Salve, !
Congratulations! You have been accepted to participate in Living Latin in Rome High School. We are very much looking forward to helping you develop your knowledge of Latin, and to spending some time getting to know you in the Eternal City this summer!
PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO ROME
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Participants should plan to arrive in Rome on June 29th and depart on July 13th.
Traveling Independently
Students traveling independently should make arrangements to arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino airport on June 29th between 7:00am and 5:00pm. An Institute staff member will meet each student after he or she clears customs, and will accompany him or her to our housing. Please indicate your flight information on our travel information form to facilitate pick-up at the airport. At the end of the program, students who will not be traveling on the chaperoned group flight will need to book a flight that leaves Rome between 10:00am and 2:00pm on departure day, July 13th, to take advantage of the included airport transfer. Students whose flights depart earlier than 10:00am will need to arrive at the airport independently, though Paideia can help them book a taxi.
N.B. Most airlines offer chaperoning services for unaccompanied minors on international flights. For more information on obtaining a chaperone to accompany students through customs, please contact your airline.
Paideia Chaperoned Flight
The Paideia Institute will book a staff member as a chaperone on a flight to and from Rome via New York's John F. Kennedy Airport. Students may book their own ticket on the chaperoned flight, but this is optional and must be booked by the student. Paideia does not book student flights. The information for the group flight is below. If you would like to travel on the group flight, please indicate this on the travel form below and book your ticket for the following flights. You will receive information by email about where to meet the chaperones.
LLiRHS Group Flight Information
- JFK to Rome: Delta Flight DL 182, departing Saturday, June 28th at 5:00pm
- Rome to JFK: Delta Flight DL 231, departing Sunday, July 13th at 12:20pm
In-Person Drop Off and Programming for Families
Families who would like to drop their children off in Rome in person may do so on June 29th. Specific dropoff information will be provided later in the spring. If you plan to drop off your child in Rome, please consider joining our Director for an aperitivo the evening of June 29th. More details about this will be shared before the start of the program.
WHAT TO PACK
Rome is hot in July (90 degrees on most days). Although we arrange our schedule to avoid the strongest mid-day sun as much as possible, we will still be spending hours outside in the sun. We recommend a good hat (a broad-brimmed one is preferable to a baseball cap), plenty of sunscreen, and a good pair of UV-protective sunglasses. Sunscreen is very expensive in Italy; it’s best to bring enough from home. Most importantly, please bring a refillable water bottle. It's very easy to get dehydrated during a Roman summer, but public water fountains are abundant!
Please pack appropriate attire. While shorts and t-shirts are fine on most days, some of our site visits include trips to basilicas and churches, where visitors must wear clothing that fully covers knees and shoulders to be allowed entrance (e.g. trousers or long skirts and shirts with sleeves). Some visitors to Italy bring a light shawl that can be thrown over the shoulders or tied around the waist as needed. Students will not be permitted to wear t-shirts with offensive statements or inappropriately short or tight-fitting clothing. Students will have the opportunity to wash clothes mid-program, so we encourage you to pack light!
Come prepared with a swimsuit and beach towel! We will head to the beach to escape the heat at least once during the program. If you aren’t a swimmer, rest assured that there will be a cool spot to relax and enjoy the view.
Bring good, strong shoes. We will be walking regularly and frequently. Much of this walking will be on cobblestones, dusty walkways, and even some rocky trails. Your feet will thank you if you do this walking in sturdy sneakers or cross trainers.
Linens, towels, and pillows are provided at the hotels we’ll be staying at. Italy uses type C and F electrical outlets, so make sure to bring a suitable travel adapter to charge your electronic devices.
Spending money. In our experience, students typically spend no more than 100-150 euros on souvenirs and gelato. The easiest way to get euros is to take them out of an ATM or to bring them with you. Please do not bring traveler’s checks or US dollars to exchange. Museum gift shops will accept credit cards as well.
You can view a packing and travel suggestions list here.
INFORMATION ABOUT LIFE IN THE PROGRAM
ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Books And Course Materials
The course organizers will provide you with a packet with all necessary readings and assignments. Please bring one of the following Latin dictionaries:
- John Traupman’s The Bantam New College Latin & English Dictionary – a handy, pocket-sized dictionary with a good English-to-Latin section, perfect for throwing in your bag and bringing on-site.
- Lewis and Short’s Latin Dictionary – one of the larger Latin-English dictionaries (without English-Latin). This lexicon covers a wide chronological range and will help us as we work through readings from Antiquity to the modern era. A free digital version of this dictionary is available online through Logeion.
Academic Preparation
Your application indicated that you are academically prepared for Living Latin in Rome, but there is always more to learn! The more Latin grammar and vocabulary you know, the more you’ll enjoy the program. For vocabulary, we recommend Dickinson College’s Core Latin Vocabulary list. Challenge yourself by trying to memorize all 1000 words! For a concise review of Latin grammar, we recommend Excelability in Advanced Latin by Marianthe Colakis.
