GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

This school offers a program that specializes in modern foreign languages (English and German) and classical studies, namely Greek and Latin. There are a wide variety of subjects offered in the program and some of these are taught in a foreign language by mother tongue speakers. History is taught in German and Natural Sciences and Geography are taught in English.
Students have lessons both in the morning and the afternoon and are sometimes divided into smaller groups within their class to follow different subjects at the same time. (see shared lessons).

ENIS

The L.C.E is a member of E.N.I.S. (the European Network of Innovative Schools) which is an organization that promotes learning and teaching using new didactical methodologies and technology. Educandato Uccellis has been awarded the “E.N.I.S Excellent School” Prize.

CAE and SPRACHDIPLOM

Achieving fluency in foreign languages is one of the main priorities of the L.C.E. Students are prepared to take the Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) exam as well as the Sprachdiplom (German) exam in their fourth year. These certificates are recognized in Europe and are useful when applying for a job where knowledge of foreign languages is required. These exams are also relevant for students who wish to continue their studies in British or German universities.

CLIL

The Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is one of the most modern teaching methodologies used at the L.C.E. The presence of a high number of foreign students (predominantly from German-speaking countries) made it almost necessary to adopt this approach as it provides various didactical instruments that combine expressive linguistics and subject content to give students a well-rounded education by integrating foreign language with the curriculum.

ON LINE DIDACTICS

Teachers and students have access to an extremely large variety of technological aids such as very well equipped computer and language labs and other instruments. Teaching and learning find new ways and expressions and provide an interesting approach to education in addition to the more traditional methods normally used.

EXCHANGES

International exchanges play an important role in the L.C.E during the first four years of study. From the first to the third year our students regularly visit Austrian and German schools where they have the possibility to interact with mother tongue speakers and test their language skills. In the fourth year exchanges are arranged with English speaking countries such as Australia, the United States and Canada. The English speaking students who participate in the exchange also come to Italy to visit our students at Uccellis. Students acquire an international outlook and are able use the experience to strengthen their language skills.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Students attending the L.C.E have the opportunity to participate in various extra curricular activities that include dance (ballet and jazz), judo, archery, piano and chess as well as French, Russian and Spanish language lessons. At the end of the academic year, students take part in “FestUccellis” where recitals and various demonstrations are performed. (See FestUccellis)

BOARDING SCHOOL

Uccellis was founded many years ago and was originally a boarding school exclusively for girls. As time has passed, society has evolved, and the institution has grown, enrolment has been extended to boys as well and Uccellis is now a co-ed institute. The female boarders reside in the main building (on the school grounds) and the male students reside in a separate residence located near the school.

WELCOMING THE NEW STUDENTS

When new boarders arrive, the school staff provides a series of services helping to make them feel at home. They are given a tour of the school grounds and the major landmarks in the city, informed of various community activities and enrolled in an intensive Italian language course with the other foreign students. There are numerous organized social events that provide students with the opportunity to meet and spend time together.

EVENING STUDY: HELP OR EXTRA WORK

Both after lessons and after dinner, boarders can ask their monitors to help them with difficult homework or concepts discussed in their lessons. These monitors are also available to guide students in further studies and research for special projects or school activities.

CULTURAL EVENTS

There are many extra curricular and cultural events organized for boarders. They are encouraged to participate in accompanied visits to places of interest in the local area including exhibitions, concerts, plays and other theatrical performances at the theatre. Movie nights are also organized both at the cinema or on the school premises.

TOURNAMENTS AND SPORTS MATCHES

Both boarders and non-boarders are offered a wide variety or sports and leisure activities (see extra curricular activities). During the school year both the staff and monitors organize table tennis tournaments as well as volleyball and football matches between both internal and external opponents.

PARTIES

Monitors and school staff regularly organize parties to celebrate holidays (Easter, Halloween, Christmas) and school events (the graduation ball). There is also a party to celebrate the end of the school year.

FESTUCCELLIS

FestUccellis is a day to celebrate school life. Students from the primary, secondary and high school invite their families and friends to show them different activities that they have participated in and prepared during the academic year. It is a hectic day filled with events, demonstrations and exhibitions – every five minutes guests can find a new activity taking place in all corners of the school grounds. Activities include art exhibitions, theatre plays in English, German and Italian, music and dance recitals, choir performances, practical demonstrations and science experiments, photo galleries and multimedia presentations to name a few. Every single activity is planned, designed and performed by the students with the help of their teachers and monitors and the audience is given the opportunity to be fully immersed in Uccellis life.

F.A.Q.-Is Educandato Uccellis a state school?

Yes, it definitely is. Students' families just have to pay for the half-boarding or boarding facilities their children make use of. Education is totally free apart from public taxes and text books.

What about homework?

The students' school day is generally organised in a way that part of the afternoon is dedicated to doing homework. Good planning allows the students to go home or finish school with at least all of their written work complete.

What's the role of monitors?

Monitors support students during their study hours. They assist students in the organization of their agenda (if they require assistance), they provide extra exercises and assignments, and check that all homework has been completed. There is normally one monitor assigned to each class and he/she works in close contact with class teachers who give indications and suggestions on methods of study and course contents. If need be, extra monitors are available for smaller groups of students who wish to concentrate on and study more complex issues.

What are "shared hours"?

It is quite common to have some hours in the school timetable that are shared between two teachers. In this case, the class is split into two groups and each group follows a different lesson. The students work on different skills or different subject areas such as oral or written language, support lessons or projects and research.