 24 hour during which they would be considered contagious. Persons are considered contagious, beginning 48 hours before exposure. The use of masks decreases but does not fully remove the risk of transmission and therefore is not taken into consideration when defining an exposure.
- If an unvaccinated parent is exposed to a person with COVID-19, the parent must quarantine for 10 days, consistent with state and federal CDC guidance. A PCR COVID test 7 days into the quarantine is recommended to help assure that an exposed person is not an asymptomatic carrier. The negative test does not shorten the quarantine period of 10 days per Maine CDC recommendations. Children of exposed parents do not need to quarantine UNLESS the parent develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID. These children would still be permitted to attend school provided they can be safely picked up and dropped off by someone, not under quarantine.
- If a vaccinated parent is exposed to a person with COVID-19, the parent is NOT required to quarantine but must monitor their symptoms and get tested if any symptoms develop. It is also strongly recommended that vaccinated persons exposed to COVID-19 wear a mask whenever around others for a period of 10 days.
- Students at EFDM who are exposed directly to someone with COVID-19 must follow the guidelines for unvaccinated parents above. As vaccinations for children are available, the school will issue updated guidance on quarantine for vaccinated students.
The school is extremely grateful to the following parents, who are medical professionals, for sharing their time, expertise and for helping us write clear protocols.
At l'Ecole Française du Maine:
Dr. James Gallea, MD, Emergency Medicine Specialist
Dr. Lisa Lucas, DO, Primary Care Physician
At the French American School of Tampa Bay:
Dr. Gaetane Michaud, MD, Pulmonary Critical Care, Tampa General Hospital and USF Tampa
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Window to the past ... just for fun |
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Halloween Parade 2014 - Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? No one - it's only the teachers! ...Oh my! - What great costumes you have!!!
Yassine and Philomene Merchi taught Kindergarten and Grade 1 for several years at EFDM before moving on to the French School of Shanghai, China. What fun!
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