Thursday, August 25, 2016

In This Issue:

Address from the Head
Upcoming Events
Leadership
Academics
Co-curricular
School Calendar

Address From the Head

Dear RLC Parents and Friends,

I trust you are continuing your enjoyment of what has been an unbelievable summer from a weather point of view.  There are still a number of days to enjoy the warm weather and I hope you do, however, the calendar does not lie and there is no denying we have now entered the late stages of summer signaling the start of another school year.

Let me be the first to welcome you to the new school year.  It is a special one for RLC – 50 years of operation.   We have a series of events planned that will culminate with a spectacular celebration on June 17th,  2017.  It will be particularly memorable for the members of the leaving class of 2017 who will have a graduation ceremony like no other in recent RLC history.

During the last board meeting in June, the RLC Board passed the new strategic plan which included a revamped mission, a three-year business plan, and a mandate to restructure the organization –  all purposefully designed to support the success of the strategy plan. 

The work realigning the organizational structure was completed by early summer.  I am pleased to announce the appointments of Eric Daigle to the position of Academic Lead, Cheryl Bissonette – Student Services Lead, Cathy Christopher – Community Life Lead, Jessica Sheppard – Co – curricular Lead, Len Beaulne – Operation Lead.  Also appointed to leadership roles are Briar Manning – Academic Division Lead Gr. 10 – 12, Nathaniel Smart Academic Division Lead Gr. 7 -9 and Kim Postma Outdoor Education Lead.

During the last week of June, we welcomed Mr. Sharon Magor as our new Enrolment Manager (Admissions).   Sharon comes to us with a strong communications background having worked previously as the Admissions Director at Trafalgar Castle School.   Ms. Tracey Ramsey will lead our music program after the unexpected departure of Benji Jordan in early July. Tracey is an accomplished music teacher having taught in schools internationally since 1995.  Most recently she was the middle and high school band teacher at the American International School of Dhaka in Bangladesh.  Tracey’s husband, Randy Girdner has also been appointed as a member of the RLC faculty and will teach a variety of courses this year including media arts and green industries.  Finally, leading the English as a Second Language program we welcome Jacquelyn Bellissimo.  Jacquelyn had previously taught at Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick and brings her energy and expertise to RLC. 

Also new to the school this year is a residential don program whose purpose is to support the residential and community life program.  Three certified young teachers will take an active role supporting the custodial care of the students and will also perform teaching/coaching and administrative responsibilities throughout the school year.  We are excited to welcome to this program Erin Storosko and Andrea Shuttleworth.  Erin is a recent graduate of the Queen’s Faculty of Education with interests in English and History and Andrea graduated from the education program at Nipissing University.   We are still in the recruitment process for a third residential don. 

On August 25th – 26th the entire faculty will return for a week of professional learning and collaboration.  They will first travel to Sudbury where they will engage, along with other teachers in a two-day workshop entitled Knowing What Counts: A Classroom Assessment Institute.  On subsequent days our agenda will see meetings centered on academic and operational topics while welcoming new colleagues and bonding as a team. 

Over the summer the library was completely transformed and is now a functional ideation to support the academic program as a progressive active learning space complete with moveable lounges, chairs, and tables.  Still to come will be a media center which is scheduled to be complete early in September.  Similarly, a new outdoor meeting space was completed at the foot of the Eaton garden framed by the standing pines of the RLC waterfront.  The Eaton garden too was completely restored and features plants and fauna that grow exquisitely in this area.  The garden also has a communal space where students and teachers can meet and instruct.  Westgate house is also receiving some interior and exterior work and will be opened in September as a home for four girls.  I am convinced these spaces will be well received by the students and will give them plenty of opportunities to enjoy the campus environment.

School registration begins on Tuesday, September 6th, with classes starting on Wednesday, September 7th.  Preparation for the all school outtrip will also begin on Wednesday with the entire school departing for these trips on Friday, September 9th.  We will welcome 30 new students on September 6th and I know they will be warmly welcomed to the community. 

Please enjoy the last days and hours of summer.  We look forward to welcoming the students in September.

