International School in Milan

American School of Milan:
Founded in 1962 in Milan, northern Italy, the American School of Milan is a K-12 institution with solid foundations that keeps a constant eye toward developing new technologies and is committed to seeking excellence in teaching and learning. Our eight-acre, gated campus is located on the outskirts of Milan and includes purpose built facilities that accommodate the Primary, Intermediate, Middle, and High Schools. Our programs are taught in English.

Early Childhood:
In the Early Childhood classroom, children learn in a happy, secure and stimulating setting. They love to explore and ask many questions about their surroundings. Children are viewed as unique individuals who possess many strengths, innovative ideas, curiosity and personal desires. The needs of the whole child are nurtured, including social-emotional, language and communication, cognitive, and physical development. Children are encouraged to be independent and to collaborate with others; they are given many opportunities to make choices, solve problems, and cooperate.

Elementary School:
Our curriculum is built on children's individual knowledge, interests, and ways of learning. We focus on developing their deep understanding of concepts, realizing that this requires time, varied approaches, and relevant and meaningful experiences. We provide a challenging curriculum in which children engage in analyzing and addressing real problems or situations.

The key to learning is discovery as understanding develops through active involvement. In the elementary classroom, we encourage children's independence and initiative as they investigate their environment, begin to take responsibility for their learning, and become problem solvers.

Children are guided to reach beyond simple factual responses, as they learn to analyze, predict, and justify their reasoning. Dialogue is an important aspect of learning as they test and challenge their own and each others' ideas. We use real data, primary sources, objects, and other interactive materials to guide children as they make meaning from their experiences.

Upper School:
ASM’s Upper School college preparatory program provides adolescents with a firm grounding in the fundamentals of thinking and learning while placing an emphasis on personal intellectual, emotional and social growth.

In the fostering of life-long learning, teachers in Grades 9 through 12 guide students in their understanding of subject area content, the integration of learning, the use of technology and the completion of comprehensive research projects which require them to organize, analyze, synthesize, and articulate complex arguments into a cohesive and coherent whole.

Middle Years Programme:
The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed for students between the ages of 11 and 16. This period is a particularly important phase of personal and intellectual development. The MYP is a comprehensive program, which provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills appropriate to this stage of development.

* The MYP has established goals for students enrolled in the program. These goals are designed to:
Focus on rigorous academics;
* Provide interdisciplinary thematic instruction so that students are able to connect what they learn;
* Call for students to develop higher level thinking skills as well as important life skills;
* Provide students with intercultural awareness;
* Promote responsible global citizenship, while preparing the students for their future as members of a world society.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program:
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a challenging two-year curriculum, primarily aimed at students aged 16 to 19. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world's leading universities. Students learn more than a collection of facts.

All three parts of the core - extended essay, theory of knowledge and creativity, action, service - are compulsory and are central to the philosophy of the Diploma Program.

In addition, students study six subjects selected from the subject groups which include native language, second language, experimental sciences, the arts, mathematics and computer science, individuals and society. Normally three subjects are studied at higher level (courses representing 240 teaching hours), and the remaining three subjects are studied at standard level (courses representing 150 teaching hours).

Over the course of the two-year program, students:

* study six subjects chosen from the six subject groups
* complete an extended essay
* follow a theory of knowledge course (TOK)
* participate in extra curricular activities comprising creativity, action, service (CAS).

Performing Arts:
ASM boasts two in school Theater Companies that present Musical Productions for the school community twice a year, in March and May. The Senior production is comprised of upperschool students from grades 7th through 12 who have delighted the ASM community in the past years with productions like "The King and I", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Pirates of Penzance".

They have brought to the ASM stage Broadway Productions like "Annie", "The Music Man", "The Wizard of Oz" and "Honk,Jr.!". The school also offers a Theater Arts program as part of the school curriculum where students are introduced to all aspects of the Performing Arts through a series of creative workshops.

Laptop Program:
ASM’s laptop program extends from 6th to 12th grade. As per ASM Board Policy, all these students are required to be present with a fully functioning laptop computer during the school year.

Afterschool Activities:
Extra-curricular activities provide opportunities for leadership and personal growth. Students are encouraged to take part in at least one activity during the school year. The ASM sports and after school programs are designed to provide students with a variety of activities wherein students can learn new skills, develop their talents, and socialize with friends.