P R O S P E C T U S
The St. Louis School of Milan is an International school which provides a high quality education within a friendly, secure, purposeful environment, in which we foster creativity, independence of thought and an enduring love of learning. By embracing the different backgrounds of our pupils we instil within our children an appreciation of the rights of individuals irrespective of race, creed and culture.
We
believe that everyone within the school community should be treated with respect, tolerance, fairness and concern. By actively involving our parental body in assisting their children to learn, we also create an openness that builds mutual trust and appreciation which socially models a climate of international understanding. From our Mission Statement
The ST. LOUIS SCHOOL of Milan is a private international school, catering for children from ages 2 to 18. It is a member of the European Council of International schools (ECIS) and of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) and is authorised by the Italian School Authority as “Scuola Primaria paritaria”. Furthermore the University of Cambridge International Examination board has officially recognised St. Louis School as a Cambridge International centre. Our unique curriculum is based on the British National Curriculum, and incorporates the Italian Curriculum for children fluent in Italian. The staff are highly competent, qualified teachers with invaluable experience of teaching in the U.K and Italy and work closely together as a team to create a positive, caring but purposeful environment for the children. There are clear expectations for the children but the emphasis is on being enthusiastic, motivated and therefore successful.
Pupils at the ST. LOUIS SCHOOL are treated with respect, tolerance, fairness and concern. Throughout the year they are engaged in many special events including school outings, music concerts, sports events, international events and trips. Clubs form a major focus in our extracurricular programme in a wide range of sports, artistic, musical and learning activities. Each year, examiners from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), the world’s leading music examining board, hold exams at our school. The school is set in a modern building southeast of Milan, close to public transport and reached by its own bus service. The school has a gymnasium, a large outdoor play and sports area with facilities for football, basketball and volleyball.
The school has a well equipped kitchen and restaurant where nutritious meals are prepared daily to serve all pupils. From year 2, pupils can choose dishes for each course from a selection of healthy options including hot vegetables, salad and fresh fruit.
Scuola dell’infanzia
LOWER SCHOOL
I N FA N T S C H O O L
BRITISH SYSTEM
Introductory Stage
Nursery
2 years old
Foundation Stage
Pre-School Reception
3 years old 4 years old
PRIMARY SCHOOL Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Year 1 Year 2
5 years old 6 years old
Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6
7 years old 8 years old 9 years old 10 years old
MIDDLE SCHOOL Key Stage 3
UPPER SCHOOL
I TA L I A N S Y S T E M
Year 7 Year 8 Year 9
HIGH SCHOOL Key Stage 4 IGCSE
Year 10 Year 11
14 years old 15 years old
Key Stage 5 IB DIPLOMA
Year 12 Year 13
16 years old 17 years old
11 years old 12 years old 13 years old
Scuola primaria
Scuola secondaria di 1°grado
Scuola secondaria di 2°grado
SCHOOL
STRUCTURE
I N FA N T SCHOOL I N FA N T S C H O O L
The INFANT SCHOOL (2-4 yearolds) offers a happy and stimulating environment in which children learn to be away from home, to understand the importance of routines and rules and to work independently as well as in groups. A good teacher/student ratio is offered and the curriculum is based on the Foundation Stage of the British National Curriculum. The six areas of learning and development are: • Personal, social and emotional development • Communication, language and literacy • Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy • Knowledge and understanding of the world • Physical development • Creative development
INFANT SCHOOL The aims of our curriculum include: • Encouraging children’s learning through play • Stimulating the students’ creative thinking and expression • Developing the students’ gross and fine motor skills and co-ordination • Valuing each child’s strengths and abilities while meeting her or his individual needs • Building a solid foundation for the children’s learning The school provides Music and Physical Education specialist teachers, swimming lessons from Pre School, visits to museums and theatres, excursions and extra-curricular activities and clubs, such as ballet, judo, arts, etc. From Reception the children have the opportunity to visit the school library where they are taught how to select books, how to behave in a library and how to borrow books. The teacher reads them a selection of stories that further develop their love of reading.
The computer suite is available for all children in Reception once a week. During this time we begin the process of making our students computer literate. The children arrive at school between
8.45 and 9.30 a.m. and go home between 3.45 and 4.00 p.m. In the afternoon the teachers put the younger children to bed (2-3 yearolds); they have their nap from 1.00 to 2.30 p.m.
