The school is named after the French writer Jules Verne, in recognition of his devotion to the children’s literature, and, furthermore, a literary tribute to Latvia - in 1893 Jules Verne wrote a novel “Un drame en Livonie”. The plot of the book is set in Livonia – today's Latvia and Estonia, and particularly in Riga. It is one of the earliest noteworthy manifestations of the cultural links between France and Latvia.

The works of this 19^th century French author fascinate the children and the young people as well as the adults with their fantastic characters, daring voyages and inventions. They reveal fully the curiosity and creativity of the human nature and the burning desire to learn and explore every aspect of life. The novels of Jules Verne are delicately poised between imagination and reality. The adventurous journeys a as well as the technological miracles described by him were unheard of in the 19^th century. Jules Verne is the second most translated author in the world. Among the best known of his novels are «Around the World in Eighty Days» and «Captain Grant's Children». The inquisitive nature, passion for discoveries and active imagination are the values, which are at the core of Jules Verne’s works, and they also lay at the foundation of our French School in Riga.

Accredited by the French government, with the support of the Embassy of France and especially of M. Pierre Barthe, the cultural attaché in Riga, Jules Verne Riga French School first opened its doors in September 2007 and in 2010 it obtained the status of an independent school.

Presently Jules Verne Riga French School offers instruction in French for the children of pre-school age (the small, middle and big class), as well as in elementary school.

The school implements the curriculum of the French Ministry of Education, and by coordinating it with the Republic of Latvia legislation, also teaches other foreign languages (English, Russian), as well as the Latvian language and culture.

Jules Verne Riga French School focuses on knowledge, diversity, the life in the world transcending national borders, interaction of different cultures. Children from a very young age can study  French under the guidance of teachers from France whose native language is French. The recruitment of the teachers is implemented by the school with the assistance of the Embassy of France in Latvia  professionalism, experience and expertise in the field of education being main criteria when choosing our teachers. The education provided at our school opens wonderful opportunities to our , children , no matter whether they are absolute beginners in French or whether they already have had some knowledge of the language.

DIRECTOR

Mrs Dominique Racle

Main tasks :

▪ Responsable of the pedagogic conformity

▪ Relations with French administration

▪ Relations with Embassy of France in Latvia

▪ Relations with parents

▪ Responsable of the staff

▪ Joint responsibility of the day-care centre

TEACHERS

Very small group (TPS)

Ms Anne-Marie Kronenberg

Small – middle group (PS-MS)

Mr Alexandre Gemin

Middle – big group (MS-GS)

Ms Magdalena Petit

Elementary Classes

Mrs Dominique Racle

SPECIFIC TEACHERS

FLS – French Schooling Language

Ms Anne-Marie Kronenberg

English (Cycles 2 and 3)

Ms Anne-Marie Kronenberg

Latvian (Language and Culture)

Ms Simona Dziesma

Russian (Language and Culture)

Ms Anastasija Kuzmina

SUPPORT STAFF

School assistants

Ms Liva Zarina

Ms Ilvija Lacgalve

Ms Anastasija Kuzmina

Ms Aiva Gavare

Ms Zane Gavare

Catering

Ms Valerija Kuzmina

Day-care center

Ms Lelde Veipa

At Jules Verne Riga French School the children are divided into classes according to their age:

• Toute Petite Section (TPS) or Very small group – very small students born in 2009
• Petite section (PS ) or Small group - small students born in 2008
• Moyenne Section (MS) or Middle group – students born in 2007
• Grande Section (GS) or Big group – students born in 2006

• Cours préparatoire or Preparatory class – students born in 2005
• Cours élémentaire 1 or Elementary class 1^st year - students born in 2004

• Cours élémentaire 2 or Elementary class 2nd year – students born in 2003
• Cours moyen 1 or Intermediate class 1^st year - students born in 2002
• Cours moyen 2 or Intermediate class 2nd year – students born in 2001

However, each child’s individuality, home country curriculum, previous school experience, etc., are also important factors to be considered in making a final decision about which group the child should join.