Smith Middle School Euro-Talk! Thank you to the European Union ~"Getting to Know Europe"

Bonne Saint-Valentin!

2012-02-14T13:47:00.002-05:00

C'est le 14 fevrier autour du monde. C'est une grande fete commerciale avec des cartes, des cadeaux de chocolat et des surprises! Quelle est l'origine de cette fete?
Qu'est-ce que tu fais pour feter cette journee- a l'ecole et en famille? Est-ce que tu portes quelque chose de speciale? envoyer des cartes? acheter de petits cadeaux? A qui est-ce que tu donnes ces cadeaux? Quelles expressions est-ce que tu aimes?
Amities, mme

Visit by EU diplomat on Feb 7th at Smith Middle

2012-01-19T19:20:00.007-05:00

Smith Middle School is honored to welcome Ms. Silvia Kofler, the Head of Press and Public Diplomacy at the EU Delegation in Washington, DC on February 7, 2012 from 9:00-10:30am. Ms. Kofler will give a presentation of the future of Europe in the context of crisis in the school auditorium. The UNC Center for European Studies will be hosting the same public lecture by Ms. Kofler at 3:30pm in the FedEx Global Education Center.

http://www.eurunion.org/eu/Press-Team/Silvia-Kofler-Biography.html

Questions for my students:
1. What do you know about the European Union?
2. What do you know about Europe's economic crisis?
3. How can the EU help Europe become more economically stable?
4. What can the American government and/or the American citizen do to help Europe?

Thank you to the European Union

2011-12-23T08:41:00.000-05:00

Please watch this video and comment!

Make your own slide show at Animoto.

Walk for Education and the EU

2011-10-07T06:57:00.005-05:00

Bonjour! Please enjoy the photos for the Walk for Education on Oct. 1st.
Why do you think we had so many flags and the motto: United in Diversity?
Did you know that Smith Middle School was awarded a "Getting to Know Europe" grant for 77,000 euros?? What does that mean to you? What did you see at the Walk for Education? If you could not go, what do you notice in the pictures?
Enjoy and learn about the Euro and the EU!
www.europa.eu
Please leave a comment - just put your first name and the first initial of your last name. Merci!
Go to this link for pictures: https://picasaweb.google.com/rmcmah01/October22011

September 11, 2011 - 10 years later

2011-09-11T18:54:00.006-05:00

It has been 10 years since the attacks on American soil. These attacks touched many lives throughout the world in horrific ways. Our lives have changed since this date ten years ago, but our spirits have not. Please read the letters written by our Belgian pen pals ten years ago. You can find them in the voice thread below - please leave a comment on how September 11th affected you or your family and how you can make a difference for the future. Thank you to the European Union for supporting our exchange since 2007. Click on the arrow below, listen to my voice and add your comment by clicking on my picture and changing the identity (upload your pic or icon), press the comment button and start talking!! We will listen!

Vive la Rentree!!

2011-08-25T10:41:00.004-05:00

Aujourd'hui, c'est le 25 aout a Smith Middle School en Caroline du Nord.
Comment est ce jour a l'ecole? Qu'est-ce que vous faites en classe? A quelle heure est-ce que vous arrivez a l'ecole? Comment? en bus, en train, en voiture?
Est-ce que vous portez des nouveaux vetements? nouvelles chaussures?
Quelles sont vos traditions pour la rentree?
Repondez en francais ou en anglais!!

http://voicethread.com/share/2195765/

La semaine avant la Rentree.....

2011-08-12T15:59:00.002-05:00

What are you doing the final week count-down before school starts on August 25th?
Share your activities, thoughts, fears and hopes....

EU seminar August 11, 2011

2011-08-10T17:49:00.003-05:00

Welcome teachers to the EU seminar at Smith Middle school.
I hope you will find this online binder informative and useful.
On this blog, you will find reflections of students' travel experiences, pictures and video links to highlight the Belgian exchange and Europe Day celebrations at Smith.
Thanks to funding from the EU's Getting to Know Europe grants of 2007, 2009 and 2011, over 100 students, 20 teachers and three administrators have traveled to France and Belgium to learn about the EU, stay with families and visit the European Commission.

