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WELCOME TO SAINTE CROIX DES NEIGES

Sainte Croix des Neiges, founded in 1948, is a State-funded private Catholic schooloffering primary (École), secondary (Collège), upper-secondary (Lycée) and Post Graduate (BTS MCO) education to 250 pupils, both boys and girls. It welcomes boarders (full-time or weekly) and day pupils.

The school is located in Abondance, a village in Haute Savoie (Alps), 1 hour 20 minutes from Geneva and Annecy and 30 minutes from Lake Geneva.

In this exceptional setting and thanks to small class sizes, the school implements a specific teaching initiative whereby the pupils of Sainte Croix des Neiges, both French and international, receive the support of a teaching staff committed to the school’s values and success of each child.

The school motto “Confidence and Charity” resonates with more meaning today than ever. The Sainte Croix initiative is modelled on this motto, inspiring us to encourage pupils to give the very best of themselves.

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Message from the headmaster

AN EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHOD

Our aim is to give our students the means to develop and succeed in their academic and future life. In small classes, we offer a disciplined method of teaching and educate pupils on respecting values while listening to the needs of others.

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AN EXCEPTIONAL LOCATION

The mountains are an ideal setting for Sainte Croix des Neiges. We take full advantage of these outstanding surroundings, offering a variety of activities that enable each pupil to develop and gain confidence in their abilities.

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INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

Our school has a very international outlook. A large number of students come from abroad to pursue a quality education at our school. We cultivate exchanges between children from all backgrounds and encourage openness to others.

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A BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GROWTH

Community life offers common values and stimulates individual enrichment. We ensure that each boarder enjoys a reassuring environment, conducive to study and personal accomplishment.

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TESTIMONIALS

Félicien-Laurent Konan-Banny
Class of 1998
Nationality : France, Ivory Coast
Work activity
Entrepreneur
When I arrived from the Lycée Français in Copenhagen, Denmark, I was warmly welcomed by the management team, staff and pupils of Sainte Croix des Neiges… as if I had been there forever! I have a long and special relationship with Sainte Croix des Neiges! I spent a number of very special years at Abondance, it’s like a family… We come from very different backgrounds but all have a strong feeling of cohesion. It runs very deep. The teachers at Sainte Croix des Neiges taught me discipline and the desire to succeed and excel. They guided me in my business venture and their advice continues to serve me today!
Pascal Belda
Class of 1984
Nationality : France, Spain
Work activity
Entrepreneur
When I arrived at Sainte Croix des Neiges from Spain, I benefited from a very strong academic structure and dedicated teachers who helped me pass my Economics BAC and prepared for business school. I will never forget the superb environment, the feeling of camaraderie, the skiing, the football matches and pupils from around the world (Ivory Coast, Guinea, Lebanon, etc.). I just have one regret: to have stayed for only a year!
Alexandre Carré
Class of 1988
Nationality : France
Work activity
Journalist, humorist
My best years of school! The transition to adulthood, thanks to Denis Cettour, our John Keating who offered us our own “Dead Poets Society”, thanks to our “chalet” manager, Mr Brobst, who made me discover Rimbaud as well as Springsteen, Antonin Artaud and Tom Waits, thanks to the mountain and its nature which during bivouacs and snowy days showed us the ways to freedom, thanks to the friends who formed a family. This is where a friend made me discover Boris Vian, who became my favourite author, and “l’Existentialisme est un humanisme” of Sartre that I presented with success in the French bac as an off-program work. Two unforgettable years, indelible, which erased all the mediocre others. Education with rules and respect for the child I was.
Frédéric Flipo
Class of 1984
Nationality : France, Australia
Work activity
Entrepreneur
I spent 4 years at Sainte Croix des Neiges (last years of high school), I was a boarder at the “chalet” Edelweiss and then Ermitage. I was very quickly integrated in the boarding school, thanks to the teachers close to the pupils and thanks to the children themselves who were helpful and supportive when one of us felt homesick. The rapport between the pupils was strong and warm. The environment, the ski and sports in general were great! It was a community from all backgrounds, from all religions, a real melting pot rich of different cultures. I made very good friends that I still see nowadays. Well done to my parents for sending me to Sainte Croix des Neiges, I believe today that I have succeeded in life!!!
Tony Maxit
Class of 2013
Nationality : France (living in Montreal)
Work activity
Airplane pilot and flight instructor
Originally from the Abondance valley, I started at Sainte-Croix-des-Neiges in 2010 with the aim of achieving a scientific Baccalaureate. These years were very beneficial for me, on the social side, as I met people coming from different horizons, and on the academic side, thanks to the excellent educational supervision and the preparation the Baccalaureate. At the moment, it was difficult to realize how lucky we were, but over time, we understand that the whole set-up around us throughout these years really helped us reach our ambitions. Thanks to the school, also very dynamic in sports, I had the chance to participate in very nice extra-curricular activities, such as freeride skiing, canyoning, climbing, caving, rafting … and so on! A “mountain” of very beautiful memories. Following my high school degree, I decided to go on an adventure in Canada to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming an airplane pilot. I started my pilot training in Quebec, Montreal and Vancouver. After 2 years, I got a flight instructor qualification. After about 1000 flying hours and my instructor experience, I was hired by an airline company called Air Inuit operating a range of aircraft, from light aviation turbo prop to 737 boeings.
Michael Dalton
Class of 2016
Nationality : Irland
Now that my transition year has finished, I can now honestly say that my time at Sainte-Croix des Neiges was my best experience of the year and perhaps even my life! I have to say a big thank you again for everything you did for me and the Irish students. It was an experience I will never forget. Thanks to you and the others, my French is much better now and I have more confidence in taking my BAC in the future. I have also improved on the slopes and now ski faster than my family!!!