information for dmps 2nd grade teachers - city of des moines

DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010 1 of 23

INFORMATION FOR DMPS 2ND GRADE TEACHERS

Saint-Etienne, France Greater Des Moines Sister City Commission

Agreement signed May 29, 1985 INFORMATION FOR 2ND GRADERS, DMPS Where is Saint-Etienne? Pronounced: “San-tay-tee-en” Located in the SE quadrant of France, in Europe. About 4,587 miles from Des Moines. How many people live in Saint-Etienne? Population: City: 195,000. Metropolitan: 400,000. What is the weather in Saint-Etienne? Climate: Temperate to almost Mediterranean (generally one of wet winters and hot, dry summers). The sun shines an average of 2,089 hours per year. What time is it in Saint-Etienne? Time: 7 hours ahead of Des Moines When it is 9 AM in Des Moines, it is 4 PM in Saint-Etienne. When it is 6 PM in Des Moines, it is 1 AM in Saint-Etienne. What languages do they speak in Saint-Etienne? The national language is French. Ethnic groups include: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Sub-Saharan African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities. French is used as the official language of 22 countries and is the co-official language of several others, including Belgium, Canada, Haiti, Madagascar, and Switzerland. French belongs to the group of so-called “Romance” languages. Descended from Latin, these languages may be said to represent living shadows of the ancient Roman Empire. Approximately 175 million people speak French worldwide. What are some common French words and phrases? Good morning / day = Bonjour Good evening = Bonsoir Good-bye = Au revoir See you tomorrow / soon = À demain / bientôt


Thank you = Merci You are welcome = À demain / bientôt Yes = Oui No = non Excuse me = Excusez moi Do you speak English? = Parlez vous anglais? Help me please = aidez moi s’il vous plaît Nice to meet you = Enchanté Mrs. = Madame Mr. = Monsieur Miss (young, unmarried woman) = Mademoiselle How many public schools are in Saint-Etienne? 104 public schools, 11,500 students, 500 teachers What are common French children names? Boys … examples: Jules, Hugo, Noah, Arthur, Mathis, Nathan, Lucas, Enzo, Maxime, Leo, Tom, Louis, Alain, Sebastien, Pierre, Andre, Anton, Pascal, Rene, Vincent, Yves, Julien Girls … examples: Emma, Lea, Manon, Chloe, Camille, Zoe, Lola, Louise, Oceane, Lilou, Aurelia, Lucie, Clarisse, Delphine, Adele, Antoinette, Chantal, Gabrielle, Isabelle, Juliette, Simone, Pascale What cloths to they wear? The children in Saint-Etienne wear the same type of clothing as the children in Des Moines. They wear jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Examples of French children’s clothing: www.bercotchildrenswear.com What games to they play? What do Saint-Etienne children do for fun? French children enjoy watching TV, playing at video-games Internet + play station + XBOX), playing soccer, basketball outdoor, playing at marbles, hop scotching, reading, playing with dolls (for girls, obviously! Barbie doll), beads for girls, pet shop toys are very popular, cycling, skate boarding, rollers, artistic leisure (painting, music). Many children like collecting marvel superhero figures. Graphic novels are very popular in France and Europe. Football is extremely popular in our city because with have a good team and there is a long tradition since our local team used to be the very best in the 70s and won the championships and cups several years running. Rugby is the new craze, reinforced by the world cup in France in September. Skiing is VERY popular too as we are only 2 hours away from the Alps. There are lots of ski clubs, organizing day trips to the


Alps on Sundays throughout the winter. Sometimes high schools have ski clubs too (very cheap). The French enjoy watching TV, gardening, working on home improvements, reading, visiting museums, and going to plays and concerts. The French are also avid hobbyists and collectors. The French enjoy watching soccer, rugby, and the annual Tour de France cycling race. They enjoy tennis, cycling, hiking, skiing, fishing, and sailing. A type of bowling game, petanque, is popular in the south of France.

La Petanque Number of Players: 6 or more Place: Gymnasium or outdoors

Consists of a set of 6 or 12 steel little balls that players are supposed to throw as close as they can to the "piggy." The "piggy" is a very small wooden ball and is the target of the game. First, the beginning team tosses the piggy a certain distance, but not too far or too close. Each team takes turns tossing a ball towards the piggy until the balls are all gone. The team that gets the closest ball to the piggy wins. Then, count one point for each ball of the winning team that is closer to the piggy than the other team's balls. What foods do Saint-Etienne children eat? Breakfast 6:30/7:30am -- Fruit juice/either hot chocolate, coffee with milk or a glass of milk/ wheat/ biscuits/ bread with marmalade… Lunch/noon Many children have a two-hour mid-day break and have lunch at home or a hot meal at the school canteen. 11:30am/12:30pm -- Fish or meat + vegetables or feculent (starchy food) + cheese + fruit + yogurt Dinner/evening Between 7 and 8pm for most families –soup or salad, fish or meat or eggs + vegetables or feculent (starchy food) or food (it depends on their lunch meal) or soup + cheese + fruit + yogurt Snacks Fruits / biscuits (cookie) / fruit juice / bread and chocolate… 12-1pm for people who work - even if we have a lunch break we resume work at 1.30 or 2pm.


