Program Details

SUMMER CREDIT PROGRAM IN ITALY – July 2024

Niagara Catholic District School Board in collaboration with the Hamilton Dante Centre Program Details 

This summer credit program in Italy has garnered a great reputation over the past 30+ years, running through various Ontario school boards, in collaboration with the Hamilton Dante Centre, a not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to promote Italian language and culture. We believe that our unique study and travel opportunity is much more affordable and delivers a superior program compared to most for-profit travel / study companies. In recent years, we had over 70 participants from 14 – 17 years of age.

Applications for Summer Credit Course in Italy 2024 are now open!

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

*Earn 1 or  2 Credits*  

Students may earn up to two credits but only when combining Photography with another credit course (for example, Beginner Italian and Photography, or English and Photography).

Courses offered depending on enrolment.

  • English – ENG 3U1 / ENG 3C1 / ENG 4U1 / ENG 4C1
  • Italian – LWI BD1 / LWI CU1 / LWI DU1
  • Classical Civilizations – LVV 4U1
  • Photography – TGP 3M1 / TGP 4M1

Please be aware that students must provide proof of pre-requisites for the following course selections…

  • ENG 3U / ENG 3C / ENG 4U / ENG 4C
  • LWI CU / LWI DU
  • LVV 4U
  • TGP 4M

Please note that information meetings will be held for those students and parents wishing more information and registering for the Summer Credit Programs in Italy.

TENTATIVE TRAVEL DATES  2024

DEPARTURE: Air Transat Toronto to Rome Friday, July 5, 2024

RETURN: Air Transat Venice to Toronto Saturday July 27, 2024

GENERAL PROGRAM DETAILS
Fee Includes:

  • Non-stop round-trip airfare Toronto to Rome – Venice to Toronto
  • Canadian and Italian airport taxes, departure taxes, hotel taxes
  • Comprehensive youth insurance package
  • Air-conditioned luxury motor coaches
  • Accommodation in hotels
  • All daily breakfasts, most lunches and all dinners
  • All excursions on itinerary (Rome, Pompeii, Chieti, Sulmona, Florence, Assisi, Pisa, Venice, Verona)
  • All guided tours and entrance fees to museums, art galleries and monuments
  • Culinary demonstrations
  • Use of Italian school classrooms as well as other sites
  • Instruction by Ontario certified teachers as the credit program is offered by local Ontario District School Boards
  • Use of textbooks

Fee does not include:

  • Transportation to / from Toronto Pearson Airport
  • Light lunches when travelling (approx. 7)
  • Cell phone usage (phone plans)
  • Non-instructional items for Photography students
  • School supplies
  • Purchase of items of a personal nature

APPLICATION PROCESS / FEE:

1. Complete the online application form and click “submit”.  There is no fee for the online application. A confirmation email will be sent soon afterwards. Please note that the online application will reserve a space in the Summer Credit Program, but the registration is not complete, and the space will not be confirmed, until the first payment has been received.

2. Payments will be accepted only via e-transfer. This can be done through your banking institution by e-mailing the payment to travel@ventrescatravel.ca

Please write “NCDSB Credit Program Italy 2024”  in the message box.

Note: The funds will be automatically deposited into the travel agency TRUST Account as per TICO regulations. Once the funds have been deposited, the agency will send an acknowledgement to the payee.

Should you require further information regarding the payments, please feel free to contact Frank Ventresca (owner) at 1-800-866-7695 or at frank@ventrescatravel.ca.

. Ensure all installment payments are made prior to or on the due dates (see schedule below) via e-transfer as indicated above: travel@ventrescatravel.ca.

Note: If you are taking Photography, e-transfer the additional fee ($200) on or before Friday, January 26, 2024. 

PROGRAM FEE SCHEDULE:  

Total Cost : $6,950.00  per student (additional fee for $200.00 for Photography)

Make the following payments before or on the deadline dates:

  • Friday, December 22, 2023 ($ 400.00)
  • Friday, January 26, 2024 ($ 1,500.00)
  • Friday, February 23, 2024 ($ 2,000.00)
  • Friday, March 22, 2024 ($ 2,000.00)
  • Friday, April 19, 2024 ($ 1,050.00)

Second Credit Payment for Photography students: Friday, January 26, 2024 ($200.00 via E-transfer)

Other costs related to trip (NOT included with total cost):
$65 cash gratuity fee collected in May

Cancellation Fees:

PRE-DEPARTURE MEETINGS

Students are expected to participate in the following pre-departure classes to be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Grimsby, Ontario and submit assignments prior to the departure date.

  • Saturday, May 25, 2024 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm – all English, Italian and Classical Civilization classes)
  • Saturday, May 25, 2024 (12:00 pm to 2:00 pm – only Photography students)
  • Saturday, June 1, 2024 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm – all English, Italian and Classical Civilization classes)
  • Saturday, June 8, 2024 (9:00 am to 1:00 pm – only Photography students)

Family Meeting:
Parent(s) / Legal Guardian(s) should make every effort to attend the general family meeting (the last prior to departure). This meeting will begin at 12:00 noon (after the student classes) Saturday, June 1, 2024

Hotel Rooms:
The organizers will have the exact hotel room configurations in the month of May. At that time, in the process for room allocation, students will be given the opportunity to select roommates. This is scheduled to happen after the pre-departure class on Saturday, June 1, 2024 (tentative) prior to the family meeting.

PLEASE NOTE:

We expect to confirm participation in the program on a timely basis with consideration of the priority list by application completion date.

The Summer Credit Program in Italy is subject to all Niagara Catholic District School Board policies and code of conduct.

All travel arrangements are made through Ventresca Travel Agency TICO #1375988.