National Night of Classical High Schools

Overview

The National Night of Classical High Schools is a coordinated event held on the same date and at the same time by classical high schools in Italy and abroad, where Latin and/or Greek language and culture are studied, or where cross-curricular activities are organised to promote the value of ancient Greek and Roman culture.
The event lasts six hours, as established by the Italian National Coordination and the Organizing Committee, following consultation with representatives of all participating schools.

Governance

The Italian National Coordination (which also includes representatives from foreign schools) consists of:

1. a Coordinator (the Coordinator’s school automatically serves as the coordinating school). This role is currently held by Professor Rocco Schembra, creator of the initiative;
2. an Administrative Secretary;
3. a Communications Lead (website, social media, promotion);
4. a Graphic Designer;
5. a Video Director;
6. a Music Composer (author of the event anthem).

The Coordinator is supported by an Organizing Committee and by a Teacher for International Relations, appointed annually by the Italian National Coordination. Student representatives actively participate in the Committee. The Committee supports coordination of the event, selection of common themes, design of student competitions, and evaluation of submissions. It also works to expand participation within its remit.

Common Rules for Foreign Schools

1. Eligibility. Registration is open to schools where Latin and/or Greek are taught, or where cross-curricular activities are undertaken to promote classical culture.
2. Fees. Participation is free of charge for foreign schools. No payment is required.
3. Registration steps.
   a)
   Appoint a contact teacher (with a mobile device and Telegram and WhatsApp installed). b) Complete the online application at: https://www.nottenazionaleliceoclassico.it/iscrizioni/
   – When asked if the fee has been paid, select “No.” – When asked to upload a bank transfer receipt, upload a short PDF stating: “NON-ITALIAN SCHOOL.”
4. Contact details. The application must be fully completed. It is essential to provide a mobile phone number for the contact teacher with both Telegram (for information and materials) and WhatsApp (for urgent messages).
5. eTwinning (optional but recommended). After submitting the application, the contact teacher may register on https://school-education.ec.europa.eu/en and join the eTwinning project “National Night of Classical High Schools 2026.” Materials, updates, and coordination actions will also be shared there.
6. Date and time. The event is scheduled for Friday, 27 March 2026, for six hours, preferably 18:00–24:00 (local time). The date is the same for all schools and cannot be changed, except in justified cases (e.g., school closures due to holidays or unforeseen circumstances), to be agreed with the Coordinator. Schools may adapt the internal schedule to their needs, preferably in the afternoon/evening.
7. Materials provided by the Italian National Coordination.
   • the official poster and invitations (translated into each country’s language);
   • the opening video;
   • common materials to be used by all participating schools, following the provided instructions. The poster and invitations must not be altered, except for two fields that may be customised: the school’s official logo and the logos of local partners.
8. Theme and programme. The Organizing Committee will set a common annual theme. Each school is free to interpret it creatively, provided the connection to the classical world is clear. The event should have a high cultural profile, with students as the principal protagonists. Guests (lecturers, authors, cultural figures) are welcome, provided students play an active role. Activities should be distributed across different areas of the school to create a lively, participatory atmosphere, not a single static performance.
9. Photo sharing. After the event, schools are invited to upload, in the project TwinSpace and in the Telegram chat, a representative selection of high-quality photos with captions including school name, city, and country. These will be featured on the official website and social media by the National Coordination.
10. Press coverage. Before and after the event, schools are encouraged to share in TwinSpace and via Telegram press reviews, scanned articles, or web links about the Night. These will be included in a dossier on the official website and social media.
11. Video sharing. If schools wish to share videos, please share only the link (e.g., to a hosting platform) in the Telegram chat; do not upload video files directly.
12. Contact. For any questions, please contact the Italian National Coordination at: nottenazionaleclassico@gmail.com.

Acireale (Italy), September 2025

The Coordinator
Prof. Rocco Schembra

firma