Testimonials

Hello Mary I would like to thank you, Ms. Augustynek, Ms. Rocca, Ms. Meschino, the supervisors, the tour guide and all the people involved in making this a truly memorable experience for my daughter. We are still talking about it! She enjoyed the beauty of Italy, the opportunity to make new friendships and the experience of earning her grade 12 English by working hard, exploring diverse reading materials and being able to do it all in the presence of your supportive staff, teachers, amazing scenery and great peers. I loved the blog! Thank you! It allowed me to experience the trip with my daughter! I will definitely be recommending this experience to others. God bless and enjoy the rest of your summer. (N.D. Parent)

"I can't thank you enough for your part in making my daughter's trip memorable and meaningful. She grew as an artist and as a person. She developed an appreciation for history, architecture, Italian culture, food and lifestyle to name a few. She went away as a young girl and came back home a young woman. This trip opened her eyes to how people live in other parts of the world. It even sparked a desire to learn and speak Italian." With gratitude. (M.P. Parent)

"Thank you for arranging a beautiful guided tour filled with planes, buses and tons of walking to understand/appreciate the rich history, art and food. The English teacher and course was incredible. The blog was an amazing tool for parents to follow their child's experience through their eyes. It was also a big step in letting them go for a short while. I knew my daughter was being looked after , especially when she wasn't feeling well and the staff was terrific! The memories that were made will definitely leave a positive footprint on everyone! Thank you all again for the amazing teachers and the entire experience." Ciao, (A.T. Parent)

"This course was so much fun! It was the perfect blend of school and vacation. The course was difficult as all high school courses should be, but I enjoyed the challenge. The school time was pretty awesome and our stay in Siena was definitely my favourite thing...having all that time to really connect with the people I was with. I have to say thank you so much for being so patient and amazing. Thank you for an amazing time in Italy." (E.C. Student)

"I just wanted to say THANK YOU to you Signora Battista and your wonderful staff for all the hard work, the dedication, the discipline and especially for the trust, love and respect you show our children. Everything we try to accomplish as parents is extended by the amazing staff at our school board, and even though you are also enjoying la Bella Italia, you have taken on a great responsibility in watching over our children, and for that, we thank you." God Bless (F.C. Parent)

"The Italy trip this summer to earn my art credit was as experience that I couldn't have gotten from any other place. The teachers were amazing, and the people I met along the way helped me in the creation process and journey of my art. Travelling around and seeing the sights was amazing the first week, but the best part was in Siena, when we were creating art everyday and just experiencing the true culture of Italy. The atmosphere surrounding those twelve days was one that made me never want to leave Italy. The days were spent with classes in the morning, and then free time in the evenings. The trip was planned out perfectly, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way! Thank you so much to all the teachers for giving me this opportunity! Seriously, thank you!!!! This trip was amazing and I got to experience things that I never would have if I hadn't have met you and the other teachers! It was a great opportunity and the art I created was beautiful and something to remember this trip by! (L. J. Student)

"Thank you to you and all the chaperones for providing our daughter a wonderful experience on the Italy trip. She had an incredible experience touring Italy, learning about Art and meeting new friends. She already misses her independence that she she gained on this trip. In many ways this trip has confirmed that she is prepared to pursue post secondary studies abroad. She continues to share her stories about what she saw, the great food she ate ( gelato in San Gimingnano) and all the beautiful sights and people she met. Thanks again for all your hard work and giving our daughter a life learning experience she will never forget." (M.D. Parent)

" I must say that when I said goodbye to my daughter, I did not know what to expect. She really wanted this experience but I was uncertain if I was doing the right thing sending her. I must say that I am thrilled with the outcome. Not only did she thrive in her English course, but she was able to embrace herself in the Italian culture. She made many wonderful friends and she truly enjoyed her experience and independence. I couldn't be happier. The teachers were professional and very sympathetic to the needs of their students. The daily updates on Twitter eased my fears. I loved seeing the pictures. Thank you for creating such a wonderful experience for my daughter and all her friends. This trip is one she will cherish forever. Congratulations on a job well done." Congratulations (T.P. Parent)

A Most Treasured Experience

As we begin a new school year memories of our summer spent together in Italy reflect brightly in our hearts and minds. A special thank you to superintendent, Ms. Mary Battista for providing a most enriching educational experience. The care and attention to detail in her planning, organization and consideration in all aspects of the trip made this an unforgettable and everlasting journey. Thank you to Director of Education, Ms. Patricia Preston for supporting this educational initiative. Our students were excellent international role models and ambassadors of the Catholic faith community fostered here within our school board. A successful accomplishment was made by each of them. Thank you to the parents for entrusting your children to us. It was not only a pleasure but an honour to travel and share this time with them. God Bless.

The following is a message from Ms. Battista. Our Wonderful Summer Experience-Summer Credit Tuscany 2015 I am very pleased to announce that this summer 20 students completed a University Grade 12 English credit and 16 students obtained a Grade 11 or Grade 12 Visual Arts credit. Students visited Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Assisi, Montecatini, Siena, San Gimignano, and Rome and were inspired by the culture, historical monuments, churches and famed works of art. They visited the Uffizi, saw the David of Michelangelo in L'Accademia, the tomb of St Francis of Assisi and Dante Alligheri, the mosaics of Ravenna, the beautiful Piazza del Campo, the Sistine chapel, as well as many other masterpieces. We also enjoyed time on a beach on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The students were respectful, polite, grateful, friendly, fun loving and serious about their studies. It was a pleasure to get to know all of them. We enjoyed our time together and we truly became a family during our time together. We received numerous compliments about them from hotel staff, bus drivers, tour guides, store owners and everyone who interacted with them. They studied hard and reached their full potential. Their teachers challenged them and gave them every opportunity to succeed. The teachers truly cared about their students snd worked hard to meet their needs. Thank you Ms. Rocca and Ms. Meschino for your dedication and commitment to your students. Our principal, Ms. Augustynek and our supervisors, Gary, Michael and Luca ensured our students were safe and following rules while enjoying their time in italy. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Our guide Teresa went out of her way to make this a memorable experience for your children. She became our italian nonna! Sei grande Teresa! I feel the courses were a great success and I am looking forward to planning next summer. I know the students will enjoy the rest of the summer and I wish them much succes in the years to come. They ae very special and we love them all! I will miss them and will cherish every moment transpired with them. Thank you for your support and God Bless.