Reviews of Cousteau School, The French International School of Vancouver (School)

Maryam Moayeri

Both my kids attend this exceptional school that caters to English and French families from preschool to Grade 9. It is the first eco-certified school in Canada and one of the only full day preschools. Highlights are as follows: 1. The teachers: they have several degrees and great experience. The French teachers are from France teaching in French and the English teachers are Canadians who speak English as their first language. They are fun, creative, and have high standards. 2. Academic Rigor: Kids follow the dual curricula of BC and France. Kids score high on government math, reading, and writing tests. Their handwriting is impeccable. 3. Community: The families of the school care deeply about education, culture, art, and music. 4. Peer Group: The kids are friendly, respectful, engaged, motivated, and intelligent. They are an inclusive cohesive group. 5. After School Programs: Robotics, tennis, soccer, swimming, skating, gymnastics, art, music, dance, choir, karate, cooking, theater, climbing, chess, and so much more is offered either directly at the school or at a nearby location where a teacher takes the kid in a bus. 6: French: Anglophone kids speak and write French fluently as if their families were of French origin. It is a level unparalleled elsewhere. 7. It is the first certified Eco-School in Canada. The faculty, students, and families care for the climate and humanity.

Leili Mehrdad

I have a 5 years old daughter in Cousteu.She went to day care since she was 1.5 years old. We chosed Cousteau for her preschool years afterwards. This is her second year in this school and we are very happy about the decision we made . First of all , she is learning a new language beside playing, which we found it very useful and she has been totally comfortable with it . My husband and I are both Persians and we speak Farsi at home but there wasn’t any problem based on speaking french inside classes for her . Second of all , the teachers are very professional and well experienced in IB program and children get easily connected with them .Moreover, The school multicultural community is another good credit that I would like to give to Cousteu. I highly recommend Cousteu because of the good level of the education and the good team and community that try their best to make everything perfect for the students .

Yara Schoucair

Our four kids attend this school. we have been part of the community since 2011 and we are firm believer of the bilingual dual program and it's benefit. Cousteau makes you love going to school. More than 25 nationalities, amazing experienced loving teachers and most of all inspiring, a super extra-curricular program from sports to stem to theatre in French and English that makes each day at school a more special and enriching day. Not to mention that it is the only certified eco school in Canada which has a stupendous influence on everyday's behaviour of our kids towards their environment....the list is long !

Ghazal Ghaffari

After extensive research about private schools, we registered our 3.5 years old son to the pre-school program at Cousteau. Unfortunately, we experienced difficult times at Cousteau and got the minimum support from the school. Firstly, I would not recommend the school if neither one of the parents speak French. Although they tell you that 75% of parents do not speak French at home, but many know French and they just do not speak at home. Further, please be aware that there are teachers at Cousteau who barely speak English and communicating with them is so hard if you do not speak French. Our son has suffered tremendous amount of stress in the classroom. His teacher could not communicate with him well. Secondly, the system is very strict and our son claims he has been physically punished. From day one, he claimed that his teacher squeezed his finger backward to stop him from crying. He showed us exactly how the teacher did it. A concept that he never seen before and it was not a scenario that he could use his imagination to create! We approached the school and they did not address our concern properly and they claim our son has problem adapting to the system and he is possibly imagining the teacher doing this because he does not like the school! We hired a child psychologist to understand the situation. We came to conclusion that the school fail to help him adopt to the system and the system is very strict. We feel that the system is designed to normalize kids and the disciplinary methods are very harsh for this age group. The pressure was sever on our child that he started biting on his figures. According to our paediatrician and private counsellor this was due to the stress he was experiencing at his school. We got the minimum support from the management team of the school about all the issues. They kept pushing us towards the idea of our son has issues adopting and get away from the fact that the system failed to support him! Further, I picked up my child twice with scratches on his body and none of the teachers knew what happened to him at that time. Apparently they left unsupervised in the class and could not explain us what has happened. I am very disappointed with Cousteau. My son attended the school for only 3 months and it had very bad effect on him. It has been 3 months that our child does not go to Cousteau, still before he goes to bed he tells me "mom, my teacher hurt me at my French School and it was so painful. He is going to a new school and he truly enjoys the place. He has adapted very well to the new environment and he loves his classmates and his teacher. I am sharing my experience with you because I do not want you to experience what we went through not to mention the financial loss in thousands.

