“At Gonzaga we are not numbers — we feel seen as persons.”
— Students
For New Challenges, New Answers
Medie is a crucial phase — a period of transition where personal, social and educational changes intertwine. Inspired by Jesuit pedagogy, we have identified five challenges that reflect the needs of students at this stage and the opportunities our school offers.
Socialisation & Relational Skills
Adolescence is the period when social skills consolidate. In a world that often isolates people and fragments experiences, the school must promote authentic relationships based on dialogue, listening and cooperation — creating spaces where students can explore their identities and learn to live together respectfully and inclusively.
The Gonzaga Campus offers a physical and symbolic space where students build meaningful relationships through shared activities. Our approach is rooted in cooperative learning, family dialogue, and community building.
What We Do Concretely
Campus activities shared across year groups and with the International School
The "channel" class system diversifies paths and fosters interaction between students with different experiences
Dialogue with families as a cornerstone of the educational partnership
Cooperative learning that develops a supportive and inclusive school community
Key Points of the Educational Offer
Seven hours of lessons a day
From Monday to Friday, the Gonzaga Campus Medie offers a structured school schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 2:40 p.m., with a total of 35 lessons per week. ...
Personalising your curriculum
From 3:00 PM onwards, students have the opportunity to personalise their educational path through funded projects in science, language, and technology...
Two long pauses
Two breaks are scheduled during the school day, designed as regenerating moments for students to relax and socialise. During these breaks, students ca...
School on Channels Approach
The Medie Italian School adopts a channel-based organisation, where students are divided not only into traditional sections but also into differentiat...
Orientation and education on choices
During the third year, orientation becomes central: through class activities, experiential workshops, and individual interviews, students are guided i...
Laboratory and experiential teaching
Laboratory and experiential teaching is at the heart of our educational approach: lessons are transformed into concrete opportunities to experiment, e...
Preparation for language certifications
We promote preparation for international language certifications in English, French and Spanish (Flyers, KET, DELE, DELF), integrating it into the edu...
Animation and spiritual accompaniment
Spiritual education at the Gonzaga Campus is grounded in the Ignatian tradition and accompanies each student on a personal journey of inner growth. Th...
Symposium
A special week where the school transforms into a laboratory of experiences: through educational, creative, and reflective activities, students experi...
Curriculum & Didactics
The curriculum is designed as an orientative study plan — in continuity with primary school and in alignment with the Licei. It balances the humanistic, scientific and linguistic areas, structured as a weekly timetable of 35 lessons.
Humanistic Department
| Discipline | Lessons/Week |
|---|---|
| Catholic Religion | 1 |
| Italian | 6 |
| History | 3 |
| Geography | 2 |
| Art & Image | 2 |
| Music | 2 |
| Department Total | 16 |
Scientific Department
| Discipline | Lessons/Week |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 6 |
| Sciences | 2 |
| Technology | 2 |
| Physical Education | 2 |
| Department Total | 12 |
Linguistic Department
| Discipline | Lessons/Week |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Second Community Language | 3 |
| Department Total | 7 |
Lessons/Week
Min/Lesson
Departments
Days/Week
School Hours
Departments & Addresses
The teaching staff is organised into Departments — humanistic, scientific and linguistic — forming a collaborative research community that connects disciplinary knowledge with Ignatian competences. Shared planning ensures coherence across every classroom.
Humanistic Department
Dipartimento UmanisticoThe humanistic department connects literary, historical, artistic and musical disciplines into a coherent path that develops critical thinking, cultural awareness and expressive skills. Teachers collaborate to weave interdisciplinary connections — history and literature, art and music, geography and civic awareness.
Subjects
16h/weekCatholic Religion (1h)
Italian (6h)
History (3h)
Geography (2h)
Art & Image (2h)
Music (2h)
Scientific Department
Dipartimento ScientificoThe scientific department integrates mathematics, natural sciences, technology and physical education into a path that develops logical, experimental and motor competences. Laboratory-based teaching, outdoor education and the ITAS-GE technology project are central to this department's approach.
