MELBOURNE – Wollert Primary School first opened its doors just four years ago, but in that short time it has built a strong, welcoming and enthusiastic school community. With 650 students, it is also one of Victoria’s 12 Supported Inclusion Schools (SIS).
Principal Justin Lania, who took up the role in 2025, decided to introduce Italian as a second language this year, initially offering it to students in Years 1 and 2.
“Many of our students already speak another language at home. The introduction of Italian has been warmly welcomed by both families and students,” Lania said.
That enthusiasm has quickly spread throughout the school.
“One of the most exciting things has been seeing how enthusiastically the entire school community has embraced the new language.
“Many staff members are already trying to greet each other in Italian and are keen to learn more,” said Italian teacher Clara Mangone, who has more than 30 years of classroom experience.
To build on that enthusiasm and turn language learning into a shared experience, Mangone, with the help of language assistant Danielle Borda, organised Wollert Primary School’s first Italian Day on 15 September.
Meticulously planned and packed with activities, the celebration was a resounding success, judging by the excitement of those who took part. Several children even described it as “the best day ever”.
The morning began with a whole-school assembly in the gym, where students and teachers came together for a colourful parade of Italian-themed costumes. Creativity was on full display, with some outfits standing out for their imaginative designs and impressive attention to detail.
After the parade, students split into groups and rotated through the activities organised for the day.
Magician Luigi Zucchini captivated his young audience with a magic show, while the Juventus Soccer Academy in Sunshine brought a taste of Italian football to Wollert through drills and games on the field.
After all that physical activity, pizza and gelato for lunch were greeted with great excitement. But the culinary journey had already begun with a tasting session that encouraged children to try olives, focaccia and other flavours that were not always familiar to them.
There was plenty of room for creativity, too. Armed with coloured markers, paper plates and cardboard tubes, students, particularly the younger ones, tried their hand at building their own Leaning Tower of Pisa, enjoying a quieter moment after an action-packed morning.
By the end of the day, Italian teacher Clara Mangone was visibly tired but delighted with how it had all come together.
The enthusiastic response from students, teachers and families suggests that this first Italian Day could well mark the beginning of a new tradition at Wollert Primary School.