PRIMARY SCHOOL PRIMARY SCHOOL
The PRIMARY SCHOOL teaching programme follows a uniquely devised broad and balanced curriculum which takes into account the children’s age and background. This curriculum has enhanced the overall student attainment levels. Most importantly, the whole school programme enriches the children’s learning experiences and provides them with the academic, social, linguistic and technological tools necessary for the modern world. Key Stage One covers Year 1 and Year 2. Key Stage Two covers Years 3 - 6. At the end of each Key Stage, the children are assessed using the SATs tests as used in British schools. Results in the British SATs have consistently proven to be well above U.K. national averages. The school offers the choice between 2 academic programmes: The British Stream or the Italian Stream. The Primary School holds the Italian status of “scuola paritaria”.
P RIMA RY S CH O OL British Stream Subjects English Maths Science Humanities Music Arts Physical Education / Swimming Information and Communication Technology • Personal Health and Social Citizenship Education • Italian as an Additional Language • • • • • • • •
Italian Stream Subjects • • • • • • • • • • • • •
English Maths Science Humanities Music Arts Physical Education / Swimming Information and Communication Technology Personal Health and Social Citizenship Education Italiano Matematica Storia (from Year 5) Geografia (from Year 5)
For both streams there is also an optional Religion lesson. The children have specialist teachers for P.E. and Music. During the year each class also has the opportunity to work on an art project with specialist Art teachers. The Italian Curriculum is taught to pupils throughout the Primary School.
P RI MA RY PRIMARY SCHOOL S CHO O L
P RIMA RY S CH O OL Each pupil’s level of spoken Italian is assessed and “Italian as an Additional Language” teaching is provided for non-native speakers. During the year, the children have the opportunity to go on educational visits, linked to the topics that they are studying. These visits include trips to art galleries, theatres and museums, making the children’s learning experience a broader one. We also have visitors to the school providing workshops for the children. The children in Year 1 follow the entry and home-times of the Infant School with break time between 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. On Wednesdays they may finish at 1.30 p.m. All other classes start lessons promptly at 8.45 a.m. and finish at 4.00 p.m. with break time between 1.00 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. On Wednesdays the school day finishes at 1.30 p.m. Lunch is provided on the premises.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Within the school community, students of the Middle and High Schools have an important role, which involves three key elements, responsibility, the learning journey and partnership. In terms of behaviour and academic work the students set the example for the younger children.
The Middle School pupils’ academic programme aims to support the educational and social transition from Primary to Secondary School for students in year groups 7-9, using modern teaching techniques and specialist teachers. The Core Curriculum is focused directly upon the requirements of the British National Curriculum. In support of this are two streams, which allow students to select either the British or the Italian Curriculum. At the end of Year 9 they will then take either Key Stage 3 SATs tests, the Italian Terza Media exams, or both.
MIDDLE SCHOOL The Middle School offers students the skills for life: • Communication in several languages • ICT in a range of formats • The best methodologies from two curricula • A range of learning environments • Thought provoking and challenging topics. Core subjects include: • English / Literacy • Mathematics • Science • Italian • French or Spanish • Humanities • Music • Arts • Information & Communication Technology • Physical Education / Swimming • Personal Health and Social Citizenship Education And the Italian Stream extends to: • Italiano
• • • •
Matematica Latino Storia Geografia
On entrance to the Middle School the students receive a brand new personal laptop computer for use in all their lessons and at home. The introduction of the laptop programme since 2003 has dramatically altered how pupils learn and how teachers teach. Dynamics within the classroom have changed; motivation and levels of student achievement have increased substantially. Most importantly the students have become effective independent learners and this is one of the key aims of our school. Selected educational websites on the school wireless Internet network fulfill the research needs of each student, while the visual “interactive whiteboards” provide the latest learning technology for both teachers and students.
The Middle School pupils begin lessons at 8.45 a.m. and finish at 4.00 p.m. with break time between 1.45 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On Wednesdays the school day finishes at 1.45 p.m. Lunch is provided on the premises.
HIGH SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL
The aim of our educational programme is always to ensure that we provide students with a curriculum that will enable them to gain internationally recognised and respected qualifications, and prepare them for University anywhere in the world. The St. Louis High School is a Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Centre.
The school programme covers 4 years comprising CIE’s International GCSE (IGCSE) examinations, for years 10 and 11, and the International Baccalaureate (IB)* for years 12 and 13.
