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Rosseau Lake College is an independent co-ed, day and boarding school offering Grades 7 - 12, located along the natural, picturesque setting of Lake Rosseau in the Muskoka region. With our engaging, student-centred, personalized approach to learning - a program we call Future Forward - our graduates have a distinct advantage. Teachers assist each student to develop a personalized curriculum enhancing their competence.
Rosseau Lake is a small school—the student body, including both boarding and day students, sits at just shy of 100 students. Located on a lake in Muskoka, for many students, there is a lot to get excited about. It’s intimate, active, and the physical plan is stunning. The school is using this, its 50th anniversary year, to renew its commitment to providing a very personalized, forward looking educational experience. The ideal student is an active one, as the setting is used to great advantage to promote, in addition to academics, an active, outdoor lifestyle.
Additional notes: We are flexible in offering new routes to new students, from areas not currently serviced.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Rosseau Lake College.
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
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Rosseau Lake College.
Promotional videos for Rosseau Lake College.
| Focus |
|---|
| Academic |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Biology | |
| Chemistry | |
| Ecology | |
| Geology | |
| Meteorology | |
| Physics | |
| Physiology | |
| Zoology |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Evolution as consensus theory | |
| Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
| Evolution is not taught |
| 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 |
Rosseau Lake College offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
| 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
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
| Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
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 | 68 mins | 80 mins | 95 mins | 108 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 |
| Sports Offered | Competitive | Recreational |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | ||
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Cross-country skiing | ||
| Downhill skiing | ||
| Field Hockey | ||
| Football | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Rowing | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Running | ||
| Snowboarding | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Swimming | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track & Field | ||
| Volleyball | ||
| Canoeing/Kayaking | ||
| Cycling | ||
| Ice Skating | ||
| Mountain biking | ||
| Weightlifting |
| Clubs Offered |
|---|
| Outdoor Education |
| Student Council |
| Yearbook |
| Art Club |
| Audiovisual Club |
| Band |
| Community Service |
| Computer Club |
| Drama Club |
| Environmental Club |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Day | $19,200 | |||||
| Boarding (Domestic) | $22,700 / semester | |||||
| Boarding (International) | $24,500 / semester | |||||
| Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 7 to 12 |
| Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 5% |
| Average aid package size | $0 |
| Percentage of total enrollment on financial aid | 5% |
| Total aid available | $100,000 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
| Merit-Based Bursaries Amount: $7,000 | Academic Deadline: 02/01/2017 |
| Eligibility Details: Students grade 7 to 12— Description Criteria The student must demonstrate expertise in at least THREE of the follow criteria.
Referee Students must produce a signed letter from two referees that can verify their aptitude in above criteria. Number Available Depending on number of qualified candidates Level of Support Up to 75% Admission Application Required Expectation of Student Full participation in the RLC program Review Process Application is reviewed by head of School and Director of Enrollment Students with High Potential Criteria
OR c) Students have academic skills, cognitive abilities, and creative talents beyond their peers and require an individualized learning plan to further develop and support their learning. Referee Students must produce a signed letter from a referees that can verify their aptitude in above criteria. Number Available Depending on number of qualified candidates Level of Support Up to 75% Admission Application Admissions Application Required Expectation of student The student is encouraged to fully participate in the RLC program, but exceptions could be made based on out of school commitments and activities. Review Process Application is reviewed by head of School and Director of Enrollment Needs – Based Awards Criteria
Referee Not required Number Available Depending on number of qualified candidates Level of Support Up to 75% Admission Application Apple Financial Application – Required Admissions Application – Required Expectation of Student Full participation in RLC program Review Process Application is reviewed by head of School and Director of Enrollment | |
| For more details, visit: https://www.rosseaulakecollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BursaryProgrammeDetails.pdf | |
| Muskoka Bursaries Amount: $10,000 | Other Deadline: Rolling |
| Eligibility Details: Students grade 7 to 12— Muskoka Bursaries are available for local students, residing in the Muskoka Region. It is intended for Day and Canadian boarding students. There are four bursaries for Day students, each one valued at $ 10,000 CAD. There are two bursaries for Canadian Boarders, each one values at $ 10,000 CAD. Contact Enrollment Director, Sharon Magor, for more details. | |
| Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 31 |
| Group 2 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Boarding | 74 |
| Total enrollment | 105 |
| Average enrollment per grade | 18 |
| Average class size | 10 to 15 |
| Gender (grades) | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 (Coed) |
| Boarding offered | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| % in boarding (total enrollment) | 70% |
| % in boarding (grade-eligible) | 65% |
| Percentage of students are international students | |
| Number of different nationalities within student population | 0 |
| Five-day boarding programs offfered |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Enrollment | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| Boarding Enrollment | 1 | 6 | 14 | 11 | 20 | 10 |
| Assessment | Required | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | 7 - 12 | |
| SSAT | ||
| SSAT (out of province) | ||
| Entrance Exam(s) | 7 - 12 | |
| Entrance Essay | ||
| Application Fee |
Day students: Rolling
Boarding students: Rolling
Step 1. The Paperwork
Application Form, Teacher Reference Form, Academic Records from previous two years, and a non-refundable application fee of $300.00 Canadian.