You will also get more out of the program if you have a basic background in Roman history, culture and mythology. To bone up before the program, we recommend the following books:
STUDENT LIFE
Housing, Facilities, And Food
During the first week of the program, students and teachers live together and attend classes in Rome. Students will be divided into two cohorts, named Castor and Pollux. One cohort will be housed at the Casa per ferie Salesiane dei Sacri Cuori guesthouse in Rome’s Monti neighborhood and will attend classes at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, a short walk from the guesthouse. The second cohort will be housed at the Casa di Santa Brigida in Rome’s Regola neighborhood and will take classes at the Academic Initiatives Abroad (AIA) campus nearby. Students will learn of their assigned cohort before the start of the program. A google maps link to all locations can be found here.
For the second week of the program, both cohorts will travel to the Bay of Naples and stay together and attend classes at the Casa Piccole Ancelle "Cristo Re" guesthouse in Castellammare di Stabia. A google maps link is here.
Students will be supervised at all times by the program’s faculty, who live with the students in the same facilities. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided daily. All facilities have air-conditioned rooms and are equipped with wireless internet.
No overnight guests are allowed in Institute housing. If friends or family visit, please arrange for them to stay elsewhere.
Housing is available from June 29th to July 13th. If you plan on arriving in or leaving Rome before or after these dates, you will need to arrange your own accommodation.
If you have any specific housing needs, we will do our best to accommodate them. Please write to [email protected] with any considerations. Dietary restrictions will, of course, be respected as well.
Health, Well Being And Insurance
Medical care in Italy is first-rate and, should the need arise, the Paideia Institute can reach trained physicians 24 hours a day for the duration of the trip. All participants must have their own health insurance covering them internationally for the full duration of their time in Italy. If you do not have health insurance that covers you while in Italy, the Student Travel Protection plan available below provides adequate coverage.
If you are taking medication, be sure to bring enough for your entire stay. There are well-stocked pharmacies in Rome, but not all drugs are readily accessible without a prescription, and it is better to bring one’s own supplies.
If you have a medical condition that could affect your ability to participate, we strongly urge you to share that condition with us ahead of time. This way, in the event of a medical issue, we can more quickly and efficiently arrange for your care. All such information will be held in the strictest confidence.
Staying In Touch
Non-urgent messages to the Institute’s main phone number (609) 429-0734 will be returned within 48 hours, and emails to [email protected] will be responded to more quickly. In case of true emergencies, a member of the Paideia core staff may be reached at +39 351 399 1291 at any time, day or night. Please remember that Italy is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Please try to avoid calling after 11pm Italian time except in emergencies.
We invite all admitted students and their parents to log in to their Paideia Institute accounts to access the Living Latin in Rome High School 2025 enrolled students page, where students and parents can view the student roster and access important forms and information. Families can also join the LLiRHS 2025 WhatsApp group to contact other admitted students and parents before the start of the program by visiting this link.
Supervision, Behavior And Exploring The City
Paideia Institute instructors live together with students and serve as dorm monitors. As stated in the Code of Conduct, students are not permitted out alone in the city at any time. During designated free time, students are permitted to explore certain areas of the city for a set period of time (usually about an hour) in groups of 3 or more. A lights-out policy of 11pm is in place for the duration of the program.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
U.S. Citizens do not need to apply for a visa to participate in this program, though they will need a passport. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your return date. If you do not have a passport, you should begin the application process as soon as possible, as it can be a lengthy process. Students who are not U.S. citizens may need a visa. To determine your visa requirements, please refer to the nearest Italian Consulate's website.
POLICIES
CANCELLATION POLICY AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
The following cancellation policy applies to Living Latin in Rome High School:
Once paid, the $500 deposit is non-refundable. Participants who withdraw from the program after the balance deadline (May 1st) will be given a credit for the amount of the balance (but not the deposit).There is no refund for students who withdraw after the start of the program.
Travel insurance may help protect your investment in this program in the event that something prevents you from coming. A Student Travel Protection Plan is available for this program through Travel Guard. For coverage information and to purchase this insurance, please visit this link. Please contact Travel Guard at 866-385-4839 with any questions.
There are no refunds in the event that a traveler is unable to travel due to insufficient documentation, such as lack of passport, including lack of passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip, and lack of visa, or due to last minute health issues. For these issues, Paideia recommends travel insurance.
CODE OF CONDUCT
All program participants agree to abide by the Paideia Institute’s Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including removal from activities or, in serious cases, early dismissal from the program. No refunds will be given for expulsion from the program for disciplinary reasons.
PAYMENT
PAYMENT DEADLINES
Non-refundable Deposit ($500) and enrollment form: April 1st, 2025
Remaining Balance ($5000): May 1st, 2025