Dishes are generally served in courses and not all at once. The French oftentimes have fish or meat, and it is common to have both. Vegetable, salad, cheeses. Sometimes the cheese will come in plates with a very large variety of cheeses. Yes we always finish a meal with cheeses or yoghurts or "crèmes. While French lunches were traditionally eaten inside the home, people are having tendencies to make it a more casual meal while regaining its importance on weekends or on holiday. Meals are important for the family and are always eaten together, even if everybody has activities to do. I always insist on getting together for meals and talking then about the events of the day for each member of the family. Sunday lunches are very important too. We often invite or are invited by friends on Saturday nights - almost every week. Otherwise we eat out with them then or go to the cinema. Do their schools provide breakfast and lunch? Schools provide lunch at the canteen. Parents pay for the meals. Where do Saint-Etienne children live? Like the children in Des Moines, children in Saint-Etienne live in houses or apartments. Some live in apartments the older city center while others live in newer housing developments outside the city center. Often the appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers) are smaller than in the US. What do 7-8-9-year old children study in school? Lecture / math / what we call “connaissance du monde” (general knowledge), sports/ artistic courses (drawings/paintings, music), language courses, history, geography… The French Primary School ("enseignement élémentaire") from CP (classe préparatoire to CM2 (Cours élémentaire 2 or from 6-years-old to 11-years-old) follows the objectives to teach the bases of reading, writing, arithmetic, history and geography. The school is free and children from 6-years-old to 16-years-old must go to school. Classes include both boys and girls, and are usually taught by a teacher who covers all the subjects. Students go to school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. There is usually a half-day on Saturday, but no school on Wednesday. The school day usually goes from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and continues in the afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p. m. Lunch is served in each school or students may go home during the two-hour break. 6- to 8-year-olds in French schools study most subjects of the compulsory curriculum, but the sciences, technology, history and geography are combined in one category entitled 'discovering the world' (découverte du monde). Many children


also study modern foreign languages during this phase even if only for very short weekly sessions. English is generally the language studied. New technologies, such as IT are also introduced at this time. Do 7-8-9-year old children in Saint-Etienne have computers in their classrooms/schools? Yes, about 5 to 10 computers per school. It depends on the size of the school. More computers are being purchased. What do 7-8-9-year old school children do to learn about other cultures? -In St-Etienne, and thanks to our European Department (Guideurope), public schools are involved in workshops called “l’Europe des Enfants”. The aim of these workshops is the sensitization (awareness) of the geographical and institutional Europe. -Learning languages -Courses: “Connaissance du monde.” For example: Usually, children have breakfast at home but last year, my son had a one day “Connaissance du Monde” during which children could attend to different workshops and had breakfasts from countries such as United-states, Great Britain, China, Russia). What time does school begin in the morning and end in the afternoon? Typically between 8:30-11:30am and 1:30 to 4:30pm. What are the available after-school activities? Sports, music … There is a 'garderie' after school, which means kids can stay on (if parents work), depending on their age group, they are offered different games and activities or help with the homework. In our village, there is a 'Maison Pour Tous', which organizes activities (sports mostly, but also a library with books and DVDs) Some elementary schools now offer activities early in the morning and after school time … from 4.30 to 5.30 most schools offer what is called l'étude - study time, i.e., a period when kids are guided to do their homework, if parents wish to leave them after 4.30, if they work for instance but from 7 am to 8 and from 5.30 to 6.30 (?) there is what is called "péri-scolaire". My sister-in-law has been doing this kind of job for 2 years. So she has to find activities (cooking, drawing ...) to keep them busy before the actual teachers arrive. Otherwise many kids do activities outside in sports clubs (football, basketball, judo, tennis, gym ...) or community centres (drama, model-making, painting, pottery ...) What festivals and holidays do they celebrate? Special festivals in Saint-Etienne for children: December: Festimome: kind of festival with plays for children, spectacles (e.g., fireworks), carousels


April: “Tête de Mules”: Cinema la Sainte Barbe (short for Barbara, the patron of miners) = there is a parade with a marching band + fireworks and a show at the museum of the mine. Among the festivals, the book festival in October is very popular. Authors come from all over the country to present and sign their books. Prizes are awarded, etc.... also the music festival is a must on June 21st. There are bands EVERYWHERE and crowds of people outside until midnight or later! The French enjoy 11 national jours feriés (holidays) annually. The civic calendar was first instituted in 1582; Bastille Day was incorporated in 1789, Armistice Day in 1918, Labor Day in 1935, and Victory Day in 1945. During the month of May, there is a holiday nearly every week, so be prepared for stores, banks and museums to shut their doors for days at a time. It is a good idea to call museums, restaurants and hotels in advance to make sure they will be open. Trains and roads near major cities tend to get busy around the national holidays. Not coincidentally, this also happens to be the time when service unions (such as transporters, railroad workers, etc.) like to go on strike — something of a tradition, in fact. Travelers would do well to check ahead, particularly when planning a trip for the last week of June or first week of July! There are also many regional festivals throughout France. Under the law, every French citizen is entitled to 5 weeks of vacation. Most of the natives take their summer vacations in July or August, and many major businesses are then closed. All of France takes to the roads, railroads, boats, and airways. Consequently, traveling in France during August is generally not recommended for foreigners. 1 January New Year's Day (Jour de l'an) 1 May Labor Day (Fête du premier mai) 8 May WWII Victory Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945; Fête du huitième mai) 14 July Bastille Day (Fête nationale) (similar to the US 4th of July) 15 August Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Assomption) 1 November All Saints Day (La Toussaint) 11 November Armistice Day (Jour d'armistice) 25 December Christmas Day (Noël) 26 December 2nd Day of Christmas (in Alsace and Lorraine only) Tell me about typical families in Saint-Etienne. French families tend to be small, typically two children. The father is the head of the household. The parents are strict and instill in their children at an early age the manners and social courtesies their culture expects of them. They establish the


