Italy Trip

Our Trip to Italy 2019

What an unforgettable time CRC Sydenham, along with the staff and students of CRC North Keilor had. Almost three weeks of non-stop travelling, meeting new people, visiting wonderful sites, seeing landmarks that we had only seen online or in books, and fumbling our way through speaking Italian. This, amidst the formation of new relationships among staff and students holds this trip, Italy 2019, a very special one. We experienced the greatness that the main Italian cities had to offer such as:  the spectacular caves of the islands of Capri and touring a rain sodden island of  Positano, we visited the enchanted beauty of Sirmione, the elegance of Florence and Pisa, and Rome, full of her history, where they are still trying to build the new metropolitan line, but keep finding historical relics which cease works, remain indelibly etched into our minds. We saw the Vatican and toured her artistic and religious beauty. We visited Naples for the first time and saw how free and liberated the Napoletani live. We ventured into ancient times in our tour of Pompeii.

Our time in homestay in Senigallia was a time that we left our comfort zones and were challenged culturally and linguistically, but always we celebrated coming together. Finally, Venice, Murano and Burano were breath taking. Italy 2019 was truly memorable and all the more special with the group of students and staff that toured together. Thank you to the families that gave their children this experience. I have no doubt that each person has grown as a result. We thank Maria Caroli, senior teacher at our sister school, Istituto Istruzione Superiore, Panzini, Senigallia for her guidance and organisation and support. Maria is very well known in Sengallia for making things happen and has a growth mindset with everything she does. Similarly, we thank the principal of Panzini, Sergio Lombardi, and the principals of the associate schools in Loreto, Gabriele Torquati and Cingoli, Maria Rosella Bitti, who welcomed us with open arms and spoiled us with their hospitality. We are incredibly fortunate to have had such a long standing relationship with these schools. A huge praise goes to the staff that remained behind and adjusted their lessons to take into account the time that we were away. Without their understanding, the students would not have been able to enjoy the trip as they did. Similarly, a huge thanks to the staff  that attended, from CRC Sydenham, Maria Caroli, Richard McGuire (our chef) and Sophie Salibi and the staff from North Keilor, Maria Michieli, Margaret Borg and Robert Herrera and their students. The experience proved another great way that the schools grow in close relationship with one another.

Lastly, we look forward to next year upon their visit to our school. In preparing for their visit, we need homestay families who are willing and able to take on a student next year during the final 2 weeks of Term 1. They need to have a current WWC. We will organise a program at school for the Italian students, they will need a place to stay during this time. Please see me if you have any questions.

Grazie a tutti quanti!

Prof Vincenzo Iannuzzi