Parent's Review of International school of Modena in Modena, Italy

What is the name of your child's school? (Please report on one school per survey.)

International school of Modena

In what town or city is this school located?

Modena

How would you describe this school? (i.e. American, British, International, Local, etc.)

International full IB school

What grade levels are represented at this school?

Early years, PYP, MYP, IB Diploma ( ages 3-18 )

How do most children get to school everyday? (bus, train, walk, etc.)

By school bus or car mostly. Some walk or bike to school as the families live close by.

How would you describe the facilities at this school? What extra-curricular activities are available?

The school building is relatively new and very light. It has 4 different sections, one for early years, one for PYP, one for MYP and a newly build ( 2014/15 ) Diploma wing. All classrooms have big windows and access to the outdoor area if they are located on ground floor. The children have an outdoor area for break time with some climbing structures, a soccer field and a beach volleyball court. There is a library and a computer room as well as there are 2 laboratories, One for physics and one very new state of the art science lab in the new DP wing. The spacious gym is shared with the neighboring elementary school, as is the cafeteria. The school is easy to reach; located in a suburb of Modena and has public parking spaces at the entrance. The school offers after school and lunch clubs each term, Some are free of charge, others are fee based. While some of them run for a whole school year, others change every term so you can find different things for the kids to try.

What has this school done to help your child transition from the curriculum in your home country into the curriculum in your new country? Are there programs to prepare your child for repatriation?

My 3 children already spoke English when we arrived at the school for grade Kindergarten, grade 4 and grade 7, which helped a lot with the adjustment. But the language is only one part of the adjustment. The biggest difference is the teaching methods and I love with the IB does here! It differs a lot from traditional school systems, so my advice would be to research the IB beforehand, This way you know what's coming. Expecting school to be like in your home country seems to be a big hurdle in the adjustment process. The non english speaking children receive extra language lessons and the staff is very willing and capable of helping with specific problems. We asked for extra french lessons to prepare for our return to Germany, which the school was very happy to organize ( fee based ) and we are discussing German lessons for a group of older students right now. Again, you can alway talk to them and be sure they will try to find a solution together with you.

How would you describe the social activities available for parents through this school? Are there parent-teacher organizations?

There is a very active PTA who organizes events throughout the year and helps out with school events when volunteers are needed. There are events and activities planned that parents can attend or take part in during the day, the class representatives organize meetings for all class parents ( with or without kids ) at least once a term. The PTA helps strengthen the international school community in every possible way and is always there to help with questions that the parents might have.

What advice would you give to someone considering enrolling their child in this school?

Educate yourself about the IB program. Go to the presentations that the school offers on the curriculum and the IB program, Become an active member of the school community! This way you will make the most out of your stay in Italy and here in Modena and you will find many new and interesting friends and a great learning environment for yourself and your children at the international school of Modena.

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Italian For A While

Become ‘Italian for a While’ with IFA! Learn in Italy on a 1-week to 12-month program - open to students, young adults, graduates, digital nomads, professionals, groups, faculty-led programs, and more. Take courses at an accredited school while immersing yourself in the language, life, and culture among your international peers. Submit an inquiry with IFA to learn more.
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