SUMMER CREDIT PROGRAM IN ITALY – July 2025

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 60 participants from 14 – 17 years of age.

Applications for Summer Credit Course in Italy 2025 are now open!

CLICK HERE TO APPLY USING GOOGLE APPLICATION FORM

*Earn 1 or 2 Credits*  

Students may earn up to two (2) credits but only if they combine “Photography” with another credit course. All students must select a first and second choice. The choices include the course offering listed below and a third option to earn a second credit by taking the “Photography” course in conjunction with any other credit course chosen. All courses offered are subject to viable enrolment numbers.

All courses are part of the secondary school curriculum of the Province of Ontario

Courses offered depending on enrolment.

ENGLISH:

• ENG 3U1 – Gr. 11, University Preparation

• ENG 3C1 – Gr. 11, College Preparation
• ENG 4U1 – Gr. 12, University Preparation
• ENG 4C1 – Gr. 12, College Preparation

ITALIAN:

• LWI BD1 – Level 1, Beginner’s Italian
• LWI CU1 – Level 2, Intermediate Italian
• LWI DU1 – Level 3, Advanced Italian

CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION:

• LVV 4U1 – Classical Civilization, University Preparation

PHOTOGRAPHY (as a second credit):

• TGP 3M1 – Gr. 11 Communications Technology, Photography, University/College Preparation
• TGP 4M1 – Gr. 12 Communications Technology, Photography, University/College Preparation

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  2025

DEPARTURE: Air Transat Toronto to Rome Friday, July 4, 2025

RETURN: Air Transat Rome to Toronto Saturday July 26, 2025

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
• 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 Google Form and click “SUBMIT” at the end of the form:

GOOGLE APPLICATION FORM

There is no fee for the online application. You will receive an email soon afterwards to confirm receipt of the application. Please note that the online application will reserve a space in the Summer Credit Program, but the registration is not complete, and participation 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 2025” 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 17, 2025. 

PROGRAM FEE SCHEDULE:  

Total Cost: $7,750.00 per student (additional fee for $200.00 for Photography)

Make the following payments by e-transfer before or on the deadline dates:

• Friday, December 13, 2024 ($ 400.00)
• Friday, January 17, 2025 ($ 2,000.00)
• Friday, February 14, 2025 ($ 2,000.00)
• Friday, March 14, 2025 ($ 2,000.00)
• Friday, April 11, 2025 ($ 1,350.00)

Second Credit Payment for Photography students: Friday, January 17, 2025 ($200.00 via e-transfer)

Other costs related to trip (NOT included with total cost): $75 cash gratuity fee collected in May

Cancellation Fees:

• Cancellation by or before 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2025: full refund of all money paid. Cancellations will be accepted only via e-mail from the parent(s) / legal guardian(s) to angelo.diianni@gmail.com and frank@ventrescatravel.ca. The cancellation will take effect on the date that the written notice of cancellation is received.
• Cancellation on February 7, 2025 and thereafter:  100% non-refundable.

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 31, 2025 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm – all English, Italian and Classical Civilization classes)
• Saturday, May 31, 2025 (12:00 pm to 2:00 pm – only Photography students)
• Saturday, June 7, 2025 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm – all English, Italian and Classical Civilization classes)
• Saturday, June 14, 2025 (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) on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

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 7, 2025 (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.

VIRTUAL INFORMATION MEETING (TBA):

A virtual information meeting for parents and students interested in the program will be scheduled in late November or early December. Pre-registration will be required by the Niagara Catholic District School Board (host board) in order to participate in the information session. Please monitor the Hamilton Dante Centre website for details including the registration form. Once you register, you will receive an email with the access code for the Zoom meeting.