A school hub for the future in the heart of La Coupiane

This ambitious project reflects the City's commitment to modernising its school infrastructure while respecting sustainable development criteria. Certified 'Bâtiments Durables Méditerranéens Bronze', these facilities offer an educational and pleasant environment for the young residents of La Valette.

Thus, Thierry Albertini, the mayor, emphasised: "These establishments offer a modern, comfortable, accessible, and sustainable environment for our children. Depaved schoolyard, green spaces, vegetable gardens, motor skills rooms, digital equipment. Every detail has been thought out to meet the needs of the pupils and the educational teams. Dear children, this school is yours. Learn, play, dream... and above all, thrive!"

TWO NAMES THAT SING OF PROVENCE

For his part, François de Canson, representing Renaud Muselier, added: "There are names that resonate like promises. Today, we are inaugurating a place that will bear two of these names: Marcel Pagnol and Frédéric Mistral. Two ecological environment, names that sing of Provence, that whisper the memory of our hills, the breath of our traditions, the beauty of a language, and the strength of a heritage. These two men, although separated by time, have so much in common. Both chose speech as a tool, culture as a struggle, and education as a horizon. Both offered their land a mirror in which to recognise themselves, a refuge in which to remember, a light by which to grow" (...). He continued: "And what can we say about Marcel Pagnol, son of Aubagne, son of a schoolteacher—a word that alone illuminates a vocation. Pagnol is childhood rediscovered, the laughter of holidays, lessons of courage among the stones of the Garlaban, the poetry hidden in everyday life. But he is also the first filmmaker to enter the Académie française. A builder of bridges between literature and the people (...). And that is precisely the school we want here, at the Marcel Pagnol and Frédéric Mistral school complex: a school that makes you hungry. Hungry for knowledge, for beauty, for freedom. A school that awakens, that anchors, that elevates". For this investment, the Région is contributing €1,359,000. This represents a considerable effort of €4,538,000 in favour of the schools of La Valette. "Here, the soul of Pagnol will accompany the pupils in the corridors, light as a game of boules, intense as a gaze from César. It will remind us that intelligence can be joyful, and that curiosity does not need big cities to blossom", concluded the Vice-President of the Région.

THERMAL COMFORT

In terms of layout, both schools benefit from a depaved and wooded schoolyard (42 trees planted), green spaces, a vegetable garden, greenhouses, compost bins, and sunshades on the east and west facades to improve thermal comfort. The premises are equipped with air handling units, a lift for PRM accessibility, and a building management system (GTB) allowing real-time monitoring of energy performance. Covering an area of 3,134 m2, including 515 m2 of newly created space, these developments illustrate a future-oriented approach. With this new infrastructure, the Ville affirms its commitment to education, innovation, and the quality of life of its residents. •

In the presence of: Laure LAVALETTE, Member of Parliament for Var, Jean-Louis MASSON, President of the Département, Sylvie LAPORTE, Deputy Mayor in charge of School Affairs, Regional Councillor, Ange MUSSO, Mayor of Le Revest-les-Eaux, representing the Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée.

THE SCHOOL HUB WELCOMES 440 PUPILS, DIVIDED BETWEEN:

• Frédéric-Mistral nursery school, with 5 classes for 144 children; • Marcel-Pagnol elementary school, with 12 classes for 296 pupils; • A catering hub equipped with a reheating kitchen.

• The Sylviane Laemmel multi-purpose hall, named after a dedicated local figure, will be able to accommodate up to 290 people (school and extracurricular activities).