Francofolies St John Fisher Senior Elementary The Pearson News

St. John Fisher Senior Elementary Celebrates Francofolies

by Marilyn Santucci

During the week of November 25th, St. John Fisher Elementary Senior hosted Francofolies! The week featured a variety of events, offering students interactive workshops and activities to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the French language.

“Francofolies Week at SJF was a celebration of the French language, aimed at inspiring our students to fall in love with French and see its value and potential. Through engaging lectures, activities, and performances, students learned how French can open doors to new opportunities. The week emphasized making French fun and meaningful, motivating students to embrace the language and recognize its importance in shaping their future,” said Melissa Briere, organizer and teacher at St John Fisher Senior.

Élémo, Slam Poetry

Élémo (Marc-Olivier Jean) is a slam poet, singer, and facilitator with over a decade of experience. Known for his EP Celui qui aime les mots (2017) and SLAM segments on Télé-Québec’s En classe (2020), he has also gained fame on TikTok with over 16 million views and performances alongside artists like Wyclef Jean and Cœur de Pirate.

SJF senior students enjoyed a live performance and talk by Élémo, where he shared his journey and taught them to channel emotions into writing and music. His visit highlighted the beauty of French culture and language while supporting anti-bullying efforts by fostering empathy and constructive self-expression.

Ali Abdou, Play

Ali Abdou’s dynamic play, Ali Abdou et les ténèbres de l’Arkansas, inspired by One Thousand and One Nights and produced by Qu’en dit Raton, promotes perseverance, helping others, and determination—values central to SJFS. Performed in French, the play deepens students’ immersion experience and fosters a love for the language.

Teachers guided post-play discussions to connect the themes to students’ lives and learning. This aligns with their mission to nurture confident, caring, and creative citizens and supports our vision of providing authentic, relevant experiences that enhance collaboration, communication, citizenship, critical thinking, and character development, all while strengthening French language skills.

Raymond Parent, Comic Book Author

Raymond Parent, a comic book author with over 20 years of experience, is known for his work in Quebec publications like La Presse and Les Débrouillards, his animated series Les Klootz, and the award-winning Bibop comic series. He has also conducted comic workshops for over a decade.

During his visit, Raymond taught students the comic creation process, showing how a career in French writing is possible. To promote leadership and collaboration, Cycle 3 students partnered with Cycle 2 students, fostering a creative and shared learning experience.

Pascal Carette, GAGS Juste Pour Rire

Les Gags (or Just for Laughs Gags) is a popular Quebec humor show. Pascal Carette, its designer and director, visited our school to inspire students, highlighting how mastering French can open doors to creative careers in film and the arts.

The visit featured a surprise appearance by Gogo the Gorilla, a famous prop costume worn by SJF principal, Mr. White, to the students’ delight. The week ended with a special compilation of the best Just for Laughs Gags created just for the school.

In Class Project

During Francophonie Week, students explored the global reach of the French language by researching French-speaking countries. This project highlighted how learning French connects them to a broader international community, extending beyond Quebec. Students gained an appreciation for French as a global language and recognized its cultural importance around the world.