Subjects
12h/weekMathematics (6h)
Sciences (2h)
Technology (2h)
Physical Education (2h)
Linguistic Department
Dipartimento LinguisticoThe linguistic department promotes multilingual competence and intercultural openness through English and a second EU language (French or Spanish). International certifications (Flyers, KET, DELE, DELF), exchanges and study trips abroad are integral to the language learning path.
Subjects
7h/weekEnglish (4h)
Second Community Language (3h)
A Typical Day
Full-Time School "Without Burdens"
The school adopts an organisational model that favours the completion of study activities directly in the classroom, limiting the assignment of homework. This choice stems from the understanding that teachers, through careful guidance during classroom activities, can constantly monitor each student's learning process and growth, helping them develop effective study methods.
In-Class Learning
Teaching strategies are continually rethought to reduce frontal instruction time and increase opportunities for practice, discussion and shared study. Students develop skills more effectively through reflection, autonomous study and collaboration with classmates.
Personalised Support
Classroom work allows for real-time addressing of difficulties, offering personalised support and promoting more relaxed, informed learning. Each student is accompanied by a dedicated tutor who monitors their growth journey.
The Curriculum's Red Threads
Four interdisciplinary threads that run through the entire three-year cycle — connecting academics, personal growth, technology and spirituality into a unified reading of the educational offer.
Tutoring & Orientation
Accompaniment & Personal GrowthThe class tutor is the central figure of the cura personalis. Each student is accompanied through a relationship of trust built on individual dialogue, class activities and reflective retreats. The tutor helps students discover their strengths, develop effective study methods and orient their choices for the future.
In Daily Practice
Regular individual interviews with each student's dedicated tutor
Class activities on integral education themes and personal growth
Planning of educational retreats and formative experiences
Orientation activities for liceo choice throughout the three-year cycle
Study method support and self-assessment guidance
Family dialogue as a cornerstone of the educational partnership
Civic Education & Global Citizenship
International Experiences & Active CitizenshipGlobal citizenship promotes openness to the world, intercultural competence and active participation in society. Students develop awareness of rights, sustainability and cultural diversity through language learning, international exchanges and service experiences.
In Daily Practice
Three languages taught: Italian, English and a second EU language (French/Spanish)
International exchanges and twinning through the global Jesuit school network
Summer study trips and cultural experiences abroad (England, USA)
Model United Nations participation for developing diplomatic and civic skills
Service learning projects connecting education with community engagement
Interdisciplinary activities on rights, legality and sustainability
Technology & Digital Citizenship
ITAS-GE Project & Responsible InnovationThe ITAS-GE project (Innovation, Technology and Sustainability in Gonzaga Education) integrates technology meaningfully into the educational process. Students learn to use digital tools as learning instruments while developing critical thinking about the digital world and AI.
In Daily Practice
Coding and computational thinking path across all three years
STEAM afternoon enhancement courses with interdisciplinary, hands-on projects
Responsible digital citizenship: privacy, online respect and safety
AI literacy: understanding capabilities, limitations and ethical implications
Technology as a tool for producing, researching and documenting — not just consuming
Family alliance: shared criteria for healthy and responsible use of devices
Pastoral & Spiritual Animation
MEG, Retreats & ServiceSpiritual animation is curated by teachers and Jesuit Fathers, enriching the educational offer with activities oriented towards questions of meaning, fundamental values and openness to transcendence. The programme is inspired by Ignatian spirituality and adapted to the developmental stage of adolescents.
