ENVOL 64
Educational Approach
We primarily use the Montessori method, which needs no introduction, paired with small class sizes and a kind, supportive environment, leading to outstanding results .
Positive socialization
Despite their differences, our students thrive together, and their parents are consistently delighted with the results.
Diverse Student Body
Although all our teachers are Christians, our students come from various cultural, social and religious backgrounds. This includes agnostic, atheist and even Muslim families.
Inclusive Learning Environment
Our school successfully educates children with divers needs:
– Students with learning difficulties, including autism.
– Gifted students with high intellectual potential
– Most of our students, while not having specific educational profiles, come from families seeking a stable, safe and healthy learning environment.
Safe Haven for Bullied Students
Children who have faced bullying in other schools often find refuge in our welcoming and harmonious community.
2017
Creation of the preschool and elementary school with 22 students and 2 teachers. We moved to a new location after four years.
2024
In addition to preschool and elementary school, we have opened a middle school class and currently welcome over 60 students. The school employs 14 staff members and its reputation is growing throughout the city.
Eight years of existence by the grace of God.
He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9
France, a country of over 68 million people, has fewer than 10 independent evangelical Protestant schools. The climate of opposition to religion makes it a spiritual desert. In 2017, after years of preparation and prayer, a Christian team took on the challenge.
At that time, we had 22 students in kindergarten and elementary school, two teachers, and a kindergarten aide. The school was housed in a church building.
Today in 2024, we have around 65 students, 12 staff members, and 20 volunteers. We moved to a new location in 2022 and opened a middle school class.
Though only 15% of our students come from Protestant or evangelical families, over 50% voluntarily attend our optional Christian module. It brings us great joy to openly share JESUS with these children in a country where the Christian faith faces growing hostility.
Testimonies…
The great results of our school are spreading like a fragrance throughout our Pau community.
L’Envol School has been a true anchor in our son’s development. He is supported and encouraged while being guided toward autonomy. His growth was noticeable from the very first weeks and has continued to be evident by the end of the year.
I don’t have any children to enroll, but I take care of several children who are at your school, and I came to see what kind of school produces such good results with children.
It’s the same body, but it’s no longer the same child.
A glimpse into the life of our school…
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- Numerous « discovery » trips
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- Learning how to garden
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- Stunning natural scenery of our region
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- Montessori materials
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- Bright and functional facilities
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- A hut built by middle school students during technology class
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- A soft, bright, and lushly green playground
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- How to shoe a horse
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- After all, it’s a small world
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- In line with our school’s philosophy, a major French sports retail company, Decathlon, donated a City Stadium to us, valued at $30,000.
A part of our team
(12 staff members and 20 volunteers)
A close-knit team that understands the power of prayer is a key asset. Often, people—parents or teachers—who come to collaborate say, ‘There’s an atmosphere in your school that we can’t quite describe, but it’s uplifting.’ Of course, Christians know where it comes from…
Eve-Marie Salaverria
School principal
and middle school teacher
Serge Santander
School volunteer administrator
Team Member
Preschool teacher
Team Member
Elementary school teacher
They’ve trusted us…
The innovative approach of our pedagogy has caught the attention of several major French foundations, most of which are not religious. For example, the Institut de FRANCE has placed its trust in us and supported us on multiple occasions. One of the largest sports foundations in France, the Décathlon Foundation, also funded our City Stadium. The largest Protestant foundation has made our school one of its « Supported Projects. » Lastly, the leading French organization for independent schools, “Créer Son École,” supports us and closely follows our initiative.
You can help our school too
If the Lord places it on your heart to support our school (it’s because we’ve asked Him 😉 ) you can click the link below to make a one-time or recurring donation. Your gift will be tax-deductible in the USA through the FRANCE IMPACT platform
YOU CAN STILL HELP US
- by spreading the word
- to your Pastor
- to the members of your CHURCH
- or to other groups of people
How Will Your Donations Be Used?
A SMALL donation can become a GREAT blessing if it is regular
Your donation will have a threefold impact
In the short term, it will help us manage a temporary cash flow crisis.
In the medium term, it will allow us to hire two more employees to stabilize the entire project.
Finally, in the long term, it will enable us to assist the most struggling families by allowing us to address tuition fees.
Going through a cash flow crisis
Due to ideological reasons related to secularism, the French government strongly opposes independent schools. For example, last summer, a law was passed requiring the national exam at the end of middle school to continue schooling. However, the decree was quickly canceled. Still, it caused panic among our 9th-grade students and some parents, as independent schools aren’t allowed to use continuous assessment, which reduces exam stress. As a result, several students withdrew just before the school year started, leading to a significant loss of income, especially since we had turned away other enrollments due to full capacity. We now need to recover this cash flow loss.
