REVIEW OF The Rosedale Day School BY parent, Ferase Rammo

(5) Student Experience

Our two children both came to RDS from Montessori, and were slightly apprehensive about the unknowns of a more structured system. However, they both transitioned into the school seamlessly. Their comfort stemmed from a very hands-on approach from teachers and staff, both academically and socially. The teachers are very friendly, caring, and balanced with respect to structure versus well-being. The kids have progressed and matured under the caring umbrella and continuity of education over the years. They have developed tight friendships. They have participated in numerous extra-curricular activities (of which there are dozens to choose from), including sports and clubs. The diversity of clubs is impressive, including debate, robotics, choir, and drama. We are also very happy that RDS offers volunteering opportunities, whereby middle-school students develop their leadership skills by being learning buddies to younger classes. Four years later, RDS feels like a second home to them, and they look forward to going there every day.

Why The Rosedale Day School?

We got excellent first-hand reviews from our friends whose children attended RDS after one year. While we were previously hesitant because the school is in a corporate-like building and thought the experience would be "sterile" in the downtown setting, the reality is far from that. The field in the rear of the building is a favourite for the kids; the University of Toronto amenities (including the nearby Varsity Stadium, Isabel Bader Theatre) are fabulous; Queen's Park is a great outdoors space. For the older children, the option to take public transportation is very nice to have, especially with nearby convenient and safe TTC stops. Lastly, the location of Bloor and Avenue is positively lively to come to every day.

Expectations vs. Reality

RDS not only aligned with our expectations but exceeded them. The kids are happy; their academic performance has improved; their lives there are balanced. The extra help, if needed, is phenomenal. The staff is steady, with minimal turnover, providing for great continuity of care.

Your Advice

Just keep in mind that RDS only goes up to Grade 8. While some parents choose to capitalize on the availability in secondary schools of Grade 6 entry, having to make the tough decision to take their kids out at that point in time, many stay through to the end to enjoy all the benefits of RDS. In Grade 8, RDS has a great track record of making sure all its graduates find good placements for Grade 9 by thoroughly preparing the graduating class for the process.

(5) School Leadership

The school staff have all responded promptly and effectively to any inquiries I've had. The Principal has answered any questions I had, ranging from strategic direction to safety reassurance on field trips. The teachers have made time whenever I requested to discuss progress updates. The administration has always been attentive to keep track of the kids if I were late for pickup, or if the kids left any items at school that we were looking for. All staff, without exception, have smiles on their faces and are ready to help.

(5) Teaching

The teaching at RDS is both personal and professional. The teachers cover the curriculum, with strategic advice from the Future Design School, as well as attending to the child. We are very happy with the quality and balance of the teaching. Whenever we requested, we have received ongoing constructive feedback which was focused and actionable -- for example, resulting in assignment of extra homework for a while, or recommendation of specific reading books or math topics to practice on. The teachers are also dynamic in their delivery of education; for example, if a child gets distracted sitting with a certain group of friends in class, the teacher would shuffle the seating in order to provide optimal education. Particularly helpful is the presence of a Learning Strategist who is available to meet regularly with the child if needed, and is meticulous in her delivery of feedback to us.

(4.5) Academics

The academic program at RDS is well-balanced. It is not so intense that children are stressed all the time, but also not so lax that the kids are bored. The strengths come from the teachers' passion and commitment to the learning process. The atmosphere is not toxic; the culture fosters cooperation and encourages learning in any form that is suited to the child -- for example, some parents may choose Spirit of Math, Kumon or private tutoring to bolster the knowledge of their children. Given RDS's holistic approach, we do feel that the academic program will adequately prepare our children for life's next steps -- starting from secondary school in terms of course content as well as psychosocial with respect to interpersonal interactions with peers. In fact, we have constantly heard great stories from alumni who have done very well at the secondary schools they transitioned to, based on the platform they had at RDS.

(5) Extracurriculars

There's always a multitude of extracurricular activities to choose from at RDS. Every term, there's a handful of clubs offered with a variety to satisfy a diverse audience. The offerings we have seen have varied from chess or math club to comic book art or choir. Furthermore, the options change every term, so the ideas are not stale. Competition -- of the constructive type -- is certainly available, including sports such as soccer, basketball, track-and-field, or swimming.

(5) Students

The student body is just the right size for a downtown location. The mix is refreshing since it includes not only Torontonians but also expatriates from diverse origins such as South Africa and Spain. The children all appear to fit nicely together. The spirit of the students is independent, respectful, and confident. What stands out to me is how compatible the students appear to be, not only with each other but also with the staff -- the community all seems to gel well together. At pickup, when we get to see the bulk of the students in the field area, they all seem to be happy playing or conversing with each other. In the four years we've been there, we haven't heard of any incidents to worry about.

(5) School Life

The quality of student life at Rosedale Day School is excellent: It is nurturing, but also encourages growth and curiosity. Our kids love going to school; they are attracted by the personalities of the staff as well as the variety of experiences they get to taste (not just with special events or field trips, but also on a day-to-day basis with their friends and teachers). Observing the whole school together at monthly assemblies is always a joy to see the energy, enthusiasm, talents, and school spirit; it is especially heart-warming to see students giving kindness-kudo certificates to fellow students (and teachers). The cohesion and enjoyment in the school life of the students are reflected in the long-lasting friendships that the families develop outside the school.

(5) Community

One of the special attractions of RDS is the familial interaction amongst its parents. Not only does the school culture foster that friendliness, but also the setup of the pickup area (around the field), which encourages communal conversations. We have made many good new friends with incoming families, and are still ongoing friends with graduated ones. The school is also very supportive of parents getting involved in functions such as the Parent Guilds (to make sure Grades are on top of the various and frequent activities and to-dos), or event planning (such as the annual Art Show or Family Skate Day), or even organizing coffee/breakfast served at the monthly Assemblies. Parents can also get involved in the Board of Directors. We have felt a comfortable overlap/co-existence between RDS's leadership/teachers/administration and the parents in the process of running the school for the benefit of the children.

(4) School Location

The location may be the only aspect where I don't give a rating of 9 or 10 (but I still give it an 8). Ideally, a large campus with dedicated sports fields would have been superb. However, the reality is that we're a downtown community, so that wish may not be easy to fulfill. Having said that, if we were to pick any downtown location for a school, then University-Avenue & Bloor is very nice: That neighbourhood is already academic (with the adjacent University of Toronto); the ROM museum is literally across the street; the upscale shopping area adds a nice feel; and the school's building has a nice quiet condominium (The Colonnade) adjacent to it which is very kid-friendly. Many kids commute to school by TTC (to the nearby Museum stop) or even walk there (very safely). With the rear-side alley and field, RDS feels like an oasis in a busy (but nice) part of town.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process is so friendly (and reflective of the culture of the school). Patrick Fordyce (the Director of Enrolment) does an amazing job: He is so approachable and has a welcoming demeanour; he is also very transparent with any questions you might have about the school. We did not find applying to RDS stressful at all. In addition, we did not find any "hidden" aspects before applying versus starting at RDS -- what-you-see is what-you-get (and we got nice things).