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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
1 of 23
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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
2 of 23
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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
3 of 23
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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
4 of 23
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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
5 of 23
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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
6 of 23
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?
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
7 of 23
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; readymade 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 SaintEtienne, Monsieur Maurice VINCENT, is also the President of the Saint-Etienne
Metropole (economic development), and Conseiller régional (PS) Rhône-Alpes. He
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
8 of 23
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 fourfifths 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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
9 of 23
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 14line poem.
Designers: Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, born in Colmar, France, in 1834. AlexandreGustave 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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
10 of 23
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
Department
Rhône-Alpes, SE quadrant of France
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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
11 of 23
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 SaintEtienne 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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
12 of 23
- 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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
13 of 23
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 seventhlargest 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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
14 of 23
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.).
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
15 of 23
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, pennyfarthings, 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!
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
16 of 23
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 19thcentury townhouses and wide-open squares full of bars and restaurants.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
17 of 23
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 SaintÉtienne 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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
18 of 23
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 doublepointed 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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
19 of 23
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.
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
20 of 23
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-FrenchRhymes/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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
21 of 23
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&fieldkeywords=french%20flash%20cards&resultsprocess=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_10552852_2&resultsprocess=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].
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
22 of 23
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
DMPS 2nd grade, Sister City Saint-Etienne, France, Martha Nelson 279-2178, Feb. 2010
23 of 23