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Go to child profileRosseau Lake College (RLC) is an independent co-ed, day and boarding school offering Grades 6-12. At RLC we ignite the passion within each student to strive for excellence in their areas of strength, while at the same time exposing them to new opportunities in and out of the classroom. Parents looking for a place where their child is known and challenged rather than getting lost in the crowd will find that at RLC.
What learning looks like now: For all students who are able, RLC will continue to accommodate full days of learning and activity on our Rosseau Campus. We continue to work closely with public health in developing protocols and procedures that best ensure the health and safety of our community. Of course, our small class sizes and ongoing mandate to teaching in and through the outdoors means we are uniquely positioned to provide the safest possible environment.
Curriculum delivery:
Living Arrangement | Grades | Delivery Model | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|
Day | Gr. 6 - Gr. 12 | In-person | Full-time |
Boarding | Gr. 6 - Gr. 12 | In-person | Full-time |
eSchool | Gr. 6 - Gr. 12 | Online | Full-time |
Can boarders live on-campus? Yes
Rosseau Lake College offers bus transferring. Service options offered are regular rider, occasional rider.
The regions Rosseau Lake College offers busing from are:
Additional notes: We are flexible in offering new routes to new day students, from areas not currently serviced.
Music Class
Media lab
Media Lab
Campus in Spring
Campus
Brock House
Brock House
Home away from Home
Media Lab
Dining Hall
Dining Hall
Dining Hall
Throughout its life, Rosseau Lake has forged its own path, its own tradition, which itself is a primary draw for students and faculty alike. It’s true that every school is unique, though that’s especially true here. In so many ways, it’s one of a kind, beginning with the integration of outdoor education into all aspects of student life. The Seven Generations program, too, is a model for others to follow. And on it goes. The students come because they want an education, yes, but also because they are looking for more. They want to be engaged, to find a place within a community of kindred spirits. They intend to go on to post-secondary studies, though they also understand that school should never be only a stepping stone to some future accomplishment. The school rightly prides itself on graduating students who have a strong sense of identity as learners, are able to describe who they are, and analyze the experiences they’ve had. And while many schools will say those kinds of things, Rosseau Lake can actually point to them. In addition to earning a degree, students leave having spent the equivalent of two months on outtrips. They’ll have paddled canoes, tied knots, and, for many, travelled the world. Despite the small size of the school and its location beyond urban centres, they will also have learned alongside others from diverse communities around the world and down the street. As alumni invariably say, they will have also gained a profound sense of community, having experienced how important they can be to a group, just as they’ve been lifted by it. Both Graham Vogt and Cheryl Bissonette noted to us that Rosseau Lake may not be “the school for everyone,” but, in many ways, perhaps it should be.
here on OurKids.net, is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. Insights were gardnered by visiting the school and interviewing students, parents, faculty, and administrators.
This 50-page review of Rosseau Lake College, published as a book and available to read in full,International curriculum & programs at Rosseau Lake College: Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Focus |
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Nature-based |
Subject | offered |
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Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Curriculum delivery: Acceleration (The main focus is on acceleration. This means that all students work at a much quicker pace than public school peers (usually working at least one grade-level ahead). )
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
In grade Gr. 12, Rosseau Lake College students perform an average of >2 hours of homework per night.
7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rosseau Lake College | 30 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins | 120 mins | 120 mins | 160 mins |
Site Average | 51 mins | 56 mins | 69 mins | 80 mins | 98 mins | 107 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 11
Recreational sports: 17
Rosseau Lake College offers 15 clubs and extracurricular programs.
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Boarding (Domestic - 5 days/week) | $55,170 | ||||||
Day | $22,700 | ||||||
Day (International) | $32,700 | ||||||
Boarding (Domestic) | $61,300 | ||||||
Boarding (International) | $66,300 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
Full payment | all students | $300 |
2nd child (sibling) | all students | 10% |
3rd child (sibling) | all students | 15% |
4th child (sibling) | all students | 20% |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 6 to 12 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 10% |
Average aid package size | $10,000 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 10% |
Total aid available | $300,000 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
Families must complete the online Parents' Financial Statement (PFS), which is available at Apple Financial Services. Completed forms, including a non-refundable application fee of $120 are submitted online to Apple Financial Services for analysis to determine need prior to consideration by the Rosseau Lake College Financial Aid Committee.
Rosseau Lake College scholarships are awarded to students based on merit and achievement. Successful candidates will be well-rounded individuals who demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, service and extracurricular involvement. Students who are involved in their school community, are ready for the challenge of our academic program and know the value of effort and the importance of giving back will be considered.
In addition to completing the requirements of the Rosseau Lake College Application process and submitting the application fee, prospective students must write and submit a letter indicating why they feel Rosseau Lake College is a good fit for them, what they would like to accomplish at Rosseau Lake College and why they should be considered for a scholarship.
