Welcome to France!!!Welcome to France!!!

Ecole Simone SignoretEcole Simone SignoretLyon, FranceLyon, France

November 2008November 2008

LYONLYON

And welcome toAnd welcome to

Lyon is in the South East of Lyon is in the South East of France, near the AlpsFrance, near the Alps..

There are about 500 000 There are about 500 000 people living in Lyonpeople living in Lyon..

The Rhône River and the Saône The Rhône River and the Saône River meet in Lyon.River meet in Lyon.

If you come to Lyon, you will see its If you come to Lyon, you will see its basilica, called Notre Dame de basilica, called Notre Dame de

Fourvière…Fourvière…

The « Vieux Lyon »The « Vieux Lyon »

You will also see, Bellecour Square You will also see, Bellecour Square which is the third largest square in which is the third largest square in

France.France.

Lyon is famous in France for its Lyon is famous in France for its gastronomy….gastronomy….

……for its football teamfor its football team

……for the « Fête des lumières » for the « Fête des lumières » (lights feast) each december(lights feast) each december

For Guignol, the famous puppet.For Guignol, the famous puppet.

But Lyon is also known for being But Lyon is also known for being the town of the inventors of cinema: the town of the inventors of cinema:

the Lumière Brothers.the Lumière Brothers.

And their house is very near our And their house is very near our school.school.

The name of our school isThe name of our school isSimone Signoret School.Simone Signoret School.

And Simone Signoret was a famous french And Simone Signoret was a famous french

actress who died in 1985actress who died in 1985..

Here is our school!Here is our school!

There are 264 pupils in our shool.There are 264 pupils in our shool.

In our school, there are three In our school, there are three nursery classes for young pupils nursery classes for young pupils

(from 3 years-old to 6 years-old)…(from 3 years-old to 6 years-old)…

There are also 7 elementary classes There are also 7 elementary classes with pupils from 6 years-old to 10 years-with pupils from 6 years-old to 10 years-

oldold..

Our school is quite new since it Our school is quite new since it opened in 2003.opened in 2003.

We have a classroom with computers and a We have a classroom with computers and a

library called « BCD library called « BCD » » where pupils go once a where pupils go once a week with a student from university who learns week with a student from university who learns

them how to work with books. them how to work with books. ..

In our school, we have a pleasant In our school, we have a pleasant playground with small gardens.playground with small gardens.

In our school, we have three In our school, we have three buildings:buildings:

One for the classes One for the dining hall

And one for the gymnasium.

The french school The french school systemsystem

In France children usually go to In France children usually go to shool for the first time at 3.shool for the first time at 3.

They study in elementary school until the age They study in elementary school until the age of 10 then they go to the college until the age of 10 then they go to the college until the age

of 15.of 15.

Then, they go to the « lycée » until the age of Then, they go to the « lycée » until the age of 18, where they take an exam called 18, where they take an exam called

« Baccalauréat ».« Baccalauréat ». This exam is necessary to This exam is necessary to

join universityjoin university..

Jean Moulin University in Lyon.

In France, children go to school from 8.30 to In France, children go to school from 8.30 to 11.30 in the morning and from 13.30 to 16.30 in 11.30 in the morning and from 13.30 to 16.30 in

the afternoonthe afternoon..

They go to shool, four days in a week: monday, They go to shool, four days in a week: monday,

tuesday, thursday and Fridaytuesday, thursday and Friday..

During their school years, french pupils study, During their school years, french pupils study, french, mathematiques, history and geography, french, mathematiques, history and geography,

sciences and a foreign language (english in sciences and a foreign language (english in Simone Signoret).Simone Signoret).

They also study art and music. They also study art and music.

The art classroom in Simone Signoret School.

Children also learn how to use new Children also learn how to use new technologies. technologies.

Few years ago, our school took part in a Few years ago, our school took part in a Comenius Project named « Reading is Comenius Project named « Reading is

fun! »fun! »

And we are glad to take part in another And we are glad to take part in another Comenius Project with all of you!Comenius Project with all of you!