Bilingual French/English preschool
École Fleur de Vie is a Bilingual French-English Preschool in Beautiful West Los Angeles for children aged 2 to 5 years old. We blend diverse educational philosophies to nurture curiosity, creativity and connections.
Philosophy
École Fleur de Vie is a bilingual French–English learning environment for young children with a 1:4 teacher-to-student ratio in intimate groups of 12. We create a nurturing "like-home" environment where every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated for their uniqueness. This sense of belonging allows children to feel safe as they explore and blossom into their full potential.
Our emergent curriculum is both child-centered and thoughtfully structured, offering predictable rhythms while opening doors to a wide variety of experiences that spark curiosity and expand horizons.
We place strong emphasis on social-emotional growth, communication skills, and a wide range of enrichment activities that honor different learning styles and inspire a deep, lasting love of learning. Rooted in the values of inclusion, diversity, and mindfulness, we embrace the richness of multiple cultures and celebrate the French language as part of our global community.
At École Fleur de Vie, nature is our teacher and interconnectedness is our guide. Our mission is to provide an inspiring space where children flourish with confidence, cultivate inner strength, and recognize the many gifts they carry within.
Curriculum
Highlights
Morning Circle & Hands-on Academics
Building the foundation for early literacy and math in both French and English—one playful lesson at a time!
Art Studio
With early encounters in art history and the inspiration of an "artist of the month," L'Atelier encourages children to explore, experiment, and awaken their own inner Monet.
Music and Movement
From French comptines to upbeat rhythms, children explore music through singing, playing instruments, simple choreographies, and free movement.
Sensory Play
Strengthen fine motor skills, spark cognitive growth, and encourage exploration through textures and hands-on discovery.
Gardening & Science
In our Petit Potager, children grow vegetables year-round, nurturing seeds into plants! Monarch butterflies visit our milkweed garden daily, adding magic to our outdoor classroom.
Yoga
Weekly classes of gentle movement and mindfulness help children practice balance, focus, body awareness, and emotional regulation. Namaste, little yogis!
The Space
Food Program
Fresh homemade bread every week!
We believe every meal is a chance to nourish the body and spark curiosity. With fresh, seasonal ingredients and homemade dishes, we introduce children to diverse flavors, textures, and traditions. Mealtime is a joyful ritual of connection, learning, and care—because food, to us, is not just fuel. It's culture, memory, and love—served daily.
Cooking class: at our school, we love to introduce children to the joy of cooking! Through regular cooking classes, our young chefs get hands-on with food, discovering new tastes, building confidence, and sprinkling a little magic into every recipe they create!
Meet The Team
Geneviève Canterbury
Owner, Director
Geneviève is a joyful and creative soul, and a proud mother of three. Born in Québec, Canada, she grew up surrounded by lakes, forests, and the beauty of nature. With both parents being teachers, she loved spending time in their classrooms and quickly developed a love for teaching. Her curiosity about languages and the world led her to travel—until she met her husband in California, the place that soon became home. Geneviève's passion for early childhood education blossomed when her oldest daughter was two. While studying Early Childhood Education at SMC, she gained hands-on experience in preschool classrooms and discovered her gift for creating magical environments where children feel safe, loved, and encouraged to shine. Over the years, she has worn many hats, each adding to the vibrant foundation of École Fleur de Vie. Today, she continues to bring her passion to life in the classroom and garden—where children dance with butterflies and play with fairies.
Mahdia Yiahiaoui
Owner and food director
Originally from Algeria, Mahdia moved to the United States with a Master's degree in Applied Foreign Languages. Deeply inspired by different cultures, she believes language and food are powerful bridges to connect communities. At École Fleur de Vie, Mahdia brings this passion to life by teaching French and preparing homemade meals from scratch, infusing the school with warmth and flavor. Music is another pillar of her life; she grew up in a vibrant musical environment that continues to shape her identity today. Family is at the core of Mahdia's values, guiding her dedication to creating a nurturing, home-like environment for the children. With a strong belief in community, creativity, and care, she is committed to helping every child feel connected, curious, and celebrated. At École Fleur de Vie, Mahdia combines her love for teaching, cooking, and culture to give children a truly holistic and joyful learning experience.
Abderraouf Semaoui (Raffi)
Assistant Teacher
Originally from Algeria, Raffi moved to the U.S. to explore new horizons. With a background in science and engineering—holding a scientific high school diploma and two years of study in mechanical engineering and welding science—he is now having fun exploring a new path with children and early childhood education. Coming from a family of educators, including his mother who was an English teacher for 30 years, Raffi grew up surrounded by a love for learning. He speaks three languages: English, Arabic, and French. With the École FdV students, Raffi especially enjoys hands-on activities such as origami and building with Legos, blocks, and train tracks. A natural builder himself, he loves seeing the children's faces light up when they create something new!
Testimonials
Genevieve, Mahdia and the Fleur de Vie team have been caring for our children for the past 3.5 years and we couldn't be happier. With both of our children, we have felt the deep care of the teachers: the way they pay attention to their individual personalities, the way they push and challenge those who need it but respect and accommodate for those who need a little more time to figure things out. The bilingual curriculum has a great balance for those who are leaning either language. Our first child didn't speak English at all when he started but was fluent within a few months. The academic aspect of the school is so rich - not only full of standard academics such as numbers and letters, but also art, gardening, sensory play, cooking, yoga and so many amazing activities that awaken the children's minds. Our children have had so much fun learning at École Fleur de Vie and the one who graduated wishes he could go back! Lastly, Genevieve and Mahdia have such beautiful, radiant personalities, it's a pleasure to see them daily and know that our kids are in the hands of people who are so joyful and fun.
Elena & Marcello
parents of Julian and Milo