EU / AATF Presentations 2011

Please let me know if you find this information useful.
Robin McMahon
rmcmahon@chccs.k12.nc.us

AATF 2011 Conference participants

2011-06-29T22:28:00.002-05:00

Here is a binder of activities/websites/articles and videos on the European Union - please feel free to download, copy, modify and use in your classrroms. Please leave a comment below if this needs to be changed or if there is something you like. Leave your email address in the comment section and I will send you updates to this folder.

Merci et bonne continuation!! key word: AATF 2011

AATF Presentation July 2011

Happy Europe Day! Happy Europe Week!

2011-05-08T11:39:00.005-05:00

This week is historic not only for the European Union but also for Smith Middle School and the Chapel Hill/Carrboro City school district. Together we will be celebrating the ongoing transatlantic partnership betweeen Europe and the United States. This collaboration has strengthened through the years since the "Schuman Declaration" on May 9, 1950. This week on May 10th, thanks to the EU's "Getting to Know Europe" grant award, Smith Middle will host a middle school district EU jeopardy challenge, Walk for Unity, student project displays, keynote speaker discussing the ongoing friendship of EU/US since WWII, and videos of the Belgian and China exchange programs. Visitors will enjoy European foods, music and academic enrichment from 4:30-8:30pm on Tuesday, May 10th. Everyone is invited!!!
Students...please visit the Delegation of the European Union in Washington's website:http://www.eurunion.org/eu and answer the following questions:
1. What does the EU want to create?
2. Who is the EU Ambassador to the United States and what does he appreciate?
3. Look under his picture to the right and click on the welcome video..what is the main idea of his speech?
4. In celebration of Europe Day all the embassies had a open house - click on this brochure and describe three embassies you would visit if you had been in Washington that day - explain why. http://www.eurunion.org/eu/images/stories/2011ophsebrochure-map.pdf
5. Will you be attending the events at Smith Middle on May 10th? What events are you most excited about? If you went on the Belgian exchange trip, what reflections would you like to share with the audience? Site for Smith events: http://www2.chccs.k12.nc.us/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=76914&

Back from Belgium and France - Thank you to the EU

2011-04-11T19:25:00.005-05:00

We are home ~ we are changed in more ways than I can describe. After the jet lag wears off, I will post reflections that will hopefully capture the depth of learning and sense of self-efficacy that we all experienced. But for now, I am depending on you, the traveler, the reader to post your thoughts..take a look at the pictures on the right and describe what you see and/or answer some guiding questions but they are optional:
If you participated on the Belgian exchange trip...
1. What was your most memorable moment? Describe it so we all can "see" it
2. What did you learn about conservation? WWII? the European Union?
3. What did you learn about yourself?
4. Would you recommend this experience to others? Why?
If you did not participate on the exchange....
1. Describe an experience when you interacted with someone from another culture..what did you learn from it?
2. How can we be more eco-friendly? What can you do?
3. Is learning a second or third language important? Why?

To read Chapel Hill Magazine's Blogs or see pics uploaded by Mr. Bennett click here
https://sites.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/belgian-trip-2011/

Merci a Mme Shafroth, Mr. Norako et Mr. Shomo

2011-03-17T07:23:00.002-05:00

What happens when students speak with a WWII Marine colonel, a WWII African-American soldier that fought at the Battle of the Bulge and a French woman who lived in Paris when it was liberated in August, 1944? Magic- poems, thoughtful reflections that run deep and comments such as "it is hard to imagine..." and "this is history come alive". Many of my 8th grade students will be walking the beaches of Normandy (Omaha Beach), visiting the American cemeteries in France and Belgium, and taking a specially designed (made by two students) vessel of peace filled with beads collected by 6th grade students in remembrance of the Jewish lives lost in WWII to the holocaust memorial in Paris. This journey will be a walk with history that will be recorded in their journals, shared in a research paper on their return, and displayed in photojournalistic posters for Smith's Europe Day on May 10th. Moreover, these students will be adding the European perspective as they interview their Belgian host families about WWII. The visitors listed above told their stories - of fear, valor, racism and "total war"...of questions such as the dropping of the A-bombs to stop the war to how can we maintain global peace - to think beyond our borders to a world filled with justice and humane treatment.

