2. Starting 20-25 years ago the school arranged optional activities in addition to the curricular ones. They were activities proposed and realized by the teachers willing to enrich the students’ knowledge. The projects were and are opportunities of education, development of new skills and even fun for the students. HERE ARE SOME PROJECTS:

3. CULTURAL EXCHANGES Cultural exchanges were not frequently organized more than 25 years ago. Starting from 20/25 years ago some classes of the school established relationships of cooperation and exchange with classes of foreign countries. The purpose of these projects was, in addition to using foreign-language communication, to promote the personal growth of the students involved and the approach to new horizons and different cultural lifestyles and education. Exchange weeks were organized in which a class hosted a European class and then vice versa. Students were accommodated in families and involved in visiting places (in the territory) of historical and artistic interest, or in exhibitions and sports events. About 15 years ago some of the students of the school, thanks to the interaction among the teachers, had the opportunity to receive and send letters to European and sometimes American students using English as the common language. In spite of the distance, these cultural exchanges gave (and now give) the opportunity to establish personal relationships and friendships with other students, to promote cooperation between partners, to encourage dialogue. More than 25 years ago the most frequent chance to reach foreign destinations were the trips that the students used to make in the fifth year.

4. EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS Another prerogative of our school was to organize training and extracurricular activities for the students ' education on the environment, safety, health, road safety, educational visits of museums or places of interest. (attendance was optional) PROJECTS AND EDUCATION FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY: - ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION has the purpose of informing about teaching sustainable education ways so that new generations respect the environment. These kinds of projects help the students to explore the effects that their everyday behavior can have on the environment, on their well-being and health. -PROJECT LICENCE and ROAD EDUCATION has the purpose to let the students know the rules of the road. Educational projects have been organized more frequently in the last 10/15 years, when the school began offering computer and foreign language courses and sport and group activities. [Nowadays the school organizes further activities, such as: -‘’Nicotinism project’’ that informs students about the risks they can run by smoking; - ‘’ Health education” etc.]

5. and also… SCIENTIFIC LABS: some classes, in cooperation with Milan’s “Museo della Scienza e della Tecnica”, were involved in scientific, biological, chemical projects; COMPETITION and SPORTS ACTIVITIES: they were first suggested as sports inter-school activities “Giochi della Gioventù” (“Youth Games”) in which students practiced track and field events. Later on, other sport groups (like volleyball, football, etc…) became very popular among students;

6. SCHOOL TRIPS: besides school trips abroad, the school also organized some local visits to learn about the territory and monuments, like “Il Museo del Tesoro” or the so called “Marmitte dei Giganti” ; LINGUISTIC-THEATRICAL LABS: besides organizing language courses (like Spanish or advanced English) teachers helped students to act and perform some plays by famous writers, such as Shakespeare, in the original language;

7. About 15 years ago, because of the development of modern technologies some computer and cineforum (film discussion groups) were organized, giving the students the opportunity to enrich their knowledge and skills. WORK EXPERIENCES: fourth year students are offered the possibility of working and cooperating with banks, agencies and notary’s offices to get a taste of working life.