In Lattes, at the Jean-François-Champollion high school, the Occitanie region inaugurated the new “Maison des high school students” on Friday May 22. A space for both relaxation and work made available to the establishment’s students, for an investment of €1.9 million.
The new “Maison des Lycéens”, in the heart of the Jean-François-Champollion Latvian establishment, was inaugurated on Friday May 22, at 2:30 p.m. The event brought together its main actors: Laurent Thieffaine, well sure, the principal of the high school; Aymeric Meiss, academic director of Hérault; Kamel Chibli, vice-president of the Occitanie region delegated to education, guidance, youth and sport and Hussein Bourgi, the senator from Hérault.
This project, financed 100% by the region for an amount of €1.9 million, aims “to offer a modern living space that meets the needs of students”, underlined Kamel Chibli.
“There was a lack of a place where students can relax and get together”noted for his part the senator from Hérault Hussein Bourgi, concerned by the question of security around and inside the high school.The Maison des Lycéens is, in this sense, the ideal place.”
An eco-responsible and artistic building
Built between October 2024 and September 2025 by Arac (Occitanie regional development and construction agency), this new 350 m² building takes place in the heart of the courtyard of the Latvian high school. Made of wood, the work is part of an approach combining quality of use and energy performance.
As part of the Culture Pass, the Champollion high school called on the street art artist “Oops” to decorate part of the interior walls of the high school students’ house: “The fresco was entirely made of Posca markers”, explains Oops.
The artist chose to work with 2nd professional students in graphic industries and communication (MIGC). Eloïne is one of them: “I participated in the creation of the fresco by representing a house in a sort of skull”she confides.
The objective was to have houses drawn in all their forms.“It’s a moment that we have been waiting for since September 1, 2025 and from now on, this high school student center is truly functioning,” enthuses Laurent Thieffaine, high school principal.
The poster for the 2026 edition of “ID Métiers”
As part of the regional competence for information on professions and training for schools, the Region has been organizing “ID Métiers” events since 2022, in order to provide secondary school students with information“an orientation chosen and not suffered”, explains Kamel Chibli, vice-president of the Occitanie regional council. On Friday, May 22, at 2 p.m., just before the inauguration of the Maison des lycéens, the selection of the poster took place which will be used for the 2026 edition of the event, on November 27 and 28 at the Montpellier exhibition center.
A place of life and citizenship
The new High School Students’ House was designed to promote conviviality, community life but also individual and collective learning.
Students have at their disposal a multi-activity room consisting of a table football, several tables and armchairs, as well as a study room with a capacity of 19 places.
Bright, the room has a giant touch screen which will serve as a work support. Three students in Terminale STI demonstrate it.
But that’s not all since a music room is also available, to allow students to express their creativity. A group composed of two singers, a drummer and two guitarists performed Cake by the ocean of DNCE on the occasion of this inauguration.
The academic director of Hérault, Aymeric Meiss, congratulated the students for “the beautiful presentation that was made to us, both musical and mathematical.”