Our travels which begin this weekend are largely funded through the European Union. Thank you for this mission of peace as our students become "Peacemakers "en herbe".
Robin McMahon

Globewatch documentary

2011-02-19T19:36:00.002-05:00

UNC TV has published an amazing documentary about Smith students and teachers traveling abroad in 2009. It is in high definition and teaches A LOT about culture, friendships and Europe rising from the ravages of WWII. Watch this film and learn about the European Union - and please thank this organization for awarding Smith Middle school a "Getting to Know Europe" grant - for making DREAMS COME TRUE.
Documentary: Globewatch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxXYR7f7yoA

We will talk to our Belgian friends on Feb 21st

2011-02-19T19:31:00.002-05:00

It is so exciting!!We will see our Belgian pen pals over the internet on Monday.
These are our international friends who have opened their hearts and homes to us - the people we will be friends with for many, many years. We will attend classes with them ( wonder what it's like to learn latin or MATH???in French?, visit a GREEN exhibit together and travel to Brussels to learn about the European/American connection through history. What questions will I ask? What will you ask them?

Quel est ton Reve?

2011-02-11T07:46:00.002-05:00

Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr had a dream for racial equality, peace and harmony between all people. The European Union was established to realize similar goals for its family of 27 nations. The EU's flag of twelve stars in a circle represent "l'unite, solidarite et l'harmonie" for the European people.
What are your dreams for yourself, your family and your world? You are welcome to answer in French or English....
Remember to put your first name and first initial of your last name.
Merci. Mme

Bonne Annee and Thank you to the EU !

2011-01-01T09:44:00.006-05:00

Welcome to 2011!! Bonne annee, joyeuses fetes!!

Today marks the beginning of our 2011-2012 grant award presented to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City school district by the European Union Amazing. The 77,000 (+) funds in euros (about $100,000) will support the European/Belgian exchange project this March as 31 students, 6 teachers, 1 principal and one journalist will travel to France, and Belgium for two weeks. One week will be spent traveling to Paris, Normandy and Brussels and the second week will be in host families in Liege. The funds will also help support activities with our Belgian friends when they come here in spring 2012. The EU grant also funds professional development for EU learning for district teachers as well as community events such as the Euro-zone for Global Connections and Europe Day in May.

I (we) are so grateful the European Union accepted our proposal - please watch the slide-show below to see our students in action in Europe in 2009- our 2011 trip will be visiting many of the same places. This trip was also largely funded through the EU. Leave comments and Bonne Annee!!
Visit the announcement on this grant award on http://www.chccs.k12.nc.us
Mme McMahon

Thank You to The European Union Slideshow: Belgian’s trip from Raleigh, North Carolina, United States to 6 cities Paris, Brussels, Chapel Hill, Liège, Bastogne and Haute-Normandie (near Barentin, Haute-Normandie, France) was created by TripAdvisor. See another United States slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

Echange linguistique en avril 2010

2010-09-20T19:52:00.004-05:00

After watching this video, explain the following:

1. Who are the students in this video? Whom do you recognize?

2. What is the purpose of this cross-cultural seminar in the mountains?

3. What kinds of things to you imagine these students did together?

4. What effect does this event have on the participating students?

5. Could you see yourself spending time with teens from another country? speaking French? What kinds of things would you like to do if you could spend time with a group of Belgian teens?

Soyez Bienvenue a la rentree!

2010-08-31T15:07:00.002-05:00

Pour nos amis belges, le 1 septembre c'est la rentree.
Pour les americains c'etait le 25 aout.
Alors, voici des questions:
A quoi sert l'ecole? Est-ce que vous aimez le college?
Quelles matieres est-ce que vous preferez?
Pourquoi est-ce que l'ecole est importante?
Pour vous, quels sont vos meilleurs moments de la journee?
Laissez un commentaire...s.v.p.

July 4th: America's Birthday

2010-07-01T13:25:00.002-05:00

What are you doing to celebrate the 234th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence drafted by our third president, Thomas Jefferson?
We became a free nation in 1776 and no longer part of British rule. All over the U.S., American flags will fly, fireworks will crack and families will gather for a special day of fun ....what are YOU doing on this American holiday?
For more information on the 4th of July, visit this site: www.history.com/topics/july-4th

Les grandes vacances!

2010-06-21T06:03:00.002-05:00

Bienvenue a l'ete!

