Italy Tour

Stories of the excitement of this year’s trip to Italy may still be heard around campus. Students enjoyed thoroughly their time with their host families in Milan and spent days visiting the Duomo, La Scala and shopping in Europe’s fashion capital.

The learning focus for the trip was very much an immersive experience: Language, History, Religious Education, Art, Culture, Social ‘norms’ and of course experiencing the different classroom and family environment.

A spiritual memory: Seventeen students and three staff attended Palm Sunday Mass in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Whilst it rained outside there was warmth and calm inside the marble walls.

The Mass was spoken in Italian, yet the students participated actively and reverently, to the point that a member of the congregation congratulated them after Mass on their conduct and maturity.

Onto the much smaller towns of Siena and San Gimignano, which were just beautiful. Plenty of churches, towers, sites and plenty of Italian speaking opportunities for our students. Experiencing medieval towns such as these and Assisi gave a newfound perspective of time and history for the students. This appreciation was amplified of course amongst the ruins in Rome. This final city before returning home was indeed exciting. The students were confident travellers and shoppers by this stage always supporting each other, engaging positively with locals and participating fully in this wonderful experience.

The students represented not only St Aloysius College perfectly but were fine ambassadors for what a Mercy education instils in the way we conduct ourselves globally.

Rachel Valentine

Deputy Principal Learning & Teaching