SETTLING IN - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 118

Deuxième cycle is the lycée , which usually starts around
age 15 and lasts until the student graduates at about 18
years of age.
From ages 15-17, preparation for the baccalauréat ( bac ).
The bac , equivalent to and as stringent as the British 'A'
levels, is obligatory for university entrance.
Holidays and Days Off
There is a major school break ( les vacances d'été ) of more than
two months each summer and there are several shorter but
substantial holidays throughout the year: February, November,
Christmas and Easter. Public schools are often closed on
Wednesdays (which is why you see so many grandparents
with children on Wednesdays). Some schools are thus open
on Saturday mornings.
As such, many cultural attractions and entertainment,
including museums and the much-loved puppet shows
and circuses, have special Wednesday and Saturday
programmes. In addition, the mairie operates more than
500 Centres des Loisirs—activity centres attached to the
public schools, which are open on Wednesdays and during
short school breaks.
Foreign Children in Schools
Selecting a child's school will, of course, be based on
many factors besides a school's location or reputation. The
age, character and language ability of the child should be
considered, as well as the expected length of stay in Paris
and planned return to a school or university at home. A few
parents put their children into French schools immediately.
Some parents who are based abroad for the long term prefer
private, bilingual schools throughout the child's educational
career. Others start their children in the bilingual schools,
and after a period of adjustment and language learning,
move them into the public or private French schools. Some
people who transfer to several countries over the years
prefer international schools, such as Marymount, where
the curriculum tends to be standard and grade levels are
transferable from country to country.