GIS The International School of Monza

Field trips extend learning beyond the classroom and align with the PYP units of inquiry. Field trips connect to the curriculum and to broader aspects such as international mindedness and the Learner Profile. In PY5, students undertake a residential trip spending 2 nights with GIS staff to experience the joys of being a risk-taker and staying away from home. Field trips may include experiences at Villa Reale, art exhibitions in the Orangerie of Villa Reale, MUDEC, Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Milan, Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Egyptian Museum in Turin, Monza Cathedral Museum, Novara Safari Park, Exhibitions at MUDEC, Theatre Visits, Natural History Museum in Milan, Local Monza markets.

Drama is taught from age 4 by a specialized educator, with participation in the GIS Winter Show and the GIS Summer Show. Visual Art focuses on observation and drawing using 2D and 3D media, progressing through the IB Scope and Sequence. Music begins at age 2 with weekly lessons, introducing a range of tuned and untuned instruments and developing singing and composition skills. Early Years Choir involves singing in multiple languages, and Primary Years Band includes a school band and a Boom Whacker band.

The Bilingual Programme teaches Italian as the host country language starting from age 5 in EY3, with bilingual staff in the early years and specialist Italian teaching from PY3. From PY3, mathematics is taught in Italian with one weekly Italian lesson and a co-teaching session where English and Italian teachers work together on concepts. In PY3 and beyond, content is delivered through both languages to support dual-language mastery, and translanguaging is encouraged.

From 16:00–17:00 after-school clubs are offered and bookable in advance. Example clubs include Free Play and Snack, Piano class, Choir & Recorder, Early Years Italian, Italian Grammar and Reading, English Grammar and Reading, Gymnastics, Newspaper Club, and Arts and Crafts. The clubs are normally led by GIS teachers and the offering is revised and enriched each year.

The Parent Teacher Association fosters community and open communication between families and GIS staff. It supports the implementation of GIS values, facilitates two-way feedback, promotes parental involvement in school life, and helps GIS reach a wider Monza community. Elections are held each new school year for parent representatives, and the PTA helps new families settle into GIS life.

In the Secondary School, Extended Day Activities run after the core day, with options including sporting clubs and individual music lessons. These activities provide opportunities to develop leadership, communication, collaboration, and resilience. Each secondary student is assigned an individual mentor who provides academic and pastoral support and helps with subject choices and university destinations.

The Park School uses Monza Park to bring the curriculum outdoors as part of a Forest School approach. Early Years visit the park weekly to explore inquiries from an outdoor perspective, and Primary students also engage in weekly park visits with year-long themes. Benefits include increased focus and concentration, a stronger connection with the natural world, and wider knowledge of wildlife, alongside taking action based on learning in the park. Yoga is included in the PSPE and wellbeing programme, taught by a qualified teacher to promote mindfulness and wellbeing.