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The
school year and holidays
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The
school year starts in September and goes on until the
end of June.
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The
summer holidays (les grandes vacances) are two months
long. Children used to take the summer off to help their
parents in the fields with the harvest.
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There
is a two week break at Christmas, in February and around
Easter time. However, if Easter is very early or late
the French do not make it match their school holidays.
If Easter is not during a holiday time, schools do have
a day off on Easter Monday, but Good Friday is not a
holiday in France. In principle, there is a holiday
every six weeks.
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Around
All Saints Day (Toussaint) on 1st November, when families
go to the cemetery to visit family graves, there are
always 8 to 10 days holiday.
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There
are also other public holidays such as 1st May, May
Day (Fête du travail) when schools are closed.
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The school day
Children start school at 8.30 in the morning at
primary school although it can be 8.00 when they get to
secondary school. Breakfast is often bread, butter and jam
with a bowl of hot chocolate. Nowadays fruit juice and yoghurt
can also feature.
They usually go to the school that is closest to them so
they can walk or cycle. Children in rural areas catch a
bus. School things are carried in “un cartable”
which is often carried on the back.
There is a break (récreation) mid morning. At about
midday (midi) is the lunch break (le déjeuner), which
is 2 hours long. Many children go home for lunch but some
can stay at school and they eat in the canteen (la cantine).
Afternoon lessons start again about 2.00pm and go on until
about 4.30. (Once they get to secondary school it can go
on until 5.30 or 6.00). There is another break in the afternoon.
Children play games like football in the playground (la
cour) but they also play skipping, group and chasing games.
After school
When children get home they often eat a snack
(le goûter) to keep them going until it’s time
for the evening meal about 7.00. Le goûter might be
“pain au chocolat” which is chocolate chunks
in sweet puff pastry. There is usually homework to be done.
Children do not go to school on Wednesday in primary school
but that changes at secondary too. Saturday morning school
has been a fact of French life but is beginning to change.
There is no religious education in French schools and Wednesday
is the day when parents who want their children to have
religious studies (cathéchisme) can arrange it. Everybody
else has the day off and there is the opportunity to do
sports or go to clubs.
At the weekend children will probably spend time with their
family and Sunday lunch is normally a special meal, which
lasts for some time.
National Curriculum
Each year has particular things to learn called “le
programme” which is the national curriculum. At the
end of the year if children do not reach the required standard
they might have to stay down and do the year’s work
again (redoubler).
| At
6 children are in |
CP |
Cours
préparatoire |
Preparatory
course
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| At
7 |
CE1
|
Cours
élémentaire |
Elementary
course
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| At
8 |
CE2
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| At
9 |
CM1
|
Cours
moyen |
Intermediate
course
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| At
10 |
CM2 |
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Pilote Languages would like to thank Carrefour
for their co-operation with these photographs.
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