In Daily Practice
Eucharistic Youth Movement (MEG) — a community of faith, prayer and service
Symposia: special weeks of educational, creative and reflective activities
Educational and spiritual retreats during key moments of the liturgical year
Community Days: students serve the school community, strengthening belonging
Service experiences and solidarity projects (San Fratello summer camp)
Brief regular moments of interiority: silence, gratitude, listening
Pastoral & Spiritual Animation
The Gonzaga Campus considers the spiritual and religious dimension as an integral part of the educational journey. Like the other red threads, our pastoral programme stimulates all disciplines to deepen the quest for meaning, fundamental human values and openness to transcendence — accompanying students to become, as Pedro Arrupe asked, "men and women with and for others."
Integral Formation of the Person
Formazione Integrale della PersonaPastoral activity unfolds throughout the school year and is addressed to students, their families, teachers and all school staff. Its aim is to develop an integral formation of the person that places the spiritual and religious dimension at the centre of the educational path. The fundamental style of a school pastoral open to all is that of "stare con..." — being with.
Signature Experiences
San Fratello Mountain Camp
Campo Scuola a San FratelloFor decades, the Medie experience begins high in the mountains at San Fratello (Messina). An intensive three-day retreat brings together Italian and International School students in the Nebrodi Mountains National Park — surrounded by forests and nature. In a climate of retreat, students dedicate time to building relationships and growing in fraternity, with both educational and spiritual activities. Upon return to Palermo, the academic year begins in earnest.
MEG — Eucharistic Youth Movement
Ragazzi Nuovi del Movimento Eucaristico GiovanileThroughout the three years, all students are invited to participate in the MEG "Ragazzi Nuovi" community (ages 10–13). A space for sharing friendship, play, service to the most vulnerable, listening to the Gospel, prayer, and especially living the Eucharist together.
Symposia
Animazione SpiritualeEach spring, a special residential experience of three days is organised for Medie and Middle School students. Activities include biblical storytelling, creative reworking of integral ecology themes (inspired by Laudato si' and Fratelli tutti), service at Centro Astalli, and explorations of affectivity — led by specialists in each area.
Annual Calendar
Orientation retreat
Advent confessions
Lenten retreats (P. Puglisi, Oasi Verde, Pilgrimage to Santa Rosalia, Benedettini di San Martino delle Scale)
Exam preparation retreat
Summer school camp at San Fratello
Third-year educational trip
Excellence awards ceremony
Service experiences for the most vulnerable
Spiritual Accompaniment
The school has lay and religious spiritual animators who accompany students and the entire educational community in spiritual formation. Their ministry includes:
Personal conversations with students who request them
Service experiences in favour of the most fragile
Offering the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist
Organisation of religious and liturgical initiatives and prayer meetings
Coordination with teachers for classroom interventions connecting subjects with the Christian experience
Participation in formation experiences and community life proposed for parallel classes
Availability for conversations with students' parents
Inclusion & Assessment
Education and instruction are understood as goods accessible to all, in a welcoming and supportive space where each student can feel recognised in their dignity and accompanied in their growth journey.
Centrality of the Person
Every student is unique; the school promotes participation of all and values differences and talents as resources. The educational community welcomes students of diverse backgrounds, abilities and learning styles.
Support & Collaboration
Dedicated support teachers work alongside class teachers, with collaboration from the psychopedagogy service. Curriculum adaptations (PEI, PDP) are developed for students with certified disabilities or specific learning needs (DSA/BES).
Foreign Student Integration
Specific welcome paths and linguistic support (2 hours/week of Italian L2) for students of foreign origin, ensuring they can participate fully in the school community and curriculum.
Accessibility & Scholarships
The school ensures physical accessibility and offers scholarship programmes to guarantee that financial barriers do not prevent access to quality Jesuit education.
Inclusive Practices
Active and lab-based methodologies, cooperative learning, authentic tasks
Multiple expressive channels: verbal, graphic, physical, musical
Flexible organisation: small groups, peer tutoring, extended time when needed
Support professionals: dedicated teachers, school psychologist, educational assistants
Personalised plans: PEI for certified disabilities, PDP for DSA and other BES
Regular family dialogue and coordination with external specialists