Kindergarten and grade 1
Ages 5 to 7
Class size: 10
Songs, stories and play in French, with an English story hour.
- In FrenchMath, science, social studies, art, music, lunch and recessOffered
- In EnglishStory hour and first lettersOffered
Two languages, by grade
What is taught in French, and what in English
Each grade group has its own classroom and teacher. Mornings lean on French in the early grades, and English reading and writing has a block of its own every day. By the middle grades the two languages share the day.
Grades 2 and 3
Ages 7 to 9
Class size: 12French reading begins, and English reading and writing get their own block.
- In FrenchMath, science, art and musicOffered
- In EnglishReading, writing and spellingOffered
- In both languagesSocial studies, with the new words in bothOffered
Grades 4 and 5
Ages 9 to 11
Class size: 12Longer texts in both languages and a first research project.
- In FrenchFrench language arts, math, science and artOffered
- In EnglishReading, writing and spellingOffered
- In both languagesSocial studies and musicOffered
Grades 6 to 8
Ages 11 to 14
Class size: 14Discussion classes, lab days and a service project each year.
- In FrenchFrench literature, social studies and artOffered
- In EnglishEnglish literature, writing and mathOffered
- In both languagesScience and a yearly projectOffered
Fees and what each is for
- Application
- Covers reading the application and meeting the student. Due when a family applies.
- Enrollment
- Holds a place after an offer is accepted.
- Books and supplies
- The texts in French and English and the materials for the year, ordered by the school.
- Lunch
- A hot lunch from a local caterer, ordered by the month. Families may pack lunch instead.
- Extended care
- Care until 5:30 p.m., billed by the month for the days a family uses.
- Field trips
- Transport and entry for the few trips each year.
The office confirms class size at a visit, and says which subjects change language from one year to the next.
Sample programs.
Subjects
Six subjects, taught every week
The language of each one changes with the grade.
French language arts
Reading, writing and speaking in French in every grade, from rhymes and picture books to short novels and debates.
English reading and writing
A daily block in English with reading groups, spelling and a weekly page of writing.
Math
Taught in French through grade 5, then in English from grade 6, with the same words kept on the wall in both.
Science
Lab mornings from grade 3, with measuring and building in the early grades and a science evening for families in the spring.
Social studies
Maps, rivers and neighborhoods, from Louisiana to the French-speaking world, in French and English by grade.
Art and music
Singing in French in every class, drawing and clay, and a concert for families before each long break.
Grades 6 to 8
Discussion classes and a lab morning
Middle school students meet around one table twice a week to read, argue and write about one text, in French one week and in English the next. A teacher keeps the table and asks the questions; students bring theirs. Science is a lab morning, and each year the class takes on one service project in Metairie, chosen by the students.
Two discussion classes a week, alternating languages.
A lab morning in the science room.
One service project a year.
See a class at work
Spend a morning in a classroom and hear what a lesson sounds like.