Apartments

A few more questions...
What area or neighbourhood in Milan will our apartments be located in? Also, would it be possible to get pictures of the apartments to get a better idea of what they look like?
Thanks again,
Antonella

A few more things

Here is some more info on phones, dvd's, and internet.

As for cd's and dvd's, i brought both. I play my dvd's on my computer or else you have to buy an international dvd player to play multiregion codes. Most of the teachers use their computers to watch dvd's and if you use the program VLC, that is free on the internet, you can watch dvd's from any region. As for cell phones, wait until you get here as it is very easy and we will help you get set up. Internet is the same in Italy as in Toronto. You have to call the internet company and set up an installation appointment for them to come and give you equipment. The school helps you do this as the company only speaks Italian. You have to pay for the internet so you can decide what plan to get.

Banking and Salary

Hi there,
Do we need to get Italian bank accounts or can we use accounts set up here in Canada? Also, will we be paid monthly or biweekly? Will our salaries be directly deposited or will we receive cheques?
Thanks,
Antonella

Timeline for visas

I will send the timeline for visa application to your personal e-mail accounts.

Next set of questions

Hi everyone!

Jesse and I have written down enough questions that we have a complete set to post. Here they are, in no particular order:

- What should our next step be, with respect to the visa process? We now have passports that are valid for the next five years, and we have read all the visa instructions that we received via email. Is there something that should be a priority right now though?

- How many classes are there at each grade level?

- Does BES host parent-teacher interviews? If so, how often? And what is the process like?

- Do we need adapters for electronics that have a three-prong plug? We will be bringing some items that have plugs like that, and it would be great to be able to use them in our apartment right away.

Thank you for any guidance you can provide. We're on our last March Break for a while. Next year, Settimana Bianca!

Visas, Beginning of School, Apartments

Just to clarify, I won't need a student visa as I am applying for citizenship, right? My understanding is that all I'll need is an EU passport.

Also, does our school year begin in September or August? I know that you had mentioned that we will be getting flights around August 25th. Does this mean we are in school at that time? If we want to arrive a week earlier to get settled can we arrange this as well? Will our apartments be available in August?

Antonella

Dear Antonella,

If you hold an EU passport you have the legal right to work in any EU country. The procedure to be followed is short and easy and does not require that special authorizations be obtained prior to arriving in Italy. If you hold an Italian passport, you don't need any special authorization, of course, to work in Italy.

I you intend to come to Italy as an Italian citizen, please make 100% sure that you have your citizenship and Italian passport in hand by the time you arrive in Milan. I don't know how long it takes to get Italian citizenship, but I will be (pleasantly) surprised if it is doable in five months.

If you do not have an EU passport, you must jump through all the nonsensical hoops that I have outlined to obtain a student visa which will eventually morph into a work visa.

Cheers,

Day

P.S. Friday, glorious Friday! It has rained for two days, but they say we should see the sun again this weekend.

Photos, Autentica di Foto, and Medical Insurance

1. Do the passport-sized photos that are needed along with the application form and the Autentica di Foto need to be official passport photos from a recognized photographer, or can they be our own photos so long as they meet the size requirements of a passport-size picture? 

2. What is the Autentica di Foto? Where and how do we get this form? 

3. What's the story with health insurance? We were under the impression that the Blue Cross coverage was going to be minimal. At what point will Italian health coverage kick in?

Thanks.

Jesse Grosman

Dear Jesse,

1. Passport sized pictures should do the trick. The one that I used most recently for my US passport renewal came out of a coin operated machine they had in the US Consulate.

2. The Autentica di Foto form will be sent to you by BES. It has your picture on it and someone at the consulate signs it to verify that you are who you say you are! Make sure you look like the photo you place on the form. :-)

3. It will take a while, probably months, to get you on the Italian National Health system. For that reason it is important to buy a private health policy that has the maximum length possible. The school will reimburse you for this expense, but keep all receipts. The business office cannot reimburse payment without receipts. The private insurance policy is to ensure that you are covered in case of serious illness or injury. Routine medical visits will be reimbursed by the school from the day you arrive.

Day

Questions from Antonella about rent, salary, taxes

Antonella asks if the rent on BES apartments includes utilities and if not how much you can expect to pay. Also, if teachers pay only 10 months of rent per year, what about the other two months? Are teachers paid a ten month salary or a twelve month salary? Also, are teachers paid over the vacations? In terms of income tax, do teachers pay Italian income tax? If so, what percentage of take home pay is that?

Timeline for Obtaining Visa

I have created a list of tasks to be completed for obtaining your student visas with relevant due dates, but I want our business office and front office to review it before I post it. I will post it next week.  

Have a great weekend, Day

Procedures for Obtaining Your Visa

See the individual e-mails I have sent to each of you.

