preschool (prek and k): cycle 1
In the French educational system, “l’école maternelle” includes both preschool and Kindergarten. Children are placed in the section which best corresponds to their developmental age; typically, age three in PreK-3 year old (petite section de maternelle), four in PreK-4 year old (moyenne section de maternelle), and five in Kindergarten.
For Kindergarten, children must turn five by December 31 of the year enrolled.
All of our preschool and Kindergarten classrooms have full-time bilingual teacher’s assistants to give each child ample individual attention and gentle support as they learn a new language.
Starting in PreK 4 year-old, English is taught a total of 3 hours per week.
Philosophy
Our Preschool offers children full immersion in French. Our children not only learn to understand and speak French, they also learn about different cultures and traditions as they are immersed in a multicultural environment.
Our Preschool’s goal is to balance the development of knowledge while taking into consideration the children’s experiences and interests. Our ultimate aim is to help each child develop a sense of autonomy/independence, and support their growth of knowledge and skills necessary for school readiness.
Our Preschool revolves around children being intrinsically curious, active learners through play and tasks, and their desire to overcome difficulties and succeed. Our teachers encourage the development of the whole child by responding to their individual needs. They provide a safe environment for children to explore different types of relationships, to learn and discover the world through play, to wonder and investigate ideas and possibilities, to create and produce projects, to practice and rehearse rich and diverse situations by helping children develop their own identity and a multicultural awareness.
The National French Curriculum guidelines and our Academic Long Range Plan (“Projet d’école”) guarantee the continuity between our preschool, primary and middle school curricula.
Kindergarten
Children learn phonemic awareness, reading readiness and beginning mathematical concepts. With a short period each day devoted to individual concentration in an academic activity, students begin to acquire self-discipline and study habits. Music, art, gardening and creative movement are an integral part of the program. The children are encouraged to express themselves as much as possible in French. English is taught a total of 4 hours per week. Each Kindergarten classroom has a full-time bilingual teacher’s assistant.
SKILL SETS
Access the skill sets assessed in the report card by the French teacher
Access the skills sets assessed by the English teacher
english
EFAM welcomes students from France and other countries. Students receive up to 9 hours of English instruction per week. The goal of this instruction is to facilitate their integration into the local system, create an environment conducive to learning English, and promote the transmission of American cultural heritage.
PreK-4 up to 3 h/week
Kindergarten 4 h/week
OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
FIELD TRIPS
Three field trips per year and per grade are organized by the school. They implement the curriculum by encouraging direct contact with the natural or cultural environment, with people at work or with original works of art (Zoo, fruit or vegetable picking, symphony orchestra, ceramic workshop, marine biology site...
