About us
Frenz is a not-for-profit organization helping public schools across New Zealand open and operate quality French-English bilingual programmes. The bilingual units are fully integrated within each school, with students participating in all aspects of school life.
Bilingual education offers children the opportunity to become proficient in all academic subjects in both languages.
How Frenz Helps?
Support
Our volunteers are parents of children in the bilingual programmes. They support your children by helping in the library, fundraising and finding stagiaires to come help teachers in the classroom
Partnership
We provide schools with:
-All the French-language learning resources
-A French library onsite
-Financial support
-Enrollment process support
Promotion
We maintain relationships with various embassies and promote bilingual education in New Zealand online and at events such as the French Festival
Helping units off the ground
We support parent groups
interested in opening a bilingual
programme in their community. We apply for grants to help schools set up new units.
interested in a bilingual programme in your school or community?
Seal of Quality
We help schools apply and maintain the LabelFrancÉducation, a seal of quality awarded by the French Ministry of Education that validates the French-language skills of children outside France’s school system
Meet The Frenz Committee
Frenz is governed by a committee, all elected from Frenz members for a mandate of one year, which can be renewed. The committee members are all volunteer parents and presently consists of a treasurer,
2 co-presidents and a representative from each school offering a bilingual programme. Frenz employs a
manager to run the association.
Elsa
Frenz Manager
Elsa was born in France to a French mum and a Kiwi dad.
10 years ago, she came for what she thought would be a gap year. But married a Kiwi and never returned to live in France!
She currently has 2 daughters at l'Archipel.
Philip
Co-president
Philip is one of the Frenz co-presidents and has been on the Frenz committee for four years. He is a kiwi who became a French citizen after living in Paris. His wife Else is French and their two sons were born in France, but these days go to Richmond Road School.
Estelle
Co-president
Estelle is one of the Frenz co-presidents. She has 2 set of twins, all currently attending L'Archipel at Richmond Road School.
Richard & Elodie
La Découverte
Unit Representatives
Elodie grew up in Paris, while Richard's home was Auckland. They met while both working for Medicine Sans Frontiers MSF (Doctors without Borders). They came to NZ to start their family, and now their four children attend La Découverte in Christchurch.
Anthony
Kowhai Intermediate
Unit Representative
Anthony is the unit representative for Kowhai Intermediate.
Hannah
Kowhai Intermediate
Unit Representative
Hannah is a kiwi who fell in love with a Frenchman whilst they were both travelling. Their 2 children were both born in France and they all moved to NZ in 2016. Their children attend L'Archipel at Richmond Road School. Hannah is motivated to develop bilingual education options that extend beyond primary school level.
Geneviève
Ruru La Chouette Unit Representative
Geneviève is originally from Quebec (Canada), but has been living in Wellington since 2004. She met her Kiwi partner Dean on the very first day she arrived in New Zealand and the rest is history! She is the mother of two boys: Sun, who attends Ruru La Chouette at Rigway School, and Lennox, who will join his borther in 2021.
Emilie
L'Étoile du Nord Unit Representative
Emilie is from Quebec and moved to New Zealand with her Kiwi husband 4 years ago. She is the mother of 2 children, 10 and 12, both of whom participated in the bilingual programme at L'Étoile du Nord at Birkdale North School.
Elodie
Preschool Development Committee
Andrew and I arrived in Auckland with our two girls in 2017 from Australia. Quickly we looked at French education options and discovered Les Petits Lascars and Frenz. So grateful that these associations exist we wanted to help and got involved in both ever since.
Carla
Treasurer
Carla and her French husband have two children at Richmond Road School, the eldest of which will be part of the inaugural class at Kowhai Intermediate's French unit in 2021. Her youngest child was born earlier this year and she looks forward to him enjoying the benefits of a bi-lingual education in the future thanks to the ongoing work of Frenz.
Kylie
L'Archipel Unit
Representative
Kylie has two children attending L'Archipel (with one about to start in the French bilingual unit at Kowhai Intermediate). Kylie was born and raised in New Zealand and lived in the UK for 12 years. She returned home with her French husband, Denis, to start a family. Both are keen for their children to be fluent in English and French and are grateful to the opportunities Frenz has afforded their family.
How it
started
Frenz has been making
French-English bilingual education
a reality in NZ since 1994.