Qu'est-ce que vous faites pendant les vacances? Est-ce que vous...

rendez visite a la famille ?
assister a une colonie de vacances?
voyagez?
allez a la piscine?
nettoyez la maison/l'appartement?
faites des sports?
lisez des livres? quels livres?
pratiquez a parler francais?

Who wants to TRAVEL to Belgium March 2011

2010-05-15T14:58:00.003-05:00

If you want to go to Belgium, respond to this post and explain why.

What do you need to "earn" a spot on the trip? How will you help raise your personal funds?

How will this trip "change" your life?

Bring your parents, friends and supporters to Smith's auditorium Wed, May 26th to see UNC TV reporter Rob Holliday's documentary on the 2009-2010 Belgian exchange. Come at 6pm for a pot-luck dinner (please bring a dish to share) and the film from 7-8pm.

If you are interested in helping fund teachers and low-income students, please email Robin McMahon: rmcmahon@chccs.k12.nc.us

Our Friends have come and gone...

2010-05-02T21:07:00.002-05:00

Bonjour...Vous nous manquez...that means we miss you...our Belgian friends. Thank you for spending April 6-28th with us - much longer because of the volcano. This extra time together brought many good things...my students would like to share with you how spending 12 extra days together enriched their lives.

Our Belgian friends will be here soon

2010-02-11T22:19:00.002-05:00

Please watch the slideshows to the right and describe what you see. What do you think will happen when thirty Belgian students visit Smith Middle next April? What will you do? jump in and speak French as best you can? make new friends? hide behind the armoire?

For those of you hosting a student, what is your biggest fear? what do you want to happen?

Have you been in contact with your host student? How? What have you learned about him/her?

Do you see yourself visiting Belgium in 2011? Does having this experience in front of you make you want to speak better French?

C'est le nouvel an 2010 ...bonne annee!

2010-02-11T21:59:00.004-05:00

Bonne Annee!

Qu'est-ce que tu as fait pendant les vacances d'hiver? Que fais-tu en vacances?

Est-ce que tu aimes faire du ski? ou faire des promenades ou passer du temps avec tes amis?

Il fait si froid maintenant...0 degrees et il a neige la semaine passee...on n'a pas eu l'ecole deux jours...on a fait la luge, on a construit des bonhommes de neige... et vous? que fais-tu?

Quel temps fait-il en Belgique? Est-ce qu'il neige?

Nos vacances de printemps commencent la fin de mars et ensuite nos amis belges vont arriver le 6 avril!! On a hate de leur arrivee!! On va s'amuser ensemble. Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire pour ces vacances?

What about the Euro-zone at Global Connections????

2009-12-10T21:57:00.002-05:00

Okay- did you experience compassion around the world on Global Connections Night, Nov. 19th??? Did you see see, eat, hear something from another culture that opened your eyes? What was it? What about the Euro-Zone and the French, Italian and Spanish cafes? What did you see on that hallway? What did you eat ? Did you change your dollars into euros, taste a crepe or enjoy a quiet evening in a European cafe? Thanks to the European Union, our Euro-zone rocked!!

Global Connections 2009 Thriller Dance! Tell us what it was like to dance together for Global Connections?

2009-11-23T16:07:00.001-05:00

Smith Middle School Introduction

2009-11-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

Did you know that...

2009-11-15T22:45:00.002-05:00

SMITH MIDDLE was awarded TWO grants from the European Union? The first grant was for 51,000 euros (about $67,000) in 2007 and the second was 67,000 euros ($85,000) in 2009- this year. This year's grant went to support Europe Day last May, the Belgian Exchange to Paris, Normandy and Belgium ( with a trip to the European Commission in Brussels- while in Brussels we tele-conferenced back to Smith students), the Walk for Education Euro-booth, professional development for teachers and the Euro-Zone for this week's Global Connections. What have you learned about the European Union? Did you participate in or celebrate any of the EU events last spring? What do you think of the Euro-zone at Global Connections? Have you visited the Italian, Spanish and French cafes? What have you learned about Europe or the EU from the student projects or bulletin boards? Thank you for sharing and we hope to continue for many years this amazing project with the European Union. To see our students in action while traveling in Europe, please watch this documentary that aired on UNC TV : http://www.unctv.org/ncnow/features/april_09_02

You are invited to read my letters of thanks to the European Union..further down the page.