For more details, visit:https://www.rosseaulakecollege.com/financials/
Thanks to generous donations from alumni and friends, Rosseau Lake College is able to support students and families interested in an education experience rich with adventure and challenge, regardless of their financial background.
If you are applying as a new student to Rosseau Lake College, please complete the online student application.
Families must complete the online Parents' Financial Statement (PFS), which is available at Apple Financial Services. Completed forms, including a non-refundable application fee of $120 are submitted online to Apple Financial Services for analysis to determine need prior to consideration by the Rosseau Lake College Financial Aid Committee.
Essay written by the student explaining why you are the ‘right fit’ for an RLC student. “I feel that Rosseau Lake College is the right school for me, and I am the right student for Rosseau Lake College. Here’s why…”
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Gr. 6 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 40 |
Group 2 | Gr. 6 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 80 |
Total enrolment | 120 |
Average class size | 15 to 18 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 50% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | 13 |
Five-day boarding program offered | Yes |
% in boarding (grade-eligible) | 61% |
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 5 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Boarding Enrollment | N/A | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 12 | 19 |
Class Size | 5 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 6 - 12 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay | 6 - 12 |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: $200
Registration fee: $3,000
Deposit:
N/A
Step 1. The Paperwork
Application Form, Teacher Reference Form, Academic Records from previous two years, and a non-refundable application fee of $200 CDN for Canadian students / $330 CDN for International students.
Step 2. The Interview
Once the paperwork is received and evaluated we schedule an interview. This can be done via video conference (zoom).
Step 3. The Entrance Test
Every applicant must complete an entrance test. The test is used to assess the student's fluency in math, their English comprehension and writing ability.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 3 - 5 (80%) | 3 - 5 (80%) | 3 - 5 (80%) | 1 - 3 (80%) |
Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 3 - 5 (80%) | 3 - 5 (80%) | 1 - 3 (80%) |
Average graduating class size | 18 |
Students accepted into post-secondary studies upon graduation | 100% |
Percentage of students who attend post-secondary institutions outside of Canada | 6% |
Students who attended a Ivy+ school Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK) | N/A |
University of Toronto | 30% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen's University | 20% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western University | 20% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wilfrid Laurier University | 5% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University of British Columbia | 2% |
Rosseau Lake College Graduates’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Aggregate of All Schools’ Post-Secondary Studies:
Career planning | |
Internships | N/A |
Mentorship Program | |
University counseling |
What Rosseau Lake College says:
Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
---|---|---|
Jonathan Alderson | 1987 | Jonathan is a Sorbonne and Harvard university graduate. Jonathan is an autism treatment specialist, educational consultant , trainer and lecturer. He founded his company, Intensive Multi-Treatment Intervention. |
David Straiton | 1983 | Freelance film director and producer, currently living in Beverly Hills. His productions include episodes of popular shows on American television, such as House, Hemlock Grove, and Star Trek: Enterprise. |
Katie Tsuyuki | 2001 | Athlete, consultant, and motivational speaker. Named to Canadian Olympic Snowboard Team in Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. |
Waubgeshing Rice | 1997 | Waubgeshig Rice is an Anishinaabe writer and journalist from the Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound, Ontario. Waub has published four books and won several awards for his writing. |
Alumni Highlights
“We are all one drum and we need each other” – Richard Wagamese from One Drum
Our incredible natural setting along with our small, cohesive community establishes a sense of home, belonging and immersion. We truly live, learn, and explore through authentic relationships.
Nestled among the pines on a pristine 56-acre historic lakefront property in traditional Anishinaabeg territory, Rosseau Lake College offers a boarding and day school experience that is like no other in Canada.
Students at Rosseau Lake College develop transferable dispositions that transcend time and place by understanding who they are and what they can achieve.
Our Discovery Projects represent our student centric beliefs. Students are able to express themselves, explore their passions, and demonstrate their curiosity and intellectual skills.
The Seven Generations and Rosseau Roots foundations are integrated into all we do along with our amazing Outdoor Learning. Students are immersed into academic pursuits that are integrated, meaningful and incorporate values, curiosity, our natural setting and relationships.
Rosseau Lake College is unparalleled in our natural environment and small school size. We truly are connected to each other, our land, and our values. We have without a doubt an extraordinary school and experience that is a privilege to experience.
When students graduate from RLC they have developed the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take on any challenge. They are ready for anything.
“Being immersed in our majestic, close knit campus is an incredible privilege. We are unique, proud, and joyful. Students develop character, personal expression and meaningful relationships with the land, self and others. Learning transcends time and place so students develop an everlasting sense of belonging and an understanding of who they are and what they can achieve.”
– Dave Krocker, Head of School
May 5, 2022
Reversing the effects of acid rain
RLC students have partnered with the Friends of the Muskoka Watershed to address a decades-long problem. And it’s working.
Read full article
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Oct 5
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