rules, regulations and behavior patterns, and children are expected to adhere unquestioningly. What do families do on their vacations? Family vacations are important to the French. They get more than five weeks a year paid vacation. Many split it between four weeks in the summer and Christmas week. About 80 percent of the people take their summer vacation in August when many establishments simply close down for the month. The majority spends their vacations within France rather than traveling abroad. The country’s beaches are a popular destination. When they do take a foreign vacation, Spain, Italy, Greece, Tahiti and the Seychelles are favorite destinations. What do parents of Saint-Etienne children do for work? The adults in Saint-Etienne do the same types of jobs as your parents: teachers, construction workers, shop workers, office workers, taxi drivers, factory workers, scientists, doctors and nurses, etc. How are the parents involved in their child’s school? - Help with homework - Elected school board - Open meetings - Parent / teacher associations – organizing social activities - Annual parent / teacher conferences - Appointments when desired - Some schools have web sites

There are associations with representatives sitting at school boards meetings. I've never heard of parents staying in classrooms but it may exist. What do they grow (agriculture) or make (manufacturing) in Saint-Etienne? We are not really an agricultural area. We do have a bit of everything and cows too. As for manufactures, many textile or bicycle factories have closed down in the past decades. We have one famous huge company that makes expensive but delicious chocolate (Weiss). Agriculture: Curing and processing, dairy products; mineral water; stock farming Cows, mainly. I have a friend living in Barcelona in Spain who comes here every week to buy cows that he sells to Spanish farmers. Would you call him a cow dealer?


Manufacturing: Chocolates; digital command industrial automatons; electronic measurement apparatus; electric lines and transformers; computers; glass; plastics; wood and furniture productions; paper and cardboard; printing; leather goods; chemistry and pharmaceuticals; silk weaving; contemporary fabrics and cotton products; ready-made clothing. Production of: special steels and machines, and related intermediary products, rolling and wire work declining; forge, punching, and pressing increasing, also milling and lathe work. What is the name of their professional sports team? Les Verts Professional Soccer Team (The “Green Machine”) Colors: Green and white (vert means green) Mascot: Black Panther Soccer is also called football. Our team is called The Greens and the football ground is called Geoffroy Guichard (named after the man who founded the Casino food stores and hypermarkets all over France and who donated liberally to start the 1st football team) and nicknamed the Green Caldron because of the "boiling" atmosphere during the games. This is due to their "cheer leaders” = crazy supporters who are divided into 2 gangs, the Green Angels and the Magic Fans. Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire, (ASSE or A.S. Saint-Étienne) are a French football team founded in 1920. They play their home games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the city of Saint Étienne. They are also one of the most successful teams in French Football history, with honours including 10 French First Division championship wins. Their primary rivals are Olympique Lyonnais, from nearby Lyon. A color for ever: Green; a mythical stadium: the Chaudron; an anthem: "Allez les Verts", a unique record of achievements: the only club to have a star on its shirt signifying 10 French championship titles, 52 players selected for the French national side… Just a few highlights in the history of the AS Saint-Étienne Football Club, founded in 1933. But above all, ASSE is a legendary club because of its record, its roots, its popularity and its media impact, all of which has given it enviable popularity over the past 30 years. Loved by the whole of France in the 1970s, ASSE marked French football as no one had yet done and as no one would do after. In this respect the team from the 1973-1977 period was named as the best-ever French team by L’Equipe Magazine in 2006. What type of government do they have in Saint-Etienne? Democratic; mayor and city council; very similar to Des Moines except that the mayoral position is a full-time job and elections are partisan. The Mayor of Saint-Etienne, Monsieur Maurice VINCENT, is also the President of the Saint-Etienne Metropole (economic development), and Conseiller régional (PS) Rhône-Alpes. He