Robin McMahon

A nos amis belges: on attend votre arrivee avec impatience

2009-11-14T19:14:00.005-05:00

Salut de Caroline du Nord,
Dans 4 mois vous serez ici...a Chapel Hill/Carrboro et loger dans nos familles. Nous vous accueillons avec les bras ouverts...on a hate de vous revoir.
A droite, il y des photos de Black Mountain ( pres d'Asheville) ou on va passer trois jours ensemble- jouant, parlant, apprenant des cultures differentes et similaires. Il y aussi des photos de Halloween dans un quartier de Chapel Hill.

Voici des sites cree par mes eleves dans le francais I et II. Vous allez voir des photos de notre ville et de votre ville. Les autres sites webs sont des projets d'un voyage en France. ..qu'est-ce que vous pensez d'eux? Madame McMahon

http://www.voicimaville.webs.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/levoyageafrance
http://rania-erika.weebly.com/
http://www.karl-et-evan.webs.com/

Bonjour nos amis !

2009-10-30T19:29:00.006-05:00

Merci a nos amis belges...pour les commentaires!

On vous attend avec impatience. Ce weekend on fete "halloween" et on va demander des bonbons des voisins ...trick or treat!! Est-ce que vous allez feter l'Halloween?

Voici un site avec des photos des "trick or treaters" dans mon quartier: Meadowmont. Ma fille est dans une photo...peux-tu la trouver?? Meme a l'age de 13 ans, on fait le trick or treating!

Mais...malheureusement, nous n'avons pas une semaine de conge pour Les Toussaints.

Nous avons "Global Connections" le 19 novembre - c'est notre "fancy fair" et tous les eleves dans notre ecole (600 eleves) vont dancer ensemble "Thriller' de Michael Jackson!!

Demandez a vos amis de laisser des commentaires!!! Comment est votre fancy fair?? Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire? Envoyez des photos a mme McMahon et je vais les mettre sur ce site.

rmcmahon@chccs.k12.nc.us

Miniature Earth en francais

2009-09-27T20:31:00.005-05:00

http://www.miniature-earth.com/me_french.htm (Copy and paste this link in your browser)

The video in English is on the right, but I would like you to also watch it in French - it only takes a few moments.

Go to the link above and read the text in French...answer the following:

What does reducing the world to a community of 100 people show you?

What were the most surprising facts for you?

What would you like to change? How would you/we change that?

How connected are YOU?

2009-09-13T13:51:00.002-05:00

In any given weekend day what kinds of technology do you use?
What is the FIRST thing you do on a Saturday morning that involves technology? in the morning .do you.....turn on the TV? the computer, check email or put on your earphones for the ipod? Do you power up your phone? What percentage of your day do you think you are "connected" to technology? sending emails, texting, listening to music, watchng TV or YOUtube, taking pictures, creating music. Finally, what thing bothers you the MOST regarding technology? For me..it's someone texting while we are eating dinner.. Thanks for opening up this website and responding!!!!! madame

Labor Day in America - Sept 7th

2009-09-05T20:46:00.002-05:00

We have a holiday on Monday, Sept 7th. Why? It's a celebration that closes summer, rings in the school year and honors the American worker and labor unions. The first celebration was in New York City in 1882. In many places there are parades, lots of sales at stores and family picnics. This year may be tough for some as there our many unemployed Americans and this weekend will only bring more stress. Let us hope for a strong economic year and the compassion to help those less fortunate. What did you do on this holiday?

C'est La Rentree!

2009-08-30T20:56:00.003-05:00

Welcome back to school!!! Students in North Carolina returned to school August 25th.
Teachers came back to school a week and a day before the students. We had faculty meetings,professional development,classroom preparation time and teacher time to get ready for all of YOU!! We are excited to be back. What did you do to prepare for school? Shop for school supplies? buy some new shoes? take one last weekend at the beach? come to Meet the Teacher night? Tell us what going back to school means to you... a bientot!!!

