School Leadership
What is the leadership style at Canadian College Italy? How do the school leaders shape the culture, priorities, and daily life of the community? How does this leadership style compare to that of other private and independent schools, and how might it influence your choice of school?
Page Contents
Facts and analysis
MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP
We asked Marisa DiCarlo D'Alessandro, Director at Canadian College Italy for their message.
They shared an overview of the vision, values, and guiding principles that shape both their leadership and the student experience at Canadian College Italy.

Marisa DiCarlo D'Alessandro, Director
B.P.H.E., B.Ed., M.B.A.
Dear Reader,
Canadian College Italy is Canada’s first high school in Italy. CCI is a co-educational boarding school that offers an academically rigorous curriculum in a semester format and all courses are taught in English. Founded in 1995, we have provided a unique high quality educational experience that prepares students for success in their university studies. We offer grades 9 - 12, and our courses conform to the Ministry of Education accreditation guidelines for the Province of Ontario. Our professional teaching staff dedicates itself to ensure extensive individual attention is available for every student. CCI prides itself on its excellent student achievement and graduates have accepted offers and received scholarships from a variety of universities throughout Canada, the U.S.A., the U.K., Australia and Europe.
The essence of CCI is that challenging learning takes place in the country of the Renaissance where archaeological, historical and art treasures are visited as a formally instructed integral part of the CCI educational experience. All students visit the major art cities within Italy and optional trips are also organized throughout Europe.
The Town of Lanciano, where CCI is located, is an ancient-yet-modern, safe, and well serviced small city of 45,000 in the eastern Abruzzo Region. It is a 15 minute drive from the sand and stone beaches of the Adriatic Sea and less than three hours by bus from Rome. An important part of the student experience is to live in an Italian town and be immersed in its culture, and Lanciano has warmly embraced CCI and our students.
Students attend CCI from – Canada, Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, South America and Italy to name a few. This assemblage of students and concentration of experience promotes strong friendships with classmates from all over the world.
CCI's main building is a four-story medieval house centered around a bright covered atrium that rises a full four stories. Surrounding the atrium are classrooms, the library and administrative offices. The Allegria, is a charming 500 year-old inn where our students have their meals. CCI students enjoy excellent Mediterranean food, where all fruits and vegetables are locally grown. The Allegria is the oldest Inn in Lanciano; it also houses the boys’ residence on the second floor. The girl’s residence, Santa Maria is a larger building about a five minute walk from the school. We encourage each residence to develop into a mini-family so that it operates as much as possible as a home away from home. Each residence has excellent WiFi service. It is invariably residence life, with its friendships, necessary accommodations, agreements and understandings, that students have reported they remember and will forever treasure as an important bonding and enriching part of their CCI lives.
Canadian College Italy’s mission: To provide a unique environment in which students
experience a renaissance academically, socially and
culturally.
We hope to see you in Italy.