Sincerely,

Lance Postma
Head of School

Upcoming Events

Tues. September 6, 2016
Registration Day 

Wed. September 7, 2016
Classes Begin

Fri. September 9, 2016
Outtrips Depart

Tues. September 13, 2016
Outtrips Return

Sat. September 23, 2016
Terry Fox/Hekkla Run/Walk/Bike

Sat. September 24, 2016
Alumni Golf Classic

Registration Day

Dear Parents and/or Guardians
Greetings from the Administration office!

Everyone at Rosseau Lake College is very pleased to have your son or daughter join us.

New parents and students were sent a Welcome Package by email over the summer with all the necessary information and forms to ensure a smooth transition. We hope this information will assist with their arrival at Rosseau Lake College.  If you did not receive this information please contact the school immediately 705-732-4351 or email:  jackie.watkinson@rosseaulakecollege.com

Returning students were sent the necessary forms by email in the past two weeks.  Please ensure that the forms are signed and returned to RLC as soon as possible.  If you did not receive this information, please contact the school immediately 705-732-4351 or email:  jackie.watkinson@rosseaulakecollege.com   I look forward to seeing everyone on registration day.  

Registration Day:  9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Regards,

Jackie Watkinson
Director of Administration

Fall Outtrips

The Rosseau Lake College school-wide fall outtrips are upon us.  Gathering in grade groups the students will have a unique opportunity to get to know one another and some of the staff members over a 5 day trip to various locations around Ontario’s wilderness.  In order for these activities to commence it is important to have the proper gear to enhance their experience in the outdoors.  The following is a brief description of what each trip entails and a gear list to help each student prepare for their arrival to school.  Gear is available to purchase through local outfitting shops: White Squall will be available on campus if you are having difficulty finding those last minute items for your trip.  Local outfitters; Algonquin Outfitters in Huntsville (705-787-0262), and Muskoka Outfitters in Bracebridge (705-646-0492). Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC:www.mec.ca) is located in several larger city centers and is a great option for online ordering.

The Trips 

Grade 7/8 will be going on an introduction to tripping in Killarney Provincial Park where they will be exposed to new skills in hiking, canoeing, camp set up and cooking in the great outdoors.  This scenic park allows for the perfect opportunity to see wildlife, landscapes, and the development of leadership skills.  The students will be joined by Nathaniel Smart and Jacquelyn Bellissimo.  See gear list below.

Grade 9 Canoeing and Community Service Trip in Killarney will be a great way to kick off their accumulation of their 40 hours of community service needed to graduate, or to assist them in starting a great leadership opportunity like The Duke of Edinburgh program where they can acquire both community service and journey objectives.  The students will be canoeing and hiking in Killarney Provincial Park.  A highlight will be climbing “Silver Peak” and enjoying the 360-degree vista of our rugged landscapes of Northern Ontario.  This trip will be lead by Eric Daigle, Wesley Baxter, Judy Pakozdi, and one of the new Residential Dons. See Gear List below.

Grade 10 will be heading over to the Collingwood area to enjoy base camping with Shaun Beaulne, Jessica Sheppard, James Hsu and the Escarpment Outdoor Adventures guide David Sheppard.  They will be gaining knowledge through seminar work which includes a variety of knots, hitches, and systems so they can safely cave, rock climb, rappel and ascend rock faces.  They will be camping at the University of Toronto’s Outers Clubhouse campground at Metcalfe Rock.  A consent form is attached and should be read over carefully, signed and delivered to Kim Postma on registration day.  Or emailed or scanned to Kim: kim.postma@rosseaulakecollege.com.
Click here for gear list
Click here for consent form

Grade 11 will be touring the beautiful Georgian Bay Landscapes via sea kayak.  White Squall will be guiding our trips along with Rosseau leads Cathy Christopher, Tanya Smith, and Kim Postma.  Each group will have a half day instructional session at Cole Lake and will then head out on their trip to island hop and explore the waters of the bay.  A specific gear list is attached and a waiver and information form must be signed and returned to Kim Postma on registration day.  You can also email or scan it back to Kim Postma before September 6, 2016.
Click here for gear list
Click here for the Waiver and Participant Information Form

Grade 12 will be traveling as one large group to the great outdoors of Temagami.  The students will put in on Iceland Lake and hone their skills on paddling, