A few hours before the first open doors of the Thomas Pesquet college in Castres (Tarn), which will take place this Saturday, March 19, some teachers have given us their impressions of the new establishment.
The college of Cedars of Castres had no more secrets for her. Since 1999, for 22 years, Bénédicte Devillard has taught Spanish there. “Yes, I started in the last century, so I’m the oldest teacher in the establishment! “, says amused this 55-year-old Castrese, who for a few months, appropriates “slowly but surely” the brand new walls of the Thomas Pesquet college in Lameilhé.
“It’s a little destabilizing, and it’s true that at the start, I wasn’t too enthusiastic about moving! We still have the place where we worked for years and years, where we took our habits, our marks and I admit that it was very close to my home too… So I was not convinced “says the teacher. Yet today, she wouldn’t leave these new “comfortable” and “pleasant” working conditions for anything in the world, and above all, these “super well soundproofed” rooms. Even if here, we have more wind than at Les Cèdres, when it blows, we no longer have windows that bang and which meant that you had to speak very loudly! It was complicated all the same, especially as a language teacher, ”explains Bénédicte Devillard, very delighted to be able to end her career in a college like this. “And then it gives a new dynamic even within the teaching team, for the teachers,” she added.
Workspace, photocopy room, “telephone” corner… The Spanish teacher also appreciates the surface area and layout that have been specially reserved for teachers. “At Les Cèdres, the teachers’ room was small and very dark. It was old fashioned. There, it has nothing to do! she exclaims.
Beneficial isolation
The only downside perhaps? “The distance from the city centre, explains Bénédicte Devillard. Before, it was more practical, we took the students to the Goya museum, to the cinema or to the theatre, for the French teachers and above all, we did everything on foot. Now, we have to anticipate and leave earlier, ”she explains.
“But somewhere, this remoteness has an advantage in the sense that when the students come here, they know it’s only to work. As we are isolated from the rest of the city, there is no desire to finish early to go for a walk with friends. There, they tend to stay in school longer or go directly home, ”says Coralie Rouquette, French teacher.
In any case, what is certain is that in just a few months, the majority of Cedars teachers have been seduced by the Thomas Pesquet college. “For my part, I very quickly turned the page, I have no nostalgia, explains Corinne Prades – Léger, this French teacher, who had been teaching at Les Cèdres for 18 years. It’s a dream to work in new premises with state-of-the-art computer equipment. I am very happy. We have gained in comfort, in luminosity, in silence… It’s really pleasant. And then what I find good for students is that they can only go in an ‘L’ so they are always under surveillance and above all, everything is well grouped together. With this simplified layout in terms of movement, they do not get lost. Everything is well designed. »
There is no doubt that all these arguments should convince visitors and future parents of students during the open house this weekend…
Doors open Saturday morning
The Thomas-Pesquet college will therefore open its doors this Saturday morning March 19 to future 6th graders and to all students who would like to register for the next school year. The morning program will be as follows: 8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.: welcome coffee at the self-service; 9 a.m.: word from the principal – presentation of the teams and the morning’s proceedings; 9.15 a.m. – 10 a.m.: pick up of visitors and visit of the different centres; 10 a.m.: dance performance with Ms. Marcos’ students; 10.15 a.m.: resumption of visits; 11 a.m.: choir with Mr. Cazamayou’s students; 11.15 a.m. to 12 p.m.: continuation and end of visits. The teachers will present the different projects, activities and options.
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