Academics

At LFSD, we base our curriculum on the French educational system, incorporating Cycles. Because all students do not progress at the same rate in all subjects, these cycles provide the necessary flexibility to accommodate childrens’ diverse learning abilities, while keeping them stimulated and challenged. This educational method also allows teachers to better evaluate students’ retention and workload. As is common in France, some classes at LFSD might be organized by cycle rather than grade, resulting in split or combined classes. Our focus is to find what works best for the students involved.

During each Cycle, students work on the same concepts and must master those before moving onto the next Cycle. Concepts are reaffirmed during field trips, an important part of our program. The trips are planned with learning goals established before, during and after each field trip. Evaluation reports are created during each cycle, and are shared with the parents twice per year in Preschool and three times per year for all other grades. At the same time, students’ progress is discussed during parent–teacher conferences.

In Preschool, children are fully immersed in the French language with a teacher/student ratio average of 1:6. From Kindergarten to Grade 8 the teacher/student ratio is an average of 1:12 and students have at least one hour of English per day. Spanish is also introduced in 4th Grade.

Preschool

Cycle #1 | Toute Petite, Petite  Moyenne et Grande Section de Maternelle

Full French immersion program for 2 and 3 year olds. The program focuses on:

  •   Socialization: School life
  •   Respect for oneself and others
  •   Respect for the common good and the environment
  •   Awareness of the rules of living together
  • French oral language
  • Early literacy
  • Understanding directions
  • Asking and answering questions
  • Using the school vocabulary
  • Behavior towards learning
  • Handwriting
  • Fine motor skills
  • Gross motor skills
  • Time and space concepts
  • Classification and sorting objects
  • Discovering daily routine
  • Memorizing the number song
  • Discovering his/her own body
  • Discovering locomotion
  • Exercising: walking, running, throwing, climbing, pulling..
  • Sharing games
  • Creating art with different materials and objects
  • Realization of cooperative art
  • Controlling tools and support
  • Exploring colors

Junior Kindergarten

Moyenne Section de Maternelle

Full French immersion program for 4 yr olds. The program focuses on:

  • Behavior towards learning
  • Fine motor skills
  • Gross motors Skills
  • French oral language
  • Early literacy
  • Visiting the French library
  • World discovery
  • Understanding and adapting school rules
  • Following class rules
  • Time and space concepts
  • Classification
  • Enumeration
  • Counting Numbers
  • Adding and removing objects
  • Controlling his/her body through exercise and games
  • Lateralization and coordination
  • Cooperation games
  • Following and respecting rules
  • Respecting teammates and opponent
  • Creating art with different materials
  • Observing how art is made
  • Copying and tracing masters (Picasso, Miro…)

Kindergarten

Cycle #2 | Grande Section de Maternelle

Full French immersion program for 5 yr. olds with an additional 45 minutes of English language arts each day. The program focuses on:

  • Behavior towards learning
  • Handwriting
  • Drawing
  • French language arts
  • English language arts
  • Early literacy
  • Time and Space Concepts
  • Concepts in mathematics
  • Controlling his/her body through exercise and games
  • Physical activities
  • Following and respecting rules
  • Music education

Grades 1 to 3

Cycle #2 | CP , CE1, CE2

Full French immersion program for first, second and third grades with an additional 60 minutes of English language arts each day. The program focuses on:

  • Oral language exercises
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Poetic use of language
  • Necessary knowledge to master speaking, reading and writing
  • Necessary knowledge to master speaking, writing & reading
  • Social studies
  • Numbers & arithmetic
  • Geometry
  • Measurements
  • Space & diversity of landscapes
  • Time periods of our lives
  • The world of matter & objects
  • Computers & the internet
  • The basic concept of life
  • Living together
  • Becoming a responsible citizen
  • Knowing the symbols, icons and traditions of France and the US
  • Artistic activities: different techniques, materials and support.
  • Museum, gallery and exposition visits
  • Being able to recognize instruments by their sound
  • Chorus
  • Adapting effort
  • Mastering sport skills
  • Following rules
  • Working as a team

Grades 4 to 8

Cycles 3 & 4 | CM1, CM2, 6ème, 5ème & 4ème

Full French immersion program with an additional 60 minutes of English language arts each day, and 120 additional minutes of Spanish language arts each week. The program focuses on:

  • Practicing oral skills
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Poetic use of language
  • Necessary knowledge to master speaking, writing & reading
  • Debates and project presentations
  • Theater
  • Necessary knowledge to master speaking, writing & reading
  • Necessary knowledge to mastering speaking, writing & reading
  • Numbers & arithmetic
  • Geometry
  • Measurements
  • Unity and diversity of the living world
  • The human body and health education
  • The earth and the sky
  • Matter and energy
  • Technological objects and creation
  • Computer sciences
  • History: significant periods throughout an evolving European and world context
  • Geography: world, America/Europe, France and local
  • From school to society – becoming a responsible citizen
  • Rights and duties in society
  • Election of class representatives
  • Participation of class council
  • Music: vocal, physical & instrumental activities
  • Artistic activities: applied arts, cultural contribution, and assessment of results
  • Theater, drama & dance
  • Athletic activities
  • Mastering sport skills (games, gymnastics, swimming, Judo)
  • Group activities, playing different roles
  • Self-control, managing effort, taking risks, helping resolve problems
  • National and state symbols and icons
  • History relates to events, people, and places
  • The American Indian nations
  • California: a changing state
  • US history and geography: creating a new nation

Admissions

LFSD welcomes all families to participate in our program, regardless of race, color, religious affiliation, national or ethnic origin.

Our program accepts children from ages 2 to 15.

For more information about the admission process and availability, call us at 858-277-1514 or email us.

Daycare

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 8:30 am, and again from 3:45 to 5:45 pm* Daycare is billed using the Procare app.

 

 

Hot Lunches from Girard

Our optional hot lunch program features healthy French food provided by:

Girard Gourmet

Girard Gourmet comes to LFSD every day to serve our children a delicious and nutritious hot lunch. The menu features diverse food with a French inspiration, and teaches our children good eating habits.

Vegetables are from Girard’s organic garden in

Julian, CA.

Hot lunch meals are available 2, 3 or 5 days per week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily & Yearly Schedules

 

Daycare 8:00 – 8:30am

Greeting 8:30 – 9:00am

Middle School Classes begin 9:00am

Elementary Classes begin 9:00am

Recess 11:00 – 11:15am

Classes resume

Elementary Lunch & Recess: 12:15am – 1:15pm

Middle school: 12:15 – 1:15pm

Classes resume 1:15 – 3:15

Entire school dismissal & pick-up: 3:15- 3:45pm

Study hall: 3:45 – 4:30pm

After-School Activities: 3:45 – 4:45pm

Daycare 3:45 – 5:45pm

 

Preschool daily schedule varies per class (daycare, greeting & dismissal are the same)