took office on March 21, 2008. Mayor VINCENT has a Ph.D. in Economics and was the Président de l’Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne from 1997 to 2002. The new city manager is Monsieur Jean Gabriel MADINIER. He replaced Monsieur Jean-Claude LOUCHET in August 2008 following the March 2008 election. The former mayor is Senator Michel THIOLLIERE; he remains the Senator in the national French government for the Loire Department (region). How big is France? Area: 551,670 sq. km. (220,668 sq. mi.); largest west European country, about four-fifths the size of Texas. Cities: Capital--Paris. Major cities--Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Nice, Rennes, Lille, Bordeaux. Terrain: Varied. Climate: Temperate. What is the capital of France? Paris * Area: Approximately 105 square kilometres (41 square miles) * Population: 2.2 million in the city; 10.95 million in the Île de France area * Time Zone: GMT / UTC +1 * Tourism: 20 million visitors annually * Layout: Consists of 20 Arrondissements (Districts) Nationality: Adjective--French. Population (Jan. 1, 2007 est.): 63,392,140 (including overseas territories), 61,538,322 (metropolitan). Annual growth rate (2007 est.): 0.6%. Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Sub-Saharan African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities. Religion: Roman Catholic 85% (est.), Muslim 10% (est.), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%. Language: French. Education: Years compulsory--10. Literacy--99%. Health: Infant mortality rate (2007)--3.7/1,000. Work force (2005 est.): 27.637 million: Services--72.8%; industry and commerce--23.0%; agriculture--3.8%; undetermined--0.3%. Who is the president of France? President--Nicolas Sarkozy, elected in 2007 Prime Minister--François Fillon Foreign Minister--Bernard Kouchner


Ambassador to the United States--Pierre Vimont (pending accreditation) Ambassador to the United Nations--Jean-Marc Rochereau de la Sablière What are some special landmarks in France? * Paris

Eiffel Tower Avenue des Champs-Élysées River Seine Place de la Bastille Notre Dame Cathedral Musée du Louvre

* French Riviera * Normandy Region * French Alps * Channel Tunnel (also known as Chunnel or Eurotunnel); beneath the English Channel between England and France; opened May 6, 1994; 31.35 miles long; second-longest rail tunnel in the world; 13,000 workers and 7 years to construct. What special gift came from France? Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, NY City, National Park Service The people of France presented the Statue of Liberty to the people of the United States in 1886 to honor the friendship between the two nations. Today, it is recognized as a symbol of liberty throughout the world. Size and Weight: Statue: 151 feet tall, nearly 225 tons, copper over steel. Pedestal: 89 feet tall, granite. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" By Emma Lazarus, 1883, last part of the 14-line poem. Designers: Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, born in Colmar, France, in 1834. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, also designer of the Eiffel Tower, designed the interior iron framework. American architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the statue’s pedestal. Exhibit: A permanent exhibit in the museum at the base of the statue details the statue's origin and construction as well as the story of her evolution into an international symbol of liberty.


What French man was named as an honorary US Citizen? Marquis de Lafayette (General Lafayette) 1757-1834, birth place near Le Puy-en-Velay, near Saint-Etienne; named a son after his close friend George Washington and daughter Virginie after the state of Virginia; helped to win the US revolutionary war against England; participated in the French revolution; one of 6 honorary US citizens by an Act of Congress (1824 & 2002); many US cities, universities, streets, etc. are named in his honor. For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_du_Motier,_marquis_de_La_Fayette INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS Pronunciation “San-tay-tee-en” Citizens are called “Stephanois” "Étienne" is French equivalent of the Greek

Stephanos (Stephen in English). Stephanois also means crown.

City Population 195,000 inhabitants

2nd city in the Rhône-Alpes region 14th city of France by population

Metro Population 400,000 inhabitants (2nd in Rhône-Alpes behind Lyon)

7th urban area of France 8% of the region's population

Region Rhône-Alpes, SE quadrant of France Department Saint-Etienne is the capital of the Dept. of the

Loire Between two important rivers, the Rhone and the Loire in the valley of the Furan river. It is also near the foot of the Auvergue Mountains of the “Massif Central” and not far from the Alps. The city has existed under several names since Roman times or the eleventh century. Key Industries 12,000 companies; 170,000 jobs; 43% service sector; 32% industry; 18% commerce; 7% construction; 20,000 researchers; 20,000 students; 5 universities; 6 institutes of higher education. Four Centers of Excellence: Center for Water; Medical Technologies Center; Center for Mechanics; Optics and Vision Center. Formerly known for textiles, ribbons, bicycles, armor and weapons, and mining.


Time Time: 7 hours ahead of Des Moines When it is 9 AM in Des Moines, it is 4 PM in Saint-Etienne. When it is 6 PM in Des Moines, it is 1 AM in Saint-Etienne.

UTC is Coordinated Universal Time. GMT is Greenwich Mean Time. CET is Central European Time. Daylight saving time March 30-Oct. 26. London is 6 hours ahead of DSM.

Altitude 600 m (the highest large city in Europe) 422 m–1,117 m Land Area 79.97 km sq

(Des Moines is 76 sq mi, Polk County: 592 sq mi (1,533 km’)

Coordinates 45°26’ 05” N, 04°23’ 25” E Weather Temperate to almost-Mediterranean climate Distances Paris: 542 km (337 miles, Chicago Sister City)

Lyon: 60 km (38 miles, St. Louis Sister City) Le Puy: 74 km (46 miles) Grenoble: 160 km (100 miles) Marcheille: 336 km (209 miles) Bordeaux: 504 km (313 miles) Des Moines: 4,587 miles (7,381 km)