Year 10 and 11
A study of IGCSE provides a cohesive transition from our in depth KS3 course and ensures a solid foundation for the future studies in the IB Diploma programme. A wide range of IGCSE subjects are available and these are grouped into 5 curriculum areas. Students in Years 10 and 11 are encouraged to take part in the school Sports Programme and International Programmes such as the Global Maths challenge, the Model United Nations, and the World Global Challenge, as
Group 1 Languages
Group 2 Humanities and Social Sciences
Group 3 Sciences
Group 4 Mathematics
Group 5 Creative and Technical
English Italian French Spanish Chinese Greek Latin
History Geography Global Perspectives Economics
Physics Chemistry Biology
Mathematics Additional Mathematics
Music Drama Art and Design ICT Business Studies
well as educational trips in the UK. Computer Technology and an inbuilt pastoral programme
continue to be an integral part of our Key Stage 4 curriculum.
* The St. Louis School is a Candidate school for the IB Diploma Programme. Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) or the Diploma Programme (and in addition the IB Career-related Certificate). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.
H IGH S CH O OL Year 12 and 13 The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. By focusing on the dynamic combination of knowledge, skills, independent critical and creative thought and international-mindedness, the IB adopts the principle of educating the whole person for a life of active, responsible citizenship. Students choose a programme of subjects based on six curriculum areas. Students also need to fulfil three Core Requirements: The Extended Essay (EE) Students engage in independent research through an in-depth study relating to either one of the subjects they are studying or another one from a wide range of choices.
Group 1 Languages 1
Group 2 Languages 2
Group 3 Individuals and Societies
Group 4 Mathematics
Group 5 Creative and Technical
Group 5 Creative and Technical
English Italian
Italian French Spanish English Chinese Latin Classical Greek
History Geography Economics Business Studies Philosophy ICT
Mathematics (HL) Mathematics (SL) Mathematics Studies
Biology Chemistry Physics
Visual arts Theatre Music
The Theory of Knowledge (ToK) Students reflect on the nature of knowledge by examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical). Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) Students actively learn from the experience of doing 150 hours of
real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components of CAS or do activities related to each one of them separately. Examples of the kinds of activities which follow under each category of the programme: • Creativity: assembly (leading), learning a musical instrument, drama production, art exhibition, choir/musical show, etc.; • Action: sports practice, Duke of
Edinburgh International Award; • Service: Amnesty International, Model United Nations, first aid, charity / fund-raising work, student council, etc.
Grading Each subject is graded by external examiners on a scale of 1 to 7. The IB diploma candidate must also meet the three additional requirements: submission of an Extended Essay,
H IGH HIGH SCHOOL SCHO O L satisfactory completion of the Theory of Knowledge course, and compulsory participation in the extra-curricular CAS programme. Award of the Diploma requires a minimum total of 24/45 points. Tabella di conversione punteggio IB/Maturità 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
60% 62% 64% 67% 69% 71% 73% 76% 78% 80% 82% 84% 87% 89% 91% 93% 96% 98% 100%
High School timetable From 8.00am to 2.00 pm for each subject to be taught by subject specialists. From 2.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Lunch (Not compulsory) From 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Study time and/or School activities (sport/ clubs/Music/ICT etc.)
University Entrance – Italy The Italian Ministry of Public Education recognises the IB Diploma as a basis for students seeking admission to courses at universities in Italy and other institutions of higher education in Italy if the candidate selects a programme which conforms to one of the following options: Nell’ambito dei 4 corsi di studio, i program-
mi elencati devono prevedere 3 materie a livello avanzato e 3 materie a livello medio. Si segnala tuttavia l’esigenza che sia fissata almeno una materia obbligatoria a livello avanzato caratterizzante il corso di studio
per ogni tipo di liceo. Per il liceo linguistico: prima lingua; per il liceo scientifico: matematica; per il liceo classico: latino o greco; per il liceo delle scienze umane: storia o filosofia.
Liceo Linguistico
Liceo Scientifico
Liceo Classico
Liceo Scienze Umane
Prima lingua Seconda lingua
Prima lingua Seconda lingua
Prima lingua Latino
Prima lingua Seconda lingua
A scelta una materia
A scelta una materia
A scelta una materia
A scelta una materia
Storia Economia Geografia Filosofia
Storia Economia Geografia Filosofia
Storia Economia Geografia Filosofia
Storia Economia Geografia
A scelta una materia
A scelta una materia
A scelta una materia
A scelta una materia
Chimica Fisica Biologia Informatica
Chimica Fisica Biologia
Chimica Fisica Biologia Informatica
Chimica Fisica Biologia Informatica
Matematica o Studi Matematici
Matematica
Matematica o Studi Matematici
Matematica o Studi Matematici
Terza lingua
A scelta una materia
Greco
A scelta una materia
Chimica Biologia Informatica Latino Arte
Filosofia Storia Economia Geografia Arte