​ABOUT COLLEGE CLASSIQUE FENIMIN
OUR STORY
Collège Classique Féminin (C.C.F.) was founded in 1964 by Mrs. Janie Adrien Buteau, Marthe Boncy Adam et Renée Jolivert Héraux. C.C.F. was then the only lay school for girls in Port-au-Prince. Through the years, and with no outside financial help, C.C.F. has become an excellent educational institution that has, for the last 50 years, provided many generations of Haitian girls with quality education emphasizing Christian and moral values such as effort, perseverance, honesty, generosity, respect and excellence. From a school attended mostly at the beginning by children of friends, acquaintances, and family of the founders, C.C.F. became, less than ten years after its opening, a reference in the field of education in general and of education for girls in particular.
From 1964 to 1984, the founders deftly ran the institution, in spite of the premature death of Mrs. Adam in 1979. The student population of C.C.F. grew progressively from some twenty students at the beginning to almost a thousand in the 1980s. This significant growth of the student body made it necessary to build new, more adequate school structures on the site. The founders also progressively added the grades. In 1964, they had started with only elementary level classes. The following academic year, they began secondary school with the class that had obtained its Certificat d’Études Primaires (primary school certificate) the previous year. They pursued the growth by adding a new grade every year, until they reached Seconde (11th grade). Some years later, the class of Rhéto (12th grade) was included. The first class of Philo graduated in 1979.
Between 1984 and 1989, the founders’ heirs, Mrs. Marie-Alice Kénol Craft, Djenane Héraux Sajous, Chantal Kénol Desmornes and Fabienne Héraux Rousseau began their career in the institution. In October 1996, Mrs. Buteau and Héraux retired after turning over the leadership of the school to the next generation.
The actual members of the directorial staff of C. C. F. have done their elementary and secondary classes in that school. They earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from reputable American universities. In addition to the common responsibilities of school principals, they are active members of diverse educational, psychological, literary and sport associations involved in the education of the Haitian youth.
At a particular moment in its history, C.C.F. underwent a period of restructuration made necessary by pedagogical requirements. This restructuration involved the reduction of the students’ body to favor quality over quantity and modernize the teaching/learning process. In this process, computer and science labs, a library, and a multimedia room were added. Furthermore, extracurricular activities were organized or reinforced, such as the Youth Eucharistic Movement (MEJ), volley-ball, chorus, drama, dance, drawing, and music.
Throughout its development, C.C.F. never received financial help neither from the Haitian State nor from any private organization or institution. Some financing was obtained punctually, from individuals or groups, for the improvement of the educational infrastructures or for scholarships. Primarily, though, C.C.F. had to depend on tuition fees received from the students and their parents.
Before January 12, 2010, Collège Classique Féminin had a student population of approximately 400 students. Each classroom seated an average of 25 students. A teaching staff of some 39 experienced teachers instructed students in the different subjects. They were assisted in their tasks by four (4) qualified people responsible for pedagogical supervision and administration. Ten (10) staff members were entrusted with the food, security, and maintenance services.
The school facilites included :
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16 classrooms for what is known as the first and second cycles of basic education (1st to 6th grades), the third cycle of basic education (7th to 9th grades), and the four secondary classes (10th to 12th grades).
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A science lab, computer lab, library, bookstore, multi media facilities, and conference room.
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An infirmary, a locker room, a teacher's lounge and the administrative quarters.
The earthquake of January 12, 2010 seriously damaged C.C.F. In fact, the greatest part of its infrastructures was destroyed or irremediably damaged. Furthermore, the school lost more than a hundred of the students enrolled at the start of academic year 2009-2010. The decrease in student attendance, due at the beginning to the movement of the student population abroad or to the countryside, was later made worse by the increasing financial difficulty of the parents to pay the tuition fees.
In spite of all these setbacks, the outstanding performance of the students of C.C.F. at the different state examinations continues to testify of the high level of education given in the school. In the sports and artistic domains, in national and foreign universities as well as on the job market, our students have a very good reputation. C.C.F. and its staff continue to put their skills and knowledge at the service of the Haitian community in the field of education per se as well as in the related domains of sport education, civic service and teacher training.
Our Vision
Our Vision is to incite our students to desire the best, to acheive their most elevated goal, to believe they are capable of succeeding in their personal lives and to make a significant and viable contribution to their community.
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