“I don’t want to be on vacation because I love CP”

No more school for the 329,876 students of the Strasbourg Academy! This Friday, July 7, the summer holidays begin, especially for CP students of Claire Aymonin, whom we have followed all year on France 3 Alsace in the series La grande école.

There is something joyful and light in the air, this Friday July 7, as we approach the Exen school in Schiltigheim (Bas-Rhin). Parents accompany the children, without hurry, without stress, towards the main gate. Cap on the head, sometimes without satchel, it’s the last day. A little boy firmly holds a plant visibly prepared at home. A small colorful sign displays a simple: Thank you!

Claire Aymonin’s students arrive in turn in the class. Some rush: they have brought a present and are impatient to offer it to the mistress. This is the case of Klaus, the orchid he holds in his arms is a good head above him.

Zeynep hands a wrapped gift: Turkish delights, the mistress is delighted. Reyjep specifies that the flowers he brought the day before will have to be watered. But suddenly Noé wonders if his gift is favored by Madame Aymonin: “What is the teacher’s favorite gift?” he asks. And the teacher answers: “This is because children like to learn in the classroom. If you come to school with the pleasure of learning, I won!“

Precisely, they are still learning a few hours before the end of school. Some finish copying the “tool words” before CE1. Like every morning before 9am, others have fun with the “Plus-Plus” at the back of the class. “The games helped to create a good cohesion” recalls the mistress. This is one of the objectives of the CP, because the children come from several different kindergartens“.

For this last day, the workforce is almost complete, which surprises the teacher a little. In other classes, there are sometimes a handful of children. “We don’t learn new things in the last few days, but we revise“.

The final stretch is long, and the children are tired. “I’m happy because it’s almost the holidays, explains Barbarian. Me, I don’t want to be on vacation because I love CP“, says Mihaï. The teacher is sad to leave her students, but “it’s harder for my CM2 colleagues” she admits.

And this CP was very rich in lessons and experiences: reading, writing, mathematics. Visits to the farm in all seasons, discovery of television on France 3. Memories that the mistress offers to record in a small notebook. “You can write a note to your friends“. Hamza does not need to be asked. He was the first to leave a message in Noah’s notebook: “You are my friend” he wrote.

While the CPs are working on the activity, CM2 students are already bringing the “orange notebooks” for the following year. They will serve as a liaison between the establishment and the families. For them, this last day is more nostalgic. Rania, Adam and Khadija know that they will be in 6th grade at Rouget de Lisle college. “That stresses me out“Let Adam go.”I’ll have to take the bus and then I’ll have at least 11 teachers” worries the future college student.

Before getting there, another emotional moment awaits them. At the end of the afternoon, at the time of the bell, all the pupils of the school (more than 400 children) form a guard of honor under which the CM2 pass to leave Exen. A symbol to say goodbye to them and wish them a good continuation, after five years of primary school.

Our CP them, still have to gather their last business before spinning “on summer vacation”. Any advice for the summer? “Read a little every day“, says Claire Aymonin. “At that age, it’s important“. So happy holidays to them, and happy reading!