Brad Lamoureux

Our two daughters attended this school for 12 years. Overall, they made many great friends, and were taught by dedicated and wonderful teachers. They graduated fully bilingual, and if the school offered grades 10-12, they would have stayed for these grades as well. This is an outstanding program and school!

Samira Zarghami

I recently recommended this school to a mom because we really believe in the school and what it has to offer, and she mentioned this review... I had to read it and now I have to respond to it, as I don’t want a child to miss a great education opportunity. I am sorry for the family and the child who had such negative experience, but it is certainly not the Norm. My child started at Cousteau last year when turned 3 with zero French, and now she has conversations in French, and I have no idea what she is saying. When comparing Cousteau to other preschool/day care programs in North Vancouver, I have to say that you cannot. What is offered at Cousteau is far more. here are some of the reasons why we choose Cousteau for our child: The children are exposed to Native French speaking qualified teachers, this is amazing where your child is exposed all day in an environment where every teacher is speaking their native language, and that is all the child is hearing ****** The Curriculum, class lessons, activities, set up of classroom, and the daily routine, it all has a purpose and it is to set up a child with a solid academic foundation that is just beautiful The hours are set up to lead the child and prepare the child for KG The staff are just super supportive and helpful, they spoil you, they are quick to respond to calls and emails Cousteau offers the best before and after care services, with amazing and enriching afterschool clubs It’s a community and you build your network within that community, it is what you make it, we have friends who speak French and families who do not speak French at home, and there are families that do both, you choose what works for you, but it is what you make it All communications are in French and English Through an app you are in touch with what is happening at school within your child’s classroom These are just a few that came to my mind as I am writing this, am not saying that the school is perfect, but they are open to suggestions, they are always in the process of improving their classrooms, their library was recently renovated, they made changes to the parking system that was not working, they encourage and welcome parents to get involve with the school and I am a hard parent to please and I question everything. Am just saying all this because I don't want you to miss the opportunity, visit the school, attend the open house, and ask questions and decide for your self. Cousteau may not be a school for every child, but if it is for your child, it will be the most amazing experience they will have.

Lucy Applegate

I do not recommend this school.

C & T Wakefield

Initially, my wife and I were looking for a child care solution that would allow us to continue to work 9-5. Our child had also outgrown their existing day care - the children were well taken care of but our child was ready for a more stimulating experience. Our future vision for our child's education also involved French Immersion. It was through random word-of-mouth that Cousteau was recommended to us. We haven't looked back. The small class sizes. The celebration and embrace of French culture. The 8 a.m. child care. The report cards. The after school clubs that introduced our child to ballet, soccer, music, math, stories from around the world and cooking (at 3 years old!). The daily surprise of discovering our child has learned something new (yes dear that is the Canadian flag!). We began our Cousteau journey believing we would leave after pre-school. The superior educational experience (especially when compared to what we learned about other French Immersion options on the North Shore) and the on-going development we see in our child has convinced us to stay long-term. I have clear memories of being terrified of school during my first day of Kindergarten. Our child has no such fears, puts on her backpack and is proud to go to school every day. She is so far beyond my development at the same age it's incredible. I encourage anyone considering Cousteau to go to an open house, or register for their summer camps to give the school a try. It's worth it.

Killarney Oxygen Yoga

Amazing school with great location and caring staff!!

Melanie Simpson

It is shameful that the school that specializes in bullying wore pink shirts. Completely hypocritical!! This place needs a consultant to come in and advise the teachers how to deal with bullying with their own anger and with the children at the school. Please do your research before sending your children to this school!

Sandra Ramezani

This review is for the summer camps. Don't waste your money. I signed up thinking my daughter would have a French experience. She spoke English most of the time. The camp was extremely expensive at $450 and they offered nothing special in terms of activities. They are also unflexible and uncaring about personal circumstances and do not offer refunds.