REVIEW OF Lakefield College School BY parent, Celine Griffin

(4.5) Student Experience

I have twin girls attending LCS, who have very different temperaments and interests. Both girls enjoy the academic structure and educators. The enthusiasm teachers have for their subjects and their students' success is excellent. The mod system, regarding language mastery (both girls are in extended French), is certainly an asset. French, for example, is not simply left to the fall/winter term; it has been an all-year-round investment, and their language skills have benefited. One of the most pleasant surprises has been Outdoor Education. This is a unique class at LCS, a campus rich in outdoor opportunities. One of my daughters, who would have been unlikely to have selected traditional physical education as a course subject, is continuing with OE for grade 10. She enjoys being in the outdoors, expanding her knowledge of camping, orienteering, and canoeing, amongst other subjects. Both girls have benefited from the large selection of co-curricular activities. From learning new sports like sailing, Nordic skiing and rowing to performing with the many musical groups to enjoying quieter time in groups like Creative Threads (knitting and crocheting). There is little idle time if your child chooses to embrace the many opportunities offered.

Why Lakefield College School?

We are from a community relatively close to LCS with a strong history of local children attending this school. We knew many families whose children attended LCS. These children all had very positive experiences and thrived after graduation.

Expectations vs. Reality

Academically, the school aligned with our expectations. Our girls required a more challenging academic environment, and LCS has provided them with this. LCS has diverged from expectations socially. Our girls are boarders, but have both bonded more with day students. The integration of day students with the boarding students is pretty seamless.

Your Advice

My advice would be to encourage your child to embrace the opportunities offered. Lakefield becomes so much more than a school if your child engages in the community and the co-curricular activities.

(5) School Leadership

Communication from school leadership has been excellent. There is a culture of open dialogue that benefits students and parents. In a recent incident on campus that required campus lockdown procedures to be initiated, parents were provided with a calm and clear email within two hours of the initiation of the lockdown, which fully explained what had happened that morning on campus. As a parent, it is very reassuring to know that both campus security protocols are well thought out and that communication with parents is a priority.

(5) Teaching

The teaching is excellent. Lakefield has top-quality educators who have passion and enthusiasm for their subjects. My girls are both inspired to work hard and really focus on their studies. Report cards provide very personalized and useful feedback. Communication with the teachers on the Edsby platform functions well. My girls have both indicated that they don't find the work challenging enough at times, but I'm confident that in higher grades with advanced and AP classes, they will find the challenge they are both looking for.

(4.5) Academics

The academic program at Lakefield is organized into alternating mods, which run the entire year. Although this represents a challenge for students, as all culminating exams occur at the end of the year, the students are well prepared to meet this challenge. There are review periods and lots of additional help (Grove Time), if required. There are many benefits of this structure to the students. One in particular is language learning. It is definitely an asset to have secondary and tertiary languages studied all year long as opposed to during just one term. The Northcote Campus offers a very unique and important learning location. Students have the ability to explore subjects like sustainable agriculture and land management with hands-on experience. Even if a student isn't interested in these subjects, this type of hands-on learning fosters teamwork, community, and a better sense of land stewardship.

(5) Extracurriculars

There is truly something for everyone at Lakefield in terms of extracurriculars. My children were both overwhelmed by the opportunities, and it was hard for them to choose! I am very impressed that my children were afforded so many new opportunities and were able to develop new skills and passions in sports and the arts. Being both active and engaged in the arts makes for a more well-rounded student.

(4.5) Students

The student body at Lakefield is nicely sized and has an excellent dynamic. Students across all grades interact, and this provides an excellent sense of community. Between classes, extracurricular activities, and houses, students have a great chance to get to know other students. The houses truly nurture feelings of home and togetherness. The student population loves Lakefield, and it shows.

(4.5) School Life

Both my children are enjoying their time at Lakefield. Sundays are very quiet and can seem slow for boarders. Occasionally, volunteer opportunities are available over the weekends, and those are great opportunities for students to accumulate volunteer time, experience and get involved in the local community. The weekdays are busy with school work and extracurricular activities. My children still find time to walk the trails on the school property during the week and engage in proper downtime. Phone use and bedtimes are well-regulated. I appreciate that the school takes phone use seriously. Phones are to be handed in at specific hours, and bedtimes are to be abided by. My kids are both satisfied with the choices of food in the dining hall. There are plenty of healthy food options at every meal.

(4.5) Community

LCS does a wonderful job of welcoming families into the community. There are many opportunities to engage with the school: as a parent volunteer, cheering your child on at a sporting event, or attending events such as Regatta Day. Even virtually, LCS reaches out to parents who are not able to attend in person via online video calls.

(5) School Location

The school is located in a small, quaint town on the periphery of a medium-sized, typical Canadian city. The town of Lakefield is welcoming with plenty of shopping and restaurant options. You can often see students walking in downtown Lakefield on the weekends, visiting the coffee shops, vintage clothing store, or just enjoying the scenery. Students have an opportunity to board the bus on Sunday to venture to Peterborough to go to the shopping mall. Through volunteer opportunities, students have the chance to engage with the local community, which is very welcoming of LCS students.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process was long, but reasonable. Our family did not find the process stressful. I was expecting the school to want to get to know us as much as we wanted to get to know the school. The right balance was there. For the interviews, we didn't prepare for specific questions or scenarios. I had full faith in my kids to be their authentic selves and for the interviewees to ask age-appropriate questions. A guided tour with a senior student on the interview day was extremely helpful. My children both felt comfortable and welcomed.