Classe Montagna is the only Italian Kindergarten and early Elementary (K–1st) in Chicago. This class is the crown jewel of our Italian Immersion school.

Here, intellectual growth meets emotional depth in a Reggio-inspired setting. Under the expert guidance of bilingual teacher Giulia Picariello Signori, children engage in a thoughtfully integrated curriculum that nurtures academic readiness while preserving the wonder and expressive power of early childhood.

This is a true bilingual environment: different parts of the day are anchored in both English or Italian, giving children full immersion in both languages and allowing them to switch fluidly between the two with ease and confidence. Language becomes a natural part of play, study, and daily routine.

Giulia Picariello Signori brings exceptional skill in blending the goals of Kindergarten and 1st grade, ensuring every child is both challenged and supported at their level. Whether preparing to enter American elementary schools or continuing on an Italian path, students leave Montagna with the tools, habits, and mindset they need to thrive.

At the core of the class is the Reggio belief in the child as a capable, curious, and expressive human being. Projects are co-constructed, materials are chosen with intention, and learning unfolds through meaningful investigations into language, science, mathematics, art, and the natural world.