1. Istituto Comprensivo «Roncalli» Quarto d’Altino – Venezia Italy

3. Kindergarten/Pre-school is not compulsory but most parents enroll their children anyway. Kindergarten in Italy is free, except in private schools. It is organized in groups of pupils called “ sections”; each section can include children of the same age or children of mixed ages.

6. Primary school is compulsory from the age of 6 and it lasts five years. The school time organization is based on 2 possible options: - 27 hours per week - 40 hours per week - called “ full time school” Five days a week, both options.

8. Lower secondary school is compulsory for all children between 11 to 14. Older students who haven’t succeeded in getting the final diploma can attend the lower secondary school until they are 16. Students usually have 30 hours classes per week. Some schools may offer additional classes - up to 40 hours. At the end of the third year pupils sit a standard (national) examination in order to get the lower secondary school Diploma and be able to move on to Upper secondary school.

9. Subjects Weekly hours Italian 6 History, Citizenship Education 2 Geography 2 Science 2 Mathematics 4 English 3 Spanish or French 2 Technology 2 Music 2 Art 2 Physical Education 2 Religious Education (optional) 1 30 hours

10. THE PRINCIPAL SIMONA DA RE

11. The Secretary Staff

12. Nadia Zanon, Maria Silotto, Alessandro Greco, Giuliana Gallerani, Lauretta Marian, Daniela Millini, Mirella Prisco, Rosaria Clemente, Maria Buranello, Lidiana Bagattin, Loretta Aliprandi… And many others Marcello Molteni, Daniela Marzilli, Claudia Menegotto, Lauretta Novello, Chiara Piaser, Ercole Coruzzi, …

13. - Kindergarten : 3 to 6 years old - Primary school : 6 to 11 years old - Lower Secondary school : 11 to 14 years old Upper Secondary school : Upper Secondary school : 14 to 18 years oldUniversity First cycle of instruction/education:

14. 3 different kinds of schools: Not compulsory after 16. Not free. It is basically organised into 3 different kinds of schools: -liceo ( 5 years; classic, scientific, linguistic, artistic, technological orientation courses; very academic; you have to attend the 5 year course and pass a national standard written and oral exam to get the Diploma di Maturità ) - - Technical/vocational school - ( 5 years; quite a large number of different possible courses; less academic, more practical, operative, than liceo; you can sometimes get a 3-year qualification; you have to attend the 5 year course and pass a national standard written and oral exam to get the Diploma di Maturità ) - -vocational school/course - ( 3 or 5 years; quite a large number of different possible courses; you can get a 3 year qualification, a 5 year qualification, or the Diploma di Maturità)

15. University is not free, in Italy. Scholarships are avaible for deserving students or for students with a low income. It can be attended only by students who got an upper secondary school Diploma.

16. The State/public school The State/public school in Italy is free until the end of the compulsory attendance age ( 16 years old ). The Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (recently renamed Ministry of Public Education) is responsible for the administration and financing of state schools in Italy. Yet, each school has a certain amount of autonomy – as far as a limited number of issues are concerned (e.g., timetables, teachers’ didactic approach and planning ) – and most schools are financially supported also by Local Administrations.

17. Italy has had an inclusive education policy since the 1970s and disabled children are educated in mainstream schools. Additional support is provided to mainstream schools in the form of special needs supporting teachers and reduced class size.

18. The Italian school year The Italian school year usually runs from mid-September to the end of June. Upper secondary school final exams (5 th year) often finish at the end of July. Traditional school holidays: Traditional school holidays: - Christmas Holidays (2 weeks) - Christmas Holidays (2 weeks) - Carnival Holidays (3 days) - Carnival Holidays (3 days) - Easter Holidays (4/5 days) - Easter Holidays (4/5 days) -4 th November (Anniversary of I World War end) -4 th November (Anniversary of I World War end) - 25 th April (Anniversary of II World War end, Liberation Day) - 25 th April (Anniversary of II World War end, Liberation Day) - 1 st May (Labour Day) - 1 st May (Labour Day) - 2 nd June ( Republic Foundation Celebration Day) - 2 nd June ( Republic Foundation Celebration Day) - Patron Saint Day (each city, village has its own Patron ) - Patron Saint Day (each city, village has its own Patron )