History

The adventure began when a group of French parents wondered about the best way to maintain and develop their children’s ability to speak French. They started meeting as a coffee group in their homes. The group got bigger, so they moved into a church hall during the week and the Alliance Française on Saturdays, allowing parents to choose which day suited them best. The playgroup “Les Petits Lascars” was born.

In 1994, on the advice of Mr Valdimir Perm, a representative of the Conseil Supérieur des Français de l’Etranger, and Senator Pierre Biarnès, the group decided to form an association. The registration of Frenz School Inc with the Ministry of Justice as a non-profit organisation took place on 20 September 1994. Frenz became a charitable association in 1999.

The objectives of the association are still to support and develop a French-English education in New Zealand and to promote the French language and culture (see the society’s rules).

In 1996, Frenz established a bilingual French-English unit in the Richmond Road School, a primary school in central Auckland. The association raised the total cost of the project, $143,000, through fundraising and grants and mostly thanks to the generosity of the French Senat. We also organized social events in the local community and contacted French companies and officials in New Zealand. The bilingual primary unit started with 6 children and now has three classes: a new entrants class, a junior class and a senior one. Frenz continues to raise money on an on-going basis for the yearly operation of the unit.

In 2000, Frenz also set up a French Educational Resource Centre. It has educational French books, audio and video tapes for children ranging from 1 year old to 14 years old. These resources are available to all members of the association.

The association is currently working on an Early Childhood Centre project. The overwhelming interest of the community at large for such a project is a great incentive.

The association started with 15 members and today has over 70. Its members now range more widely throughout the community. We have families:

whose children currently attend the french playgroup: Les Petits Lascars;
whose children will attend the French bilingual unit;
whose children attend the French bilingual unit;
who use French educational resources through our French library resource centre.