THE LITTLE STARS ARE GROWING UP!
Ecole Les Petites Etoiles was founded to offer children of mixed ages a setting that respects their needs:
- small corps
- respect for their individual rhythms and natural development
- adults accompanying them with kindness (trained in Benevolent Communication)
- and above all: the fundamental contact with nature and free-roaming animals in the large garden
"Through contact with nature, children are introduced to the virtue of patience and trust in waiting, which is a form of law and philosophy of life." - Maria Montessori.
The aim is to provide them with an education in Life: autonomy and independence, cooperation, respect for oneself and one's environment in the broadest sense.
The school, run as an association, also offers a Nature Club on Wednesdays and during the school vacations. Open to all!
Openness to the disabled, transgenerational groups and disadvantaged children
We're convinced of the importance and benefits for everyone of a mixed school environment, so :
- A specialized educator trained in Montessori pedagogy, comes to the school on Thursday afternoons to work with children with disabilities, offering them inclusion in our class group.
- A partnership has been set up between the association Ecole Les Petites Etoiles and Secours Populaire. It enables children from underprivileged urban areas to attend school during the vacations. We offer them voluntary tutoring, and they can enjoy nature and the animals in our garden.
- A partnership has been set up with the EPHAD des Sorinières for regular meetings and exchanges between the elderly and schoolchildren.
- The school has its own solidarity fund, which helps underprivileged families by supplementing tuition fees, which remain high because the school is not under contract (5,250 euros a year, covering all costs associated with running the school, including teachers' salaries and rent).
Little stars grow: 6-9 year-old class to open in September 2023
To achieve this, we'll need new space, furniture and equipment adapted to this age group. In particular, we'd like to set up a flexible classroom: an arrangement of the learning space so that children can find the position that gives them the greatest comfort and concentration. This choice of layout requires the acquisition of specific furniture.
The team
Florence : After 15 years working for the French Ministry of Education, I dreamed of being able to offer my pupils the kind of care they need at the right age, and that precious contact with nature and animals. I'm the school's founder, director and educator for 3-6 year-olds.
Olivia (teacher): Helping children acquire skills that will help them in everyday life and at any age, seeing them develop in a climate of collaboration and mutual aid, that's what I believe in deeply.
Céline (teacher): The world of education has always been a source of joy and fulfillment for me, because it requires learning and adapting again and again to the developing child.
Marylène (specialized educator for children with special needs): At Les Petites Etoiles school, the children I accompany one afternoon a week evolve within a group in an environment adapted to their needs. They benefit from this privileged setting and the kindness of the educators, enabling them to express their abilities.
