That was a fast first 6 weeks, n'est-ce pas?

Bonjour encore. J'adore toutes mes classes. I love all of my classes. My students are super and full of enthusiasm for the French language. Je suis si contente. Yes, I am very happy this year. Something else that makes me happy is that I am "une grand-mère." I have "un petit-fils" who just arrived on "le 14 octobre." "Voilà" some new vocabulary for my French I students who are studying the family now. I will be going for a visit just as you are all taking unit tests. But after that "un film français" - you will get to watch a French film. Oh là là. C'est chouette. I hope you realize that coming to class and doing the little bit of homework that I give you at the end of class will assure your success. On the other hand, if you forget to pack your book, workbook and notes, you will soon fall behind and it won't be so much fun anymore. If you miss a class be sure to check my website, find your class and then the homework as well as the daily lessons. I will indicate the pages we cover in the book each day. The homework page indicates what is due on any given date. Also, check with me to find a day to come in after class for help. I will also try to get a tutor list together this term. Some of my students helped with concessions in Sept and October. You will see their picture. We also started French Club. Our new officers are Carrie McIntire and Hannah Young, co presidents, Rachel Culpovich and Micaela Sullivan are our co secretaries. Ashley Pirelli is our photographer and our publicity chairs are Maddie Waddell & Kylie Phillips. Check out the pictures. We hope you will join us for the next meeting on Nov 7 - it is National French week! Au revoir, Mme R

3rd week of school under way

Bonjour tout le monde, (Hi everyone). Time is flying. I have learned most of the names of my new Fr I students - over sixty of you! I am thrilled to see my former students from last year in my Fr II and III/Av classes. We are going to make great progress this year. French Club will be held for the first time on Tuesday, Sept 25 from 2:30-3:30 in room B126. We will get to know each other, elect officers and make crepes. We will plan the year's activities...or at least suggest them. Fund raising to support French club - I need volunteers to help me with concessions on Tuesday, Sept 25 from 5-6:30 approx. We will be selling during a soccer game. I need two students and 1 parent, if possible. A second opportunity will be Friday Oct 5 at 3 p.m. I need two students and 1 parent, please. Finally, don't forget to ask your parents to look at the French trip web site http://www.isemn.net/. Check out the three week summer trip - no guide (other than me). You will be staying with French families for 1 of those weeks. Money is due - first payment - on Nov 1 so we have no time to lose. $350 for the deposit. Booklets will be here soon. A plus tard, Mme Rands

La Rentrée - Back to School

Bonjour Tous, Can you believe it is la rentrée already. L'automne is in the air though and it seems right. I am excited to have a full French program this year. We will have two sections of French I and two sections of French II. Our French III's will be combined with a small group of French Advanced level students. There will be some options for independent study. I plan to have le Club français again this year to start the third week of septembre. I am thinking of Tuesday (mardi) or Thursday (jeudi) after school. What is your choice? We also have a chance to join with South Salem HS students to visit France for two weeks this summer. This is a recent change from my original idea of a spring exchange with our friends from Nemours because I feel that a trip to France over our short spring break is too rushed. Please let me know your thoughts. Welcome a new student teacher Mlle Wheeler who is in International Studies at WOU. She will be helping out all day in September and then will be working with my morning classes. Bienvenue Mlle W! I hope to use this blog as a place to throw out ideas and get responses to make our French class even better than in the past. I will be sharing tips and resources with you. I will be asking for ideas and opinions from time to time. Feedback on specific lessons might even be helpful, for instance, what helped clarify a grammar point, what activity helped you improve your accent, what songs you enjoy singing and wish we would sing more. There could be recipes to share or news items. I would like to hear from students and parents alike. Ultimately I want to share my joy in studying and speaking the French language and the connections it has given me with wonderful French people, exciting French places and the chic French culture. A bientôt, Mme R