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Sophie Ricouard, Preschool Pedagogic Director

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Originally from Brittany, Sophie earned a Masters of Education Degree in Montpellier. Since 2001, she has taught in pre-elementary school, from PK1 to Kindergarten. After three years of teaching in France, Sophie worked at the Lycée Français de New York for four years and then at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley for a year. She has worked at SDFAS since September 2009 as a Kindergarten teacher. For her, “to teach is to touch a life forever”. She has implemented several interdisciplinary projects at SDFAS (as well as) and focuses on authentic learning through the arts and music. She is passionate about pedagogy and innovative approaches to learning in a bilingual school. She believes that starting children on the bilingual path will become a hallmark of their education. Her goal is to foster the children’s positive development through play and experiments while developing autonomy, understanding of their environment, and early literacy. She is the mother of Jane, who has attended San Diego French-American School since PK0.

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Parents' Guide
 

Welcome to the Pre-Elementary School! - San Diego French American School

The Pre-Elementary School begins with PK0 through Kindergarten.

A world-acclaimed program

San Diego French-American School's pre-elementary program features a developmentally appropriate curriculum for two- to five-year-olds. It combines the French preschool philosophies of such highly respected cognitive theorists as Piaget and Montessori, among others.

The Pre-Elementary School

The Pre-elementary school's goals are to help each child to become independent, and to expand their skills and knowledge by using various strategies. Children are prepared for first grade.

The goals of the pre-elementary school are for the child to acquire a rich vocabulary and a structured language, to be understood by others, and to incorporate concepts through a variety of rich experiences. Children may socialize for the first time in this new environment.

At SDFAS, children are exposed to a well-defined balance of structured and "free activities." They evolve in a bilingual environment, absorbing language quickly, effortlessly and naturally as they develop special relationships with peers and adults.

Children develop their fine and gross motor skills, sensory skills and social skills. They also experience emotional growth, they discover the written world, they expand their knowledge, and they slowly mature into students.

The pre-elementary program is divided into five different areas of activities to allow each child to acquire the skills necessary to the continue in elementary school: Acquiring language skills and discovering writing, study habits, gross motor skills, visual arts and music and the world.

The pre-elementary program allows time for each child to be comfortable in her/his new environment and respects each child's development.

A strong foundation

The curriculum facilitates the acquisition of important pre-academic skills, such as pre-reading, pre-writing, writing and math concepts, through social interaction and play, all appropriate to the individual child's level of development. This structure helps build the strong foundation so necessary for later academic success. Most of the preschool curriculum is taught in French to create a real immersion experience and build strong language skills, which are necessary to follow the elementary school curriculum. Children learn French in a natural way, without any pressure, through guided activities, by watching their teacher, and by imitation of their peers.

Language skills

Numerous studies show that children have the ability to learn languages at an early age. Not only can they learn one or two languages in addition to their mother tongue, but learning a language will help them expand their learning potential and to perform better in their native language. At SDFAS, students benefit from a dual-immersion program. They learn French and continue to develop their skills in English. As of September 2012, students also may study Mandarin in PK1, PK2, and Kindergarten, with two sessions of 30 minutes per week.

Qualified teachers

The faculty is a team of pre-elementary French teachers who have the same training as primary school teachers and have extensive experience in early childhood education. Each holds a French teaching credential from the French Ministry of Education and the equivalent of a Master's Degree in Education.

Each of our pre-elementary American teachers has a California teaching credential.

Assistant teachers

Our assistant teachers have a minimum of nine Early Childhood Education (ECE) units. All members of our staff are certified in first aid and CPR.

Small class size

Maintaining small classes, from 11 to 18 students, allows greater individualized attention for each child.

Optional Classes

A Mandarin Option is available at a ratio of two sessions of 30 minutes per week. Through manipulative, songs, Chinese characters, stories children are exposed to the oral and written language. These classes are provided by All About Mandarin Academy.

A French Option, French reinforcement through science, music, and math is offered to students who do not choose the Mandarin Option. Enrollment is reviewed and confirmed by the director.

  • French Education system
  • American Education system
  • Student age
  • Ecole maternelle
  • Pre-elementary school
  • 2-4 years
  • Grande section
  • Kindergarten
  • 5-6 years

Patricia Kubiak-Hardiman, Preschool Pedagogic Director