Step 2. The Interview
Once the paperwork is received and evaluated we schedule an interview. This can be done in person and via Skype.
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 their ability to write English.
Student Entry Points
| Student Type | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 5 - 7 (80%) | 3 - 5 (90%) | 3 - 5 (90%) | 3 - 5 (90%) | 1 - 3 (90%) |
| Boarding Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 5 - 7 (90%) | 5 - 7 (90%) | 5 - 7 (90%) | 3 - 5 (90%) | 3 - 5 (90%) | 1 - 3 (90%) |
| Services | Offered |
|---|---|
| Career planning | |
| Internships | |
| Mentorship Program | |
| University counseling |
| Key Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Average graduating class size | 17 |
| *Canadian "Big 6" placements | 5 |
| **Ivy+ placements | N/A |
*Number of students in the past year who attended one of McGill, U of T, UBC, Queen's University, University of Alberta, or Dalhousie University.
**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)
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. |
Alumni Highlights
Below, find stories and testimonials about Rosseau Lake College.
Parents of boarding student currently in Gr. 11
As parents, our advice is that all the schools tend to sound the same in the brochures, but each school does have a different character, admits different students, and aims for different goals – so it takes a lot of questions to sort out which one really suits your student.
We have found that Rosseau Lake College has been a good match for our daughter. She chose RLC from a list of schools as the photos reminded her of happy days at summer camp. On our first visit, we saw it does resemble a camp, with low wooden buildings sheltered in the trees, and its own lakefront and docks. Where else could you get acquainted with your classmates on a wilderness outtrip?
Because it is a small school, there is a feeling of belonging: your entire grade being together in the same class, having fun at the house contests, and traveling on the sport teams. Our daughter feels more relaxed because at RLC, you know everyone, you study in your dorm room instead of a big hall, and the atmosphere is quiet and non-competitive. Students can get extra help for a difficult subject, for study skills, or for learning English. Moral issues are discussed and volunteer work done, but without religious services. Students use technology but are not ruled by it. Most students take the Outdoor Education courses that take advantage of the woods and water.
For our family, the boarding option is best, as we think that all the benefits of the school are multiplied by living in this beautiful location, near popular tourist resorts. By comparison, many other schools have gone to little or no boarding, or home stays all year.
...Parents of boarding student currently in Gr. 9
Our son was doing well academically, however we wanted a richer, more broad-based experience for him. We were concerned that he might not adapt, so put it to him to try RLC as a “new adventure” and if it did not work out he could return to his current school.
That was two and a half years ago! He has excelled in every aspect of school life. The small classes, dedicated teachers and close friendships have made for a superb educational experience.
We have been particularly impressed with the emphasis on getting the most out of every experience in campus life….in other words, follow the school motto to be the best of self and to build competence,confidence and character!
___
...
The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action. – John Dewey, 1916
Nestled among the pines on a pristine 50-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. Through a highly innovative, interdisciplinary, and culturally responsive program, we do more than educate students; we empower them. Each RLC student builds a strong personal brand through academic knowledge, community service, challenging outdoor experiences, and self-awareness cultivated in our school’s natural setting. This personal brand becomes the core of their success here, and guides them in acquiring the skills and credentials that will set them apart in their post-secondary studies and professional lives.
At Rosseau Lake College, we believe in people. Our core values of Competence, Confidence, and Character highlight the personal focus that encourages our students to bring out their best of selves. Experiential educator Kurt Hahn once said that “there is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.” At RLC we take pride in showing students the potential that already lies within them, and pushing them to realize that potential. Coming to “know thyself” is not easy, but this knowledge allows students to harness their greatest strengths, in line with our motto “Scientia auget vires” (Knowledge increases strength).
Do not take my word for it. Come and see us, meet our incredible team, immerse yourself in nature, and discover why Rosseau Lake College is the best small independent school in Canada.
Robert Carreau, Ph.D.
Head of School
July 28, 2016
Rosseau Lake College 50th Anniversary Year Ahead!
Rosseau Lake College celebrates the 50th anniversary year in 2016- 2017. Special Gala event planned for June 17, 2017 on the RLC campus. ...
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