The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium is a state-funded and publicly accredited four-year secondary school.
The curriculum of the DCG, which was approved by the Council of Education of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, includes the subject Religion and Culture, which is not offered by state schools. All students learn Latin, and one class in each grade level also studies classical Greek.
 

Tradition
The central questions of antiquity were, who is man, what can he achieve and what is he allowed? In our academic instruction we try to raise these timeless questions within our modern context. What emerged as questions in Greco-Roman times found answers in Christianity: these are faith, hope and love. All of them represent the foundation upon which the present and future of the school are built.


Mission
The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium is a modern school. Its mission is to compel young people to understand and love the world they live in. We wish to cultivate the youth as responsible people with an active role in the world. Teachers strive to meet the expectations of students, parents, the church and society. Through their knowledge and experiences, teachers arouse students’ curiosity about anything that is new, thus educating them to respect creative and individual work.

The curriculum runs as follows:

At the end of the fourth year students take the maturity examinations (“A levels”), which are the same for all graduating gymnasium students in Slovenia. They are examined in five subjects of which three are obligatory: Slovene, mathematics, and a foreign language. The exam is both oral and written. Our students have achieved remarkable success with these exams; some are ranked among the very best in the country and most can enrol in the university program of their choice.

Research projects and work
An important area of emphasis in the school’s curriculum is gaining knowledge and skills in less formal and more spontaneous ways that mirror everyday life. The project work in the 2nd and 3rd years of study is meant to achieve this goal. These activities are carried out systematically and are well planned, with an emphasis on students' and teachers' initiative and independent work.

Religious Life
The spiritual offerings at St. Stanislav’s Institution are meant to guide students’ personal growth and introduce them to independent living. The goal of religious life is also to create favourable conditions for an independent and open decision for faith. To achieve this, various paths of spiritual searching, the circumstances in which the young live, as well as different inner experiences must be taken into consideration.
Spiritual life is fostered by a daily morning Mass in the small chapel, prayer at the beginning and end of each school day, and yearly spiritual retreats for each class. Students, teachers, counsellors at the Jeglič Student Home, and other staff gather for special liturgies throughout the year, namely for various holidays and at the beginning and end of the school year. In Advent and Lent students and teachers offer donations to charities.
The Gymnasium, Primary school, Student Home and Residence Hall each have their own spiritual leader.

Parental involvement
Parental involvement is considered essential. Parents can express their interests and wishes through the Parental Advisory Board or private conferences with teachers. Teachers are available to parents at least one hour a week, while parents are encouraged to meet at least twice a year at parent-teacher meetings. As a support to all educators, the School for Parents is organized annually.

Financing
The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium is financed by state funds (for teachers’ salaries and some educational materials), by its founder the Ljubljana Archdiocese, through donations and also its own resources (for investments and equipment). Parents pay for extra-curricular activities. These include spiritual retreats; excursions in Slovenia and abroad; science, cultural and sports days; clubs, choirs, and the School of Fine Arts. Students may also be eligible for state or private scholarships.
In cooperation with the state charity organisation, the gymnasium offers financial assistance to students in need. There is also a school fund for purchasing teaching aids and maintaining up to date classroom facilities.

Academic Organisation
Each grade level is divided into five parallel classes. There are up to 34 girls and boys in each class. The academic year is divided into two terms, starting on 1st September and ending in the last week of June. An exception are the fourth-year students who take the maturity examinations (“A-levels”) and finish lessons at the end of May, when they prepare for the final examinations. Class periods last 45 minutes. There are five-minute breaks between the lessons, and a main 35-minute break with a snack. On Wednesday there is a 55-minute break. Students have seven periods per day, though only six on Wednesdays. School starts at 7.50 and ends at 14.05, and on Wednesdays ends at 13.35
Each class has its own classroom and all lessons are held there. First- and second-year students have their classrooms on the ground floor, third- and fourth-years are on the second floor. However, lessons are also held in special classrooms for chemistry, biology, physics, geography, religious education and music, as well as in laboratories and the computer room. All classrooms are supplied with loudspeakers and equipped with overhead projectors, computers, LCD projectors and internet access.

There are 65 full-time teaching staff at the DCG. A psychologist, librarian and priest also belong to the staff. There are also technicians and maintenance staff who provide essential support for the successful functioning of the school and Institution.

The School within Slovenia
The school always welcomes visitors. Open house days are organised each spring at the DCG and offer a glimpse into its life and activities. On such days visitors may attend classes as well as observe students' cultural and social life. Information days are organised for future students in order to provide an overview of studies and extra-curricular activities.
The gymnasium has both regular and special meetings with other schools in the country. Students interact in sports, cultural and research activities. Students also learn more about Slovenia and its geography, history and culture on excursions planned throughout the academic year.