Europe Day Events at Smith and in the Community May 4-11, 2009

2009-06-18T21:38:00.002-05:00

What did you do to celebrate your European Heritage for Europe Day, May 9th?
Smith Middle School had a whole host of exciting events for the community as well as the school. Visit the school website to download our Europe Day flyer and YOU can start celebrating too!
www.chccs.k12.nc.us/smith....go to Global Connections/European Union....click on "here" for Europe Day flyers. Let me know how it goes!

We traveled, we learned sooo much..thank you to the EU!

2009-04-15T20:19:00.002-05:00

29 students, 7 teachers and one UNC TV journalist returned happy and well-educated from the Belgian Exchange trip on March 29th. The travelers spent three gorgeous days in Paris, one night in Bayeux to visit Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery and six days with host families in Liege, Belgium. Belgian and American students traveled together to Bastogne to learn about World War II and the Battle of the Bulge, attended classes at a Belgian school and learned about European and American cultures first-hand.
The American students also visited Henri-Chapelle American cemetery and toured Fort Battice where the Belgian Resistance had its strong-hold. American and Belgian students also toured Brussels, learned about the European Union and held a teleconference with Smith students on March 25. UNC- TV journalist, Rob Holliday documented the entire experience and will have a show to air on Carolina NOW by the end of May.
Pictures of the trip can be found on these websites: http://picasaweb.google.com; http://www.devondigital.co.uk/smithmiddle/index
Blog from Rob Holliday: http://unctvreports.blogspot.com
Article on teleconference: http://chapelhill.mync.com/site/chapelhill/news%7CSports%7CLifestyles/story/30550/smith-middle-students-teleconfernce-with-classmates-while-visiting-belgium

This trip was largely funded by a grant from the European Union. www.europa.eu
Students are preparing photo-journalistic posters that will be on display for Europe Day at Smith Middle School.

Visit www.mync.com for article: European Union awards Gift of International Education

2009-01-02T13:43:00.002-05:00

Learn more about the "Getting to Know Europe" grant awarded from the European Union.
How much is it worth? What will the students and teachers be learning?
We will be posting student articles, photos and maybe even video streaming on www.mync.com...search "international education" or European Union.
This article was highlighted on NBC 17 on Dec. 31st - the video is on the opening page of mync.com
What do you think of the article? of the grant? of our trip? Please share your comments. Madame McMahon

Voyage en Europe le 18 mars- 29 mars

2008-12-28T20:16:00.002-05:00

Smith Middle School travelers: Are you excited about this trip in less than three months? What excites you the most? What makes you nervous? What do you think you will learn in Europe and what have you learned about WWII and the EU?
Bonne Annee!! madame McMahon

Les fetes de cette saison

2008-12-17T09:47:00.002-05:00

Thank you to the students of Theodore Monod school in Rennes! We LOVE the Christmas booklet and letters!! Merci pour les lettres et les decorations de Noel. Nous vous envoyons des lettres et un petit "livre" de fetes aussi. Nos meilleurs voeux pour cette saison de lumieres!!

Bonne Fete de Thanksgiving!!

2008-12-01T10:40:00.002-05:00

Vous avez bien mange??? J'espere que oui.
Eleves americains: Ecrivez une description de cette fete en francais et expliquez ce que vous (toi et ta famille) avez fait pendant les quatre jours de vacances.
Qui a prepare ce repas traditionel? Qu'est-ce que tu as mange? Quel est ton repas prefere? Est-ce que tu as rendu visite a quel qu'un?
Quelle est ta fete preferee?

Eleves francais et belges: Comment est-ce quw vous fetez Noel? Est-ce que Saint Nicholas vient chez vous? Si oui, qu'est-ce qu'il fait? Est-ce que vous mettez un arbre de Noel? Vous mettez des decorations? Quand? Quelles sont vos traditions pour la fete de Noel et le Nouvel An?

L'election presidentielle....qu'en penses-tu?

2008-11-06T20:12:00.004-05:00

Obama est notre nouveau President!!! Que penses-tu de cette election?
C'est le reve americain? Pourquoi? Pourquoi pas?
Qu'est-ce que Obama a promis a ses deux filles?

Fete de la Musique a Carrboro (et Chapel Hill)

2008-09-28T18:55:00.002-05:00

Does your village or city have a "Fete de la Musique"? Carrboro just had their music festival and several Smith students as well as a Smith teacher performed. Did you go? Who played? and what are the origins of this festival? For more information, go to these sites: www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr and www.carrboro.com/carrboromusicfestival/

Should every town have a Fete de la Musique?