Currency EUR (Euro, European Union) Travel – Air Saint-Etienne's Bouthéon Airport; 200,000 passengers in 1998; 1 direct flight to London, 7 days a week; 7,000 passengers per week to Paris. Travel – Train 81 trips between Saint-Etienne and Lyon carrying 11,000 passengers per day. Eight direct 2 hour and 50 minute links with Paris per day by T.G.V. (express train) with 385,000 passengers per year. The famous railway station is named Châteaucreux. Travel – City Tramway The line runs for about 7 kilometers, from the North to the South of the town. There is also an important bus network and driving in Saint-Etienne is relatively easy. Thanks to its strategic location, Saint-Etienne is at the crossroads of major European transport routes. The city is at a central junction linking northern Europe (Germany, England, Belgium…) to southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal…) but is also on east


- west routes (Geneva/Bordeaux/Barcelona) - a clearly advantageous location in the heart of Europe. Languages Spoken French. Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Sub-Saharan African, Indochinese, and Basque minorities. Sister Cities Saint-Etienne has 18 sister cities (called twin cities) managed by the International Relations Dept. FRANCE The French have some more-down-to-earth attributes, such as being hard working, pragmatic, com-passionate and independent. They are a happy, sensible people with a love for life. They are also conservative and not prone to accepting change. The French are a private people. In public they are re-served and indifferent, lifting their veil of privacy only for family and close friends. But they do not quickly enter into friendships. Even with neighbors they are re-served and formal, and most people do not know their neighbors. The French are democratic, seeing all as deserving of equal consideration. They still adhere to the French Revolution’s heritage of liberty, equality and fraternity. Dignity and honor are important concepts. Honor includes not only personal honor but also that of France, friends, and family. France ranks among the world’s most economically advanced nations, and most people enjoy a high standard of living. The service sector is the driving force behind the French economy, employing 69 percent of the work force. Industry employs 26.5 percent of the work force and agriculture 5 percent. France has a major tourism industry. It’s 52 million plus visitors a year rank it third in the world of tourism, behind Spain and the US. It is a favored destination for German and British travelers. The largest manufacturing industries are aerospace (world’s third largest producer of aircraft), steel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, autos (world’s fourth largest manufacturer), railways, glass, machinery, electrical equipment, household appliances, electronics, paper and plastics. The French are strong in heavy engineering, giving the country the TGV high-speed train network and its nuclear industry, which provides about 75 percent of the country’s electricity.


France possesses one of the world’s largest defense industries, manufacturing its own tanks, aircraft — including the respected Mirage and Rafale jets — and missiles, including the Exocet. Much of its weapons production is exported. France is also a manufacturer and exporter of high-quality luxury goods — furniture, silverware, perfumes, jewelry, high-fashion clothing, luggage, foodstuffs, wine, champagne and brandy. France has a tradition of state-owned industry. Although a conservative government sold off some industrial sectors during 1986 to 1988, much of the economy remains in the state’s hands. Some high-tech industries, such telecommunications, are not run strictly as commercial enterprises but as a matter of national pride. Imports (2006)--$523.6 billion (fob): oil and natural gas, automobiles, aircraft and aircraft components, refined petroleum products, automobile equipment, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel products, and computers/computer-related products. Major trading partners--EU and U.S. Principal French exports to the United States are aircraft and engines, beverages, electrical equipment, chemicals, cosmetics, and luxury products. France is the ninth-largest trading partner of the United States. France is the seventh-largest receiver of Iowa exports ($247M, 2.6% share in 2007). Saint-Etienne Schools With its department of 380 staff, the City has the job of maintaining, renovating and building primary schools. In line with its objective to refurbish most of the city’s 104 pubic schools by 2007, the city implemented an ambitious program intended to create an educational structure to help children achieve their full potential. In total, it will have spent over $30,860,130 USD (Jan. 11, 2008 conversion of 21 million euros) from 2001 to 2007 to refurbish school facilities. In parallel with this, together with Saint-Etienne Metropole, the City is continuing its plan to equip schools with IT equipment (software, computers, printers, Internet, digital cameras, etc.). Saint-Etienne is making changes to the existing extra-curricular activities (educational support, monitored study periods, events, etc.) to take better care of children. The main objective: ending academic failure through a very close local educational partnership. In 2005, the City began signing a local educational contract with the state and with the National Educational Authority to organize “Educational Tracking” to help children who are in difficulty and to improve the extra-curricular activities offered. Saint-Etienne oversees the fact that every child, whatever their background, can access cultural activities.


How important is education in France? Similar to the United States, education is a major concern of French families. How far children will go in life depends on scholastic achievement. France maintains an excellent public education system, which gets about 20 percent of the national budget. The system is highly centralized, and in the hand of the Ministry of Education, and most schools have little control over their activities. The education ministry organizes curriculum, prepares exams and oversees staffing. French education stresses theory – intellectual training and abstract thinking. It strives to shape the mind, develop good judgment and instill a reliance on reason as the best guide for belief and action. In the last year of secondary school, students must also take philosophy. France is the world’s only country to make philosophy mandatory for all students. EDUCATION IN FRANCE – What schools for tomorrow? From France Diplomatie web site At the age of six, usually after having spent two or three years in a nursery school, a child goes into primary school. He spends five years there, during which he will learn mainly reading, writing and arithmetic. He is also introduced to a foreign language, usually English, as well as to new technologies, such as IT. Classes include both boys and girls, and are usually taught by a teacher who covers all the subjects. Primary schooling, for a long time organised in year groups, is now divided into more flexible mixed year groups. They correspond to a desire to tailor the school curriculum more individually and adapt it to each child’s rate of progress. The "basic learning cycle" begins in the final year of nursery school and continues in the primary school (CP and CE1). It places emphasis on the acquisition of languages - French and maths - and of key concepts in civics and in relating to learning about the world. It also leaves plenty of room for the development of motor functions and sensitivity. The "advanced learning cycle" covers the last three years of primary school (CE2, CM1 and CM2). It builds on what has already been learnt and introduces the first concepts and processes relating to the subjects that will be studied in the collège. This arrangement makes it possible to take account of the wide variation in speed of learning. Two hours a week are set aside for supervised studies and for individual help. Networks of specialist assistance for pupils with special needs (Rased) look after children with the most serious learning difficulties. Secondary education comprises two successive cycles, the collège (from the first year of secondary school to the fourth) and the lycée (fifth, sixth and final). From the ages of eleven to fifteen, 95% of children (compared to 75% a quarter of a century ago) now attend the collège for four years. Lessons are no longer taught by just one teacher, but by specialist subject teachers (French, maths, history-geography, sciences, physical education, foreign languages, etc.).