Foreign Exchange and Excursions
The DCG fosters relationships with schools and other institutions from approximately 30 European countries and elsewhere. International events happen monthly, such as student or teacher exchanges, various common projects, or participation at international conferences and symposiums.
When visiting foreign countries, the main emphasis is on discovering the regional characteristics, city architecture, history, culture, language and local ways of life. The first-year students visit countries north of Slovenia (3 days) and the second-years go to Vienna (3 days). Third-year students spend seven days in either France, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Austria or Switzerland – depending on which second foreign language they learn. The graduating fourth-years go to Assisi and Rome (5 days), and another excursion takes place after the maturity exams, the destination of which is up to students.
Students and teachers alike participate in numerous international projects such as LISA
(Leadership Impact on Students' Achievement), NiLS (Leadership in Education, a project by Comenius), UCAP, European Forum on School Administration, the International Singing Festival, various international sports events, francophone and Russian days, as well as physics days.

Student Council
The Student Council enables students to assist in shaping school life through suggestions and the organisation of cultural, sports and social activities. It has its own budget formed by membership fees, sponsors and donations.
The Student Council organises several events including the drama festival, a very popular event at which classes present their theatrical achievements. Another event, the “Imaginarium,” is an afternoon of creative workshops where students can draw, sculpt and carve.

Students vote for teachers and students to serve as representatives on a seven-member tribune, which protects the rights and dignity of students and faculty alike.

Music
Music is a very important aspect of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. There are five
choirs: First-years Boys’ Choir (30 singers), First-years Girls’ Choir (70 singers), Girls’ Chamber Chorus (45 singers), Mixed Chamber Chorus (45 singers) and Mixed Chorus (50 singers).
The choirs’ repertoire is extensive, incorporating music from Gregorian chants, renaissance, classical and romantic works, to Slovene folk songs as well as works of various contemporary composers. They perform in concerts and tours in Slovenia and abroad. Their annual concert is always a remarkable success, and the choirs contribute enormously to the solemnity of different religious feasts and state holidays. They have toured abroad in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, Canada, USA, Great Britain and Slovakia. They have recorded two CDs, Aere perennius (More lasting than bronze) and The World of the Spirit, as well numerous performances kept in the archives of Radio Slovenia.
Both chamber choirs have received numerous prizes and awards at youth choral reviews in Zagorje (Slovenia) and at international choral festivals in Celje (Slovenia), including first prize for best choir of the competition. They regularly perform larger vocal-instrumental works (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Bruckner, Poulenc, Britten) and in collaboration with professional institutions, such as the Symphonic orchestra of RTV Ljubljana, the Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

Choral singing has become a valuable asset to the DCG. Through it students acquire a sense of group work as well as a nice voice, they learn listening skills, gain self confidence, and relax.
Class singing is also encouraged, as displayed at the annual class singing festival. Student instrumentalists, who attend various music schools, form smaller ensembles as necessary and play different music from baroque to contemporary music. The string orchestra performs within the context of the Institution’s Music School. Occasionally a festival orchestra performs at special concerts, celebrations and other occasions.

The School of Fine Arts
The School of Fine Arts enhances the educational process with creativity in the field of arts. It encourages the young artists to develop their talents and enriches them with a thorough understanding of art. At the end of each academic year they stage regular exhibitions in the Institution’s atrium.

Clubs
Students can participate in various clubs including the literary, political, geography, philosophy, and many science clubs; different sports clubs and computer club. Language clubs are very popular with students, as they learn new foreign languages or brush up on the ones they have already studied. Dancing classes are popular especially among the graduating students in preparation for the festive End of the Year Ball. Mentors prepare students for various state competitions, particularly in the Slovene language, mathematics, natural and social sciences and foreign languages. So far many students have achieved excellent results, the best qualifying to participate in the Olympiads in mathematics, chemistry, physics and information technology as well as in the competition of ancient Greek held in Greece.
The students also take active part in research work. Every year they participate in the high school competition “Science to the Young,” in which they have frequently won first prizes in the country.
Many students also actively participate in charity work.

Creative Writing
Every year students publish the annual literary journal Domače vaje (Home exercises), which includes poetry, short narratives essays, reflective articles and interviews.
Kažipot (The Signpost), which is published three times a year, describes school life from the students’ point of view. At the end of the school year students publish The Signpost in foreign languages, reflecting their knowledge of and creative talents in modern languages.
The so-called “classroom wall newspapers” creations of the first- and second-year students which depict the atmosphere of the respective class and school in general. The third-years publish a monthly class magazine, whereas the graduating fourth-years issue an annual journal which is presented during a public assembly.

Sports
Most sports activities take place in the new sports hall, which was built in 1994. It contains the central recreation hall, gymnastics room, free-climbing wall and fitness room. There is also an outdoor playing field with a running track on the school premises.
Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of sports clubs, including track and field, soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball, table tennis and badminton.
DCG students have been awarded many first prizes at the national level in various sports, the most prestigious being placement at the World Championship for Orienteering. Every year they take part in various international competitions and exchanges.


Summer Activities in the Realm of the DCG
During the summer holidays, students can participate in various camps in Slovenia and abroad, such as the Latin-archaeological, travel-spiritual, philosophy, charity work, summer language school and an army camp.

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