La Rentree..what did you do to prepare for back to school?

2008-09-08T19:31:00.002-05:00

La Rentree en France, Belgique ou en Caroline du Nord.

What did you do a week before school started?
What was the first day like? Were you anxious? excited? Why?
Describe what you did the first day of school in all your classes?
Finally, what are you doing now in your classes?
How is middle school different from elementary school?

Decrivez la rentree....
Qu'est-ce que vous avez fait une semaine avant la rentree?
Comment etait la journee de rentree? Est-ce que vous etiez anxieux?
Qu'est-ce que vous avez fait dans toutes vos classes?
Enfin, qu'est-ce que vous faites maintenant dans vos classes?
Comment est-ce que le college est different que l'ecole elementaire?

What did you do this summer? in English or French

2008-09-08T19:24:00.002-05:00

Bonjour tout le monde...je m'appelle Madame McMahon et je suis prof de francais a Smith Middle School. J'enseigne dans un college (Smith Middle School) a Chapel Hill en Caroline du Nord. Merci d'avoir visite notre blog...ecrivez une reponse..en francais ou en anglais. Mes eleves font du francais..ce sont des debutants..mais ca va. Moi, je suis allee en France et en Belgique cet ete passe. J'ai assiste a une conference pour des profs a Liege..mon colleague et moi,nous avons presente notre programme d'echange..c'etait super. Qu'est-ce que tu as fait? Ou as-tu voyage?
Qu'est-ce que tu as appris? Nous attendons avec impatience votre response.
Mme McMahon

American students/families post reflections

2008-04-07T19:26:00.002-05:00

Dear Families/students,
Please post your thoughts/reflections on this Belgian Exchange project. Tell us about yourself. Have you traveled on this exchange before? What is it like to host or interact with someone from another culture in the classroom, at the beach or in your family. What special story would you like to share? What did you learn about Belgian culture? About teens from across the Atlantic? about yourself and your culture? Merci en avance!! Madame McMahon

Belgian Exchange program - sustainability?

2008-03-08T00:09:00.006-05:00

Since 2001 we have had an amazing exchange program at Smith Middle School. This March we celebrated our 7th exchange when thirty Belgian students along with six teacher chaperones arrived in Chapel Hill to stay in our families for ten days. We took them to the beach with forty American students to spend three days learning about each others' cultures, the European Union and discuss environmental responsibility.
Moreover, Dr. Tyndall of UNC Wilmington organized a tour of the NC Aquarium and Fort Fisher along with a lunch provided by AT&T while we were at the beach.
In March 2009, Smith students will cross the ocean to stay in their families in Liege, Belgium and attend classes at Saint-Benoit Saint-Servais. We are in need of funding for 5-8 students who cannot afford this trip. If you are interested in helping fund international education for ALL students, please email Robin McMahon at rmcmahon@chccs.k12.nc.us. Thank you for your support! The students arrived March 22 and left for New York April 2nd - they returned home safely April 5

Teleconference avec nos amis belges....

2008-03-04T22:17:00.002-05:00

What did you think about the videoconference? Avec qui as-tu parle? Qu'as-tu appris?
How was this event a global learning experience? On a hate de vous rencontrer!!!
Are you excited about coming to Chapel Hill? A tres bientot...laisse-nous une commentaire...s.v.p!

Decrivez votre ville/village/ecole...

2008-02-15T08:01:00.003-05:00

Vous habitez une petite ville? Est-ce qu'il y a des musees, monuments, bons restaurants? Qu'est-ce que vous aimez faire le week-end en ville?

Pourquoi est-ce que tu etudies le francais? Why are you taking French?

2008-02-06T14:05:00.002-05:00

Quelle est la devise de l'Union Europeene? ..and what does it mean to you?

2008-02-05T23:05:00.000-05:00

Salut nos nouveaux amis francais...de Rennes!

2008-01-06T22:13:00.000-05:00

Bonjour!! On va s'ecrire? Nous avons beaucoup de questions des traditions des fetes de la fin de l'annee...est-ce que vous fetez "La fete de Saint Nicholas le 6 dec? Qu'est-ce qui se passe? la veille d Noel, Noel, le nouvel ans. Quel cadeau etait le plus populaire cette annee? Chez nous je pense que c'etait le "Wii" mais je dois demander aux eleves.