Each pupil must also take two "learning itineraries" per year, for two hours a week, chosen from four broad disciplines: nature and the human body, arts and humanities, languages and civilisations or design and technology. These courses are designed to allow teachers of different subjects to work together and explore part of the curriculum with their pupils in greater depth. Saint-Etienne Attractions – examples The Museum of Modern Art in Saint-Etienne is one of the most important galleries of modern and contemporary art in France, outside of Paris. Collections include works by Picasso and Warhol. "Within a space of 4000 sq. m. of huge and shiny exhibition halls, find a collection universally recognized as a major one for XXth and XXIst century art and international stature exhibitions.” “Saint-Etienne Modern Art Museum, thanks to the importance of its collections, is counted among the big national and international institutions specialized in modern and contemporary art. Beside painting collections (Picasso, Léger, Dubuffet, Soulages, Stella, Warhol, Viallat, Richter, Polke…), sculpture (Arp, Richier, Kalder, Oldenburg, Judd, Morris, Pagès, Venet, Lavier…), drawings as Victor Brauner collection, set-up (Buren, Gerdes, Schütte, Hirschhorn), the museum has also gathered a group of most significant Design in France, as well as an important collection of photographs (from Nadar to today).” The Mining Museum is dedicated to the history of mining, which was an important part of the regions economy for a considerable time. It is housed underground on the site of a former mine and is reach by an extraction cage similar to that which the miners used when it was a working mine. Art and Industry Museum Men, ribbons, weapons, and bicycles. In an extraordinary site, extended and renovated since December 2001, the Art and Industry museum welcome you in a park in the middle of city centre. Ribbons, shuttles, weavings, needle plates, matches, bomb-ketches, dandy-horses, penny-farthings, derailleurs: throughout the visit of the permanent or temporary original exhibitions, alive and interactive, you will enjoy discovering regional history and those of men who has written it. Explore the Art and Industry museum, it's like going and meet our ribbon makers, ingenious technicians, masters of a complex mechanics. Enter this building it's like getting into a place that has known how to keep the magic of these past 150 years. Finally, it's like sharing a sheer moment of pleasure where everybody will catch themselves playing, learning, being surprised, looking, even thinking in a pleasant way!


The Planetarium in Saint-Etienne offers some spectacular shows including thousand stars and planets, the moon, the sun and even a trip on board a spaceship to unusual worlds. The Workshops and The Best Craftsmen of France Museum To keep, perpetuate know-how and love of good work that is the declaration of faith from the "Best Craftsmen of France Workshops". - Four hundred carved works represent more than one hundred years of carving and show the brilliance of these workers. - Twenty-one square meters of painted glasses from Bobichon blaze in bright light. - Numerous works from competition in all material and several disciplines. Urban Transports Museum of Saint-Etienne and Its Region A St Etienne retrospective full-scale history of urban transports, from its first tram to nowadays. The Rotunda – C.C.S.T.I St. Etienne and Loire Centre de culture scientifique - technique et industrielle Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines 158 Cours Fauriel "In the centre of an engineering school, sciences are within everybody's reach. La Rotonde, scientific, technical and industrial cultural centre from Saint-Etienne and Loire, offers entertainment, exhibitions, shows about sciences and technics.” Resistance and Loire Deportation Memorial By getting involved in an historical development through several photographic documents, accounts, synthetic texts, newspapers, interned prisoners clothes, armament… and a scale model of the concentration camp of Buchenwald, you will discover what were the concentration camp Nazi universe and the reality of the Resistance in the Loire (Wodli and Boussoulet maquis, 93 et Espoir (Hope), le groupe Ange (Angel)…) By keeping and passing the Memory of all those who refused servitude, this Memory Place reminds that the message of the Resistance members and Interned Prisoners exceed their own suffering and carries with it strong and current values. Saint-Etienne boasts some excellent cultural attractions including the Comedie Jean Daste theatre, the Esplanade Opera House and the Saint-Etienne Jazz Club. Much of the town is a work of art in itself, however - notably the old quarter around Rue des Martyrs de Vingres. La Grande Rue, the city's main street, is equally impressive, with elegant 19th-century townhouses and wide-open squares full of bars and restaurants.


