REVIEW OF Rosseau Lake College BY student, robi pardo

(5) Student Experience

If you are looking for a school where teachers care about the students, and treat them like friends but also like part of the family, that pretty much sounds like Rosseau Lake College. This is my first year here and I can tell you for sure, there is nothing like it. In this school, you can really tell that the teachers are concerned about their students and want them to feel included and welcome. As well as making sure that you understand and that they don't feel overwhelmed with school work. At Rosseau, they make a really important emphasis on outdoor education, which is one of my favorite things. We get to go outside, take a break from being in a classroom all day and learn about nature. We are really in touch with the environment, it's like a big backyard filled with adventures and really great experiences. I'm a boarding student and the boarding life is really comfortable for me, even though I'm really young and away from home. You see, when I first started I was pretty scared and lonely but the teachers here really did their best so that I felt comfortable, they feel like when you are more comfortable at school you grow better as a person and as a student. Not to mention that we have lovely school events like Winter Formal, Winter Carnival, Haunted House, Terry Fox run, House Cup, ROSCAR awards etc.... I love how the teachers care about what you're good at and the talents that you have, more than if you can do a test or not. They care of how you behave in class, are you a good person? Do you participate in class? Are you respectful to other classmates and to the teacher? Rosseau Lake College is a school that just seems like a big family. I am so happy to have had this experience for the last 5 months and I will miss everybody next year more than anything in the world.

(4.5) School Leadership

The teachers as I said before, really seem like they care about you and not the work that you turn in. They make you feel like you are part of something amazing, Which is exactly what you are a part of if you come to RLC. They are so sweet and really feel like your family. They always make you smile when you have had a bad day, they care about your health, you're well being, if you're happy. They also really allow criticism and change in the school. They are open to all suggestions on how to improve the school and it's program. They also support your other interests like : Art, drama, music, dance, sports, nature, etc... They are really concerned on how you grow as an individual and how you interact with others.

(4.5) Teaching

I think that if the teachers are asking too much of you they are always ok if you point it out for them so that they can learn better as a teacher. They will always let you know what they expect from an assignment or from you during the school year. I think that if a student is kind, respectful, understanding, then teachers have done their jobs correctly. Sometimes (like any other human being) they make mistakes or push you to hard, but they always make sure to reflect on their mistakes, which is what they also teach us to do ( look back, reflect, and make it better) They also teach us to think before we speak, so that we don't say or do anything that we might regret. For me that's something that I struggle to do but I always make sure that I remember to think before I open my mouth.

(3) Academics

I think that the high school program in general is pretty good, but the 7/8 program can be improved. You see, 7th grade and 8th grade is just one class mixed together. They teach us the same things to both grades. There's a really big difference when it comes to being seniors and being a junior. For example: In sports, juniors only get a certificate , while seniors get a medal and a certificate. I don't think that's very fair because even if I'm a junior, I could have worked as hard or even harder than a senior and at the end of the day, the seniors get medals, while the juniors just get a certificate, even if they really felt like they deserved a medal. One thing that I'm not such a fan of is that they divide juniors and seniors by their age and not by their grade so if you are from 12 years old to 15 years old, even if you are in high school or grade 11, you are still considered as a junior, but if you are 16 or older you are a senior. I think that if they are already going to separate us by juniors and seniors that they should just separate us by grades and not by age, because now, it's not a matter of you're skills in the sport, you're grade, but your age and it also depends on your birthday because you may be turning 16 that year but the awards happen before your birthday so you have to wait another year to get a medal. This is a problem that affects me but can easily be solved if I talk to the teachers so it's not really a big issue at the school.

(4.5) Extracurriculars

I take part of the drama club, the dance club and used to be in the field hockey team, but now I am in the volleyball team. I really love the after school clubs because they are really well taught by passionate teachers. The school tries their best to cover most of the basic arts like music, theatre, visual arts, film making, etc... I really enjoy the clubs I am so excited to be a part of them this year and to be in the school's production of Bugsy Malone ; ) If you are interested in any other form of art or if you feel like there should be another club or sport, you can always bring this to the teachers in charge of the curriculum. One of my favorite things at Rosseau Lake College is that if you don't like something that the school is offering or if you feel there should be more you can change it, and the teachers are always so open into ways of making the school better. I gave the example of how they separate juniors and seniors so you can see what my problem is, and you can realize that I can talk to the teachers about this, ask them my questions, sort it out and maybe I can change it.

(5) Students

At RLC the students that have been here more years than you ( if you are new) will always make sure you feel inclusive, you know where you're going, you don't sit alone at lunch, and they will always be there for you if you have questions. If you are a person who is shy or struggles to make friends, I would suggest hanging out with your roommate or with your classmate (that is also new). I feel like in this school, the students who do the best are the ones who participate in class, are respectful of others, instead of the ones that kill themselves every night studying. In this school we believe that a kid learns nothing when they are stressed and overwhelmed with a lot of information. We believe that the best way of teaching is to do it through something they love and to take it step by step and not rush into anything the students are not ready for.

(5) School Life

Dining Hall: Where we eat all of our meals and we have our morning assemblies. Dungeon/ Gym: Here is where students can work out in their free time and where waves and fitness ( one of our sport options) is held. It is located downstairs of the dining hall. RAC: Here is where some of the classes are held and where we practice drama. It is one of the newest buildings. Perry Building: Here is where most of the classes are held as well as the front office. It is located in the middle of campus. Bricks/ Brock/Clarkson Our houses on campus. Music room: Where music and french class are held, also band and choir. Our campus isn't the biggest but it is definitely very beautiful and once you get to know it you fall in love with it.

(5) Community

The school definitely feels like a second family to me, all the teachers really care about you and the students are always there for you if you are having a bad time. Here, you build incredible friendships that you will remember and treasure for the rest of your life. You really feel part of something amazing and you feel so grateful and loved. We are like a huge family, and we welcome everyone. I have only been here a short amount of time but I feel like I am already part of not only a learning community that focuses on the students primarily, but part of a family who cares about me and who loves me no matter what. We have so many great traditions and activities that you will remember forever.

(4) School Location

The school is in this really interesting town called Rosseau. I love living in such a small town, because we can just go out after school and go to the general store, or go to the bakery to get pizza, or to Crossroads on a Sunday to have lunch with friends etc... I know what you might be thinking, what about shopping? But don't worry, every single week there is a form sent out to the students with the weekend activities that are being offered that week, and most of the time, there's a shopping trip, and a bunch of other cool stuff. The town is very small but the nature, and the forest is just beautiful. Since I got here I've probably seen about 10 deers or wild animals.

(4.5) Admissions

So the first thing that you do is a test that they send out and you have to print it and fill it out. After that, you will be interviewed in skype by an RLC staff member. He asks you a couple of questions about what you like to do, your interests, are you excited? etc... You have nothing to be nervous about, the school will do everything they can so you feel included and you never feel really upset. RLC is a school that cares about you and that will always put the students first. I hope you come to this school because it's really an experience that you will never forget and that not everyone is lucky enough to have. RLC is a place where friends become family and where we all enjoy the amazing environment and the lovely teachers.