En janvier nous avons un jour ferie pour commemorer Martin Luther King et sa lutte pour les droits civiques. Il n'y a pas d'ecole - :-) Il y a des groupes qui font des projets unique pour les africains-americains. Dans ma classe, nous etudions sa lecture en francais: "J'ai un reve".

Et vous...qu'est-ce que vous etudiez pendant le mois de janvier?

Ecris un petit mot,
A bientot!!

Bonjour nos amis belges!

2008-01-06T22:07:00.000-05:00

Bonne fete de Noel et Heureuse Annee Nouvelle!!! Puisse la paix et la joie vous accompangner tout au long de l'annee...nous pensons souvent a vous....et a notre sejour ensemble a Chapel Hill ce mars!!!!!
Qu'est-ce que vous avez fait pendant les vacances? Quelles sont des traditions de famille? Est-ce que vous avez fete La Fete des Trois Rois aujourd'hui, le 6? Vous avez mange de la galette?
On a hate de recevoir des nouvelles!! Ecrivez- nous s.v.p

Looking forward to our Belgian Exchange 09

2008-01-03T23:07:00.000-05:00

Current 7th and 8th graders: Why do you want to go to France and Belgium next year? How would this trip change your life? What do you think you would learn about the world? French culture? yourself?

O7 was a FANTASTIC year...tell us why

2008-01-03T22:31:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the European Commission and our "Getting to Know Europe" grant, we traveled to Paris, stayed with host families in Liege, celebrated Europe Day on May 9th, walked in the Parade of EU Nations for the Walk for Education, dined in Spanish, French and Italian cafes in the Euro Zone for Global Connections and generally learned so much about the European Union.
We now have a Euro-Challenge team that will compete in New York this spring.

And, most of all, we are looking forward to our Belgian friends visiting us in March. We will go to the beach for three days and spend lots of great time together.

How did you celebrate Europe Day- May 9th?

2007-05-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

Visit www.europa.com to find out why it is important to learn about the European Union.
Join Smith Middle School during it's celebration...let us know what you did to learn about Europe?

Thank you to the European Union!

2007-04-02T17:57:00.000-05:00

Thank you to our presentors at the European Parliament and the European Commission!
We leaned so much. Also, to the Seniors at Saint Benoit Saint Servais, your EU presentation was super- chouette!!! Please leave a thank you to our teachers of the EU.

Chers amis et familles d'acceuil a Liege....

2007-03-30T10:02:00.000-05:00

Vous nous manquez beaucoup!!! Vous etes si chaleureux et super-chouettes....
ecrivez-nous; laissez une commentaire sur ce site.

European Exchange Experience 2007

2007-03-29T19:47:00.000-05:00

For students who traveled abroad: How is life different in Europe than in America? How has the EU affected daily life in Europe? What would you suggest to students who want to travel to Europe in two years? What was the best part of the trip? What did you learn about the EU?

From Emer O'Reilly

2007-03-15T10:57:00.000-05:00

De euusconnections, posté le Mardi 13 mars 2007 à 23:59
je m'apelle emer, je suis le correspandante de Flore, j'ai creer cet blog, je suis aussi tres hate, je ne peux pas attendre pour le temps quand je recontrer vous. c'est si pres!!!christophe, julie, laurane et "petite-choupie" (je suis tres desole, je ne sais pas ton nom), merci pour ton commentaires,s'il te plait, tu peux inviter tout ton amis qui nos classe vont recontrer, a cet skyblog, merci!~ emer

Bonjour M.Labeye et vos eleves..laissez une commentaire

2007-03-13T08:57:00.000-05:00

On a hate de vous rencontrer. On va partir bientot!

Nos amis belges

2007-03-07T12:34:00.000-05:00

Chers amis,
On a hate de vous rendre visite!! Dans 2 semaines. Ecrivez-nous...Voici des idees:
Quel temps fait-il en Belgique? Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire ensemble?
Est-ce que vouz avez visite les Etats-Unis? Que pensez-vous de ce projet?

"Bon Voyage" Preparations for departure

2007-03-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

Students share thoughts about this trip