Centro Scuola e
Cultura Italiana

SUMMER CREDIT  - FAQs

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1. Q: What is the student to adult ratio?
   A: There is a 10 to 1 student to adult ratio.
2. Q: How many students share a room?
   A: Students will be in rooms of  2, or 3 based on the total number of students in a group and the number of rooms allotted by the hotel for our group.
3. Q: What is a regular day like?
   A regular day :
   -breakfast at hotel
   -class (8.30am- 12.30pm),
   -lunch (1pm-2pm),
   -study hall (2pm-3pm),
   -free time or local excursion, (3pm – 6:30pm)
   -dinner (7.15pm-8.15pm),
   -free time,
   -curfew (approx. 10.30pm), room check and lights out.
   Curfew depends on what the students are doing the next day and on behaviour.
4. Q: Does my child need to attend a TCDSB or YCDSB school to attend?
   A : Students from ANY Ontario school board can participate and earn this Ontario Secondary School Diploma credit. They do not need to be enrolled in either of the above mentioned school boards.
   Credits are offered in partnership with the TCDSB and YCDSB which is why the forms have their logos on the top. Students who participate  in the credit courses offered by a school board different from their current day school will be placed where there is space for them.
5. Q: How will students receive their report card?
   A: Students will receive report cards by the end of August, mailed to their home address. Credits offered through the TCDSB will have reports issued by the TCDSB and credits offered through the YCDSB will have reports cards issued by the YCDSB.  
   In the event that a student does not receive his or her report card by the time they return to school in September, he or she can make a request for a new report card from the board that administered the credit course. (Instructions will be on our website.)
6. Q: Are pre-departure classes mandatory
   A: YES, pre- departure classes are mandatory for students to accumulate the required hours to receive a summer school credit. In the event of an absence a student will need to present a note to a teacher upon their return explaining the absence. Students cannot miss more than 3 days in total between the pre- departure classes and days of study in Italy or they risk not meeting the requirements for a credit.
7. Q: How do students do laundry?
   A: Students have traditionally washed their own laundry in their rooms with hand wash soap. Students who wish to have goods laundered professionally can inquire about the hotel’s paid laundry service.
8. Q: What is the difference between the Level 1 and Level 2 Italian classes?
   A: Both Level 1 and Level 2 Italian are beginner level classes and neither requires a prerequisite.
   Students who have NEVER been exposed to Italian can take Level 1 Italian.
   Students who have never formally studied Italian but who may have had some exposure to the Italian language in their home or in elementary school are encouraged to take level 2 Italian.
   Students will take a placement test their first day of class before departure to determine which level is appropriate for them.  
   Students who wish to take Level 3 Italian must provide proof of their completion of Level 2 Italian and students who wish to take Level 4 Italian must provide proof of their completion of Level 3 Italian.
9. Q: How do I extend my child’s trip?
   A: Parents who wish to change the return date of their child will need to do the following:
   It is a good idea to discuss an extension with a representative of Centro Scuola in advance to choose the best point for pick up.
   1) Contact Ventresca Travel 416 745-1145 or  frank@ventrescatravel.ca with their child’s group date of departure and date of return and request a change of date.
   2) Requests can be made until May 31,  BASED ON AVAILABILITY
   3) Families who extend a student’s trip will pay any difference in cost for the change to Ventresca Travel directly.
   4) Anyone who wishes to extend the trip will need to present a letter to Centro Scuola staff BEFORE departure explaining their intention to remain in Italy, and outlining who will be meeting the student for pick up, as well as when and where.
10. Q: Can relatives visit students?
    A: Visits by a student’s relatives during the program are best arranged on  regular school days when the students will be on site and have free time. Parents will need to sign a form before departure indicating who the visitor is (name and relation) and when they will visit. If it is not possible to know an exact date for a visit before departure, the visitor is asked to call the hotel two days before they can visit to arrange a date directly with Centro staff while in Italy so that there is no conflict with a local trip. Students can visit with the visitor in the local town but are discouraged from taking long car trips to other towns. If there will be a car trip involved the letter from the parent must explicitly include permission for the student to get into a vehicle with that visitor. Students need to be back for curfew.
11. Q:Will students need computers?
    A: Students who do not need a computer as designated by an IEP will not need a computer in Italy.
    During the pre-departure classes in Canada students will be assigned their work and can print what they will need for projects from here and bring it over.
    Most students do not bring computers to avoid the risk of damage to the computer during the course of the trip. If a student does bring a computer it should have a good anti-virus system, an appropriate plug for European outlets and voltage, and an appropriate case for travel. (Smaller computers are preferable.)
    N.B. Most warranties for purchases in North America are not valid outside of NA.
    Any NA warranty is voided if a computer is serviced outside of the warranty boundary.
12. Q: How can we stay in contact with a student?
    A: Parents can call any of the hotels we will stay in using the numbers provided on the itinerary. Staff will also have emergency cell phone numbers which students and families can use in case of emergency.
    Students can either receive calls at the front desk, in the dining hall or directly in their rooms.
    As a courtesy to roommates, if you will be calling in the evening please do not call past 6:15pm Canadian time which in Italy is 12:15am. The same applies for students who will use Skype.
    Students can buy calling cards which they can use from the hotel lobby or a public phone. These cards usually last 90- 240 minutes (depending on the card) when calling a land line in Canada and are the least expensive way to keep in touch by phone.
    If students have an Italian cell phone it is free for them to receive calls on that number and we can help them put money on the phone. Text messaging is another option.
    Students who bring Canadian phones should check with providers about roaming fees for calls and data. (This includes use of bbm)
13. Q: How can I send spending money over with a student?
    A: It is essential for students to have some Euros with them before departure.  It is NOT advisable to have American or Canadian Dollars intended to change in Italy.  Traveler’s Cheques will NOT be cashed for minors in Italy so are not useful.
    There will be occasions (pizzerias, markets, etc.) when cash is the only method of payment so students should be prepared. The hotels will all have safes if students wish to lock up money and “withdraw” from the hotel safe as needed. The safe will only be opened by a hotel staff member.
14. Q: What are the luggage restrictions?
    A: Luggage cannot exceed 62” in total dimension so 24”x26”x12”
    at no more than 23kg or 50 lbs + the included carry-on at 5 kgs.
    *These restrictions are from the tour bus company. In order for everyone to have their bag fit we must follow these restrictions or we risk bags being left behind.
    It is with these restrictions in mind we have included the cost of new luggage in the package price.
    Any excess weight charges incurred will be paid directly to the airline at check-in in the currency of the country in which they are incurred.

Updated on Oct 7th, 2015