Page De Garde 2017 2018ce1

Ok, picture this: it’s September 2017. I’m rifling through my old backpack, desperately searching for… something. I don’t even remember what. Probably a pen that actually works. But what I *do* find is a relic from a bygone era – my *page de garde* for the academic year 2017-2018, CE1 edition. (CE1 is equivalent to 2nd grade in the US system. Just FYI.) It’s… a masterpiece. I’m talking glitter glue, slightly crooked lettering, and a drawing of what I can only assume is a unicorn riding a skateboard. Ah, the memories…

Which got me thinking. *Pages de garde*. They’re so seemingly insignificant, yet they represent the fresh start, the potential, the… terror (just kidding!) of a new school year. Remember that feeling?

What Exactly Is a "Page de Garde," Anyway?

For those not familiar (or whose French school days are a distant memory), a *page de garde* is essentially a title page that students create at the beginning of each school year for their notebooks and binders. Think of it as the book cover for your notes – but way more personalized. It's like saying, "Hey, Math notebook, meet me! I'm ready to conquer algebraic equations... maybe." It usually includes:

The subject (Math, French, History, etc.)
The school year (in our case, 2017-2018)
The student's name (obviously!)
Sometimes, the teacher's name
And, of course, tons of artistic expression (or at least, the attempt thereof!)

It’s the first impression your notebook makes! And let's be honest, sometimes the *page de garde* was more impressive than the notes that followed. Don't tell my teachers I said that.

Why Did We Even Have To Do Them?

Good question! It seemed like a pointless exercise at the time, right? But there were actually a few sneaky (and some not-so-sneaky) reasons:

Organization: A clearly labeled *page de garde* made it easier to find the right notebook in a chaotic backpack. Key word being *easier*, not *easy*.
Creativity: It gave students a chance to express themselves and put their personal stamp on their schoolwork. It's like saying, "Yes, I *am* doing math, but I'm doing it with flair!"
Ownership: By creating something unique for their notebooks, students felt more invested in their learning. Okay, maybe that was the *hope* anyway.
Starting Fresh: It's a symbolic clean slate. New year, new notes, new… maybe slightly improved handwriting?

The 2017-2018 CE1 Page de Garde in Retrospect

Thinking back to that 2017-2018 school year, I have to wonder what kind of *pages de garde* were being produced. Were they all glitter-bombed explosions of color like mine? Were some kids more… minimalist in their approach? I bet there were some hidden talents out there, silently creating miniature masterpieces in the margins of their math notebooks.

It’s funny how such a small thing can bring back a flood of memories. From the smell of freshly sharpened pencils to the anticipation of learning new things (and the dread of spelling tests!), the *page de garde* is a time capsule. A reminder of simpler times. Or at least, seemingly simpler. Second grade was probably secretly stressful.

I wonder if they still do *pages de garde*? And if so, are kids still obsessed with glitter glue? (Probably.) If you made a killer *page de garde* back in 2017-2018 (or any year!), I salute you! You were a true artist. Or at least, a very enthusiastic scribbler.