While St Etienne is bustling and vibrant, the surrounding region offers tranquility. This stunning section of the Loire Valley, boasting such natural treasures as the Pilat National Park and the Lac de Grangent, is centered around St Etienne, a lively modern city with a fascinating industrial past. The pretty village of Saint-Victor, just 15 minutes' drive to the west, has an imposing castle, an 11th-century church and hilltop views of the Lac de Grangent. Nov 2007 from Wikipedia Brief History of St Etienne Saint-Etienne is situated on the eastern edge of the Massif Central in the south of the Loire region and at the heart of an area populated by 450,000 people, and stretches out between the valleys and hills. In the Middle Ages it was no more than a village. During the Ancien Régime Saint-Étienne was a town of fewer than 30,000 people. The existence of coal and a great many streams made it possible for the town to establish the foundations of its industrialisation during the 15th and 16th centuries. This took the form of developing its arms, cutlery, weaving and dyeing industries. The Industrial Revolution provided the means for considerable development and Saint-Etienne became France’s leading major industrial town during the 19th Century. By focusing on know-how and tremendous innovation, Saint-Etienne has since become dedicated to industrial creation and design. While manufacturers of furnishing trimmings, armourers and cycle manufacturers may have played the biggest parts in the economic life of the region over the ages, its inhabitants were also pioneers in industrial design. Design, combined with the desire to spread their ideas abroad, thus quietly became a part of everyday life for its creative inhabitants. Saint-Etienne has always known how to preserve the necessary dialogue between art and industry, as illustrated by the initiative shown by its industries, which, since 1857 have looked in particular towards the region’s Art School as a means of improving their products and for inventing new ones. The fact that most of its inhabitants were labourers ensured that immigrants were especially welcomed into the mining and other heavy industries. As a result, a feeling of conviviality in everyday life emerged. This is demonstrated by the dynamism of the town, which is a candidate for the European Capital of Culture, as well as by Sir Norman Foster’s construction of the Rhône Alpes Zenith.


Various cultural sites serve as a reminder to this tradition, including the Museum of Art and Industry, the Mining Museum, the Museum of Modern Art as well as the architectural heritage of Le Corbusier in Firminy. Design is a part of Saint-Etienne’s history, and it is also set to be a part of its future. Design and engineering have won such acclaim that these concepts constitute a leading part of the town’s cultural and economic landscape. This can readily be seen in ambitious projects such as the Cité de Design (City of Design), the Pole Optique Rhône-Alpes (the Rhône-Alpes optics centre) and Fumihiko Maki’s Cité des affaires (business city). QUICK FACTS – SAINT-ETIENNE Fact 1: From its construction in the 15th century straight through to today, the Place du Peuple has been St Etienne's social and commercial hub. The bustling square is surrounded by cafes and shops, where folks tend to linger over their coffee and conversation. The weekly market is held here on Sunday mornings, making this an ideal time to check out the square. Fact 2: Astronef, St Etienne's state-of-the-art planetarium, features the only space simulator in France. The virtual "ride" takes you on a guided trip into space, for a unique out of this world experience! Fact 3: St Etienne is the birthplace of the sewing machine. In 1830, inventor Barthelemy Thimonnier fashioned an automatic sewing device, using a double-pointed needle attached to a wheel-driven rod. Fact 4: Tourists are welcome here! Although St Etienne has historically been an industrial city, with weapons manufacturing and coal mining being its top income producers, it has reinvented itself in recent years. Awarded France's coveted City of Art and Design award, the city now enjoys a brisk tourist trade. Fact 5: If you're planning a visit to St Etienne, try to schedule it in October. The Rhino Jazz Festival hits the region then, with numerous concerts staged in and around town. Past performers at the jazz festival have included Nina Van Horn, Otis Taylor, British trombonist Michael Buxton, the French Orchestre National de Jazz, the Count Basie Orchestra, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Fact 6: The first French railway was started in St Etienne in 1827, with trams being pulled by horses. Châteaucreux railway station, constructed in 1885-1886, commemorates this milestone. Fact 7: The best way to get familiar with a city is on foot. The St Etienne Tourist Board recognizes this, and offers free-guided tours for both individuals and groups. It's a great way to see the sights and get the inside scoop on restaurants and bars.


Fact 8: Giron, an old velvet factory, has been carefully renovated and converted into the amazing Parc Giron antique mall. The original stonewalls, brickwork, and vaults are intact, making it an intriguing place to visit, even if you're not looking for antiques. Fact 9: Saint-Etienne is proud of its colorful soccer history. The first club in France to earn major European status, the team won numerous much-coveted awards throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Today's club is making somewhat of a comeback, and is one of 20 teams in Division 1 of 'le Championnat' – French Ligue 1. Fact 10: Originally built atop a landfill, the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium opened in 1931, and has hosted soccer matches ever since. The structure has been updated many times, and seats some 36,000 spectators today. Fans affectionately call it "The Cauldron." RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS Possible Projects – 2nd Grade

1) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity 2) Coal mining 3) Bicycle history 4) General Lafayette 5) Eiffel Tower 6) Statue of Liberty 7) Chunnel 8) French cheeses

MAPS See the US Dept. of State / Country Background Notes / France for map of France showing Saint-Etienne, flag and photo of Eiffel Tower in Paris. Go to US Dept. of State, click countries, click background notes, click France. www.state.gov BOOKS FOR TEACHERS Excellent --- $12 Pay online and download immediately. Culture Briefing: France; Your guide to the culture and customs of the French people --- published by GEOTRAVEL RESEARCH CENTER, INC.1970 E. Osceola Pkwy., Suite 352Kissimmee, Florida 34743-8629, Tel: 800-627-6042 or 407-348-9368 • Fax: 407-348-7330 E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.CultureBriefings.com WEB SITES OF INTEREST Greater Des Moines Sister City Commission --- with web links for most sister cities – The GDMSCC is under the City Manager’s Dept., City of Des Moines.


http://www.dmsistercities.org Statue of Liberty --- www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm French words and expressions used in English http://french.about.com/library/bl-frenchinenglish-list.htm Embassy of France has a great website http://www.ambafrance-us.org/kids/ent/base.asp?games 2nd Grade Online Project – New York A curriculum and activities used by a second grade teacher in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Some fun ideas including a counting book you can print and make. http://www.pocanticohills.org/france/france.htm Books for children of this age In English about France : Barnaby Bear’s Day Trip to Paris (website story with traditional Parisian accordeon music. Cute but British and may be harder to relate to traveling from U.S. – unless start after the real introduction...) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/barnabybear/stories/paris.shtml French storybook characters : often available in English Babar the elephant … Storybook Travels: From Eloise's New York to Harry Potter's London, Visits to 30 of the Best-Loved Landmarks in Children's Literature (Paperback) Includes Paris. Linnea in Monet's Garden by Cristina Bjork, Lena Anderson, and Joan Sandin A wonderful sojourn in Paris and surrounding areas, visiting museums, eating at typical French cafés, and spotting the famous water lilies at Monet’s home in Giverny, all celebrated in Linnea in Monet’s Garden Good selection of popular children’s books translated in French like Goodnight Moon (Bonsoir Lune) Rhyming counting book, Goldilocks, etc. available at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Un-Deux-Trois-French-Rhymes/dp/1845076230/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200579946&sr=1-3 Easy French storybooks with DVD http://www.amazon.com/Easy-French-Storybook-Little-McGraw-Hills/dp/0071461671


GEOGRAPHY LEARNING Active weather site of France – shows rain, sun, etc. for the countyr. http://www.meteofrance.com/FR/mameteo/prevPays.jsp?LIEUID=FRANCE LANGUAGE LEARNING TOOLS Nice assortment of French language flash cards : http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=french%20flash%20cards&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_10552852_2&results-process=default DES MOINES AREA FRENCH INTERESTS Saint-Etienne High School Exchanges 1. Johnston HS, Mrs. Mary Moermond, [email protected] 2. Ankeny HS, Mrs. Michelle (Chele) Raasch, [email protected] More DSM area HS are needed for annual exchanges. Many, many StE students are not selected due to not enough host schools in Polk County. Iowa Culinary Institute (ICI), DMACC – Culinary Arts Program French Dinners & Visiting Chefs & May Trip to StE (StE and Lyon) Partnership since 1985 with L'association des Cuisiniers de la Loire Chef Robert L. Anderson, [email protected] Maura Nelson, 965 – 7032, [email protected] Drake University: partner universities in Nantes and Auvergne, France; StE is not in these regions. Alliance Française of Central Iowa Founded in Paris in 1883, the Alliance Française works to promote French language and culture. This organization thrives not only in Paris but around the world. The original Alliance has expanded to include over 1,135 associations in 138 countries. Today there are 130 chapters active in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Alliance Française of Central Iowa is a dues-paying member of the Federation of Alliances Françaises USA. Founded in 1994, our organization focuses its resources on promoting and supporting local interest in French language and culture. For more information call Pat Westphal, 277-5741 in Des Moines or Danny Ketchum, DMPS, [email protected].


French-owned Companies in Iowa As of Aug. 2004 1. Bostik, Inc., DM, Adhesives & Sealants 2. Insul-8 Corp., Harlan, Electrical power delivery systems, mobile electrification systems 3. LaFarge North America, Buffalo, manufacturer of cement 4. Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc., DM, plastic packaging 5. Roquette America, Keokuk, corn sweeteners, starches, cerbitol 6. Square D/Schneider Electric, Cedar Rapids, Electric distribution equipment, industrial circuit breakers 7. US Filter/Water Treatment Systems, Ames, Water and wastewater treatment 8. Eurofins Scientific, Inc., a life sciences company operating laboratories in 24 countries to provide a comprehensive range of analytical testing services drawing on the latest developments in biotechnology. The Group specializes in delivering analytical testing and advisory services to clients from a wide range of industries including the pharmaceutical, food and environmental sectors. 9. Shaeffer, Inc., formerly in Fort Madison, writing instruments, a subsidiary of the French company Siciete BIC – Closed in 2008. Martha Nelson Chair, Saint-Etienne Committee Greater Des Moines Sister City Commission (GDMSCC) Home: 2814 – 44th Street, DSM, IA 50310 279 – 2178 [email protected] Document prepared by volunteer Martha Nelson. www.dmsistercities.org Revised February 2010

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