Questions from Kira

I had a couple of things to ask as I start planning for my move. I was wondering if you could send me a written copy of my contract? I understand that all verbal offers and acceptances made at the fair are binding, but I'd like a copy of the contract so that I can review my role and responsibilities.

I was wondering about the flight to Milan in August. Do I plan that or does the school take care of booking the flight? Also, would it be possible to send any images of the apartment that I'll be living it, or images of a similar apartment? I'm just curious to see where I'll be living.

Questions from Antonella answered by Liz

Is there a curriculum document for the PYP? I couldn't access it from the site. From what I've read, it seems far less rigid than what I'm used to - how refreshing!

I was also thinking about the apartments and wondering what they were like? Are they located near amenities like grocery stores, banks, bus stations etc.? Also, what do you think about living Milan? I've heard so many different things but I guess you never really know until you actually experience it for yourself.

Hi Antonella,

The best thing about our school for any teacher who has North American public school teaching is that it is much less rigid and if you have an idea or a way you like to teach, then it is open to you to try new things. It really is a great working environment for people with experience who have always had ideas but are caught in a curriculum model that does not let them try them. I attached a small booklet from the PYP that gives an overview on the philosophy, our school's Program of Inquiry which is fancy speak for our year long curriculum, and a sample of one of our year 1 planners. Hope this helps but please don't spend too much time looking at it. You will have plenty of time next September. :)

As for living in Milan, the apartments are really nice and spacious. They are not what you hear about european houses and are spacious and places that you could live for many years. They all have a washing machine and dishwasher along with a full bathroom with shower and bath. They are all within some type of an apartment complex/building within walking distance to school and all the necessities. I usually walk to the grocery store, ten minutes, and then take a tram home because I am too lazy to carry my groceries. We live in a neighbourhood that has everything you could need from dry cleaners to shoe repair, to cafes and pizzerias. To get to the center of Milan and the famous Duomo and shopping area in 30 minutes door to door and it costs one euro!! Milan is a very safe city and the only danger is downtown in the large tourist areas there are the usual pick-pockets looking to get an unsuspecting soul. I have never even been aware of them and as long as you are street smart then it is fine. I travel the metro by myself all the time even at night. It is a large city and as long as you are street smart and careful, you should have no problems.

As for the food in Milan, you can easily eat out every night but I am not sure your clothes would still fit. :) Good typical family run restaurants will cost you about 15 euros for a meal including wine. It is really cheap here compared to Ontario I think also because you don't tip and there is no tax.

Some questions from Justine and Jesse answered by Liz

School Questions:

1. What are the important dates of the school year? We do not have the official calendar for next year but I have attached our school calendar for this year so you can have an idea of our holidays. It is in Italian but I think you can get the basic idea of holidays.

2. Do we have our own classrooms, or do we share with our Italian counterparts? You will share it with an Italian teacher but when you teach, you have the room to yourself. As far as wall displays and furniture arrangement goes, the teams here talk and compromise about who gets what wall, how desks are arranged, etc. The staff room is where most of the teachers stay when they are not teaching to do work or some work at home or in another free space in the school.

3. What schools do BES students compete against in sports? As of right now we do not compete with any schools but our PE teacher is working to start a soccer club.

4. Does BES have any community outreach programs or service learning opportunities? Our biggest outreach program is a school in Kenya. The owners of BES have a huge project in Kenya where most of the school's energy is dedicated. As far as community programs, some have started and stopped over the years. Ideas or suggestions are always welcome!

5. May we have the password to access the news/events section of the BES website? I will email you the password.

6. What does the work day schedule look like in Milan? I have attached a schedule. In addition to what is on the schedule, you will have lunch/recess duties and 2 times a week 2 45 minute sessions with another class for small group support. You will also have 1 hour when you go into your class during Italian time to co-teach. You also plan one day after school from about 4:15 to 5:30 and once a month on Wednesday is our staff meetings.

Living Questions:

1. What type of building is the apartment in? A regular apartment building with an elevator. Very similar to Toronto buildings.

2. Are we the only staff from BES living in our particular building? If you move into the apartment I am thinking of, yes you are the only BES teachers living there but everyone else lives within 3 blocks from you. We are all scattered around the neighbourhood.

3. Will we have a TV? Possibly but you will only get Italian stations. most of us use our laptops for movies and downloading.

4. What size is the bed (for bedding purposes)? We will let you know as soon as we know what apartment you will be getting. The school also provides you with one a set of sheets, pillows, and duvet.

5. If it's okay with them, can we have the contact info of the couple currently living in what will become our apartment? (This may be helpful for transitioning) I will put you in touch as soon as we know who it is.

Welcome

Hi Kira, Antonella, Jesse, and Justine. We have set up this blog so that you can see what everyone else is asking and so that other people's questions can help answer some of your own. I will try to check this often and I will also ask teachers from our school to contribute. Let the blogging begin so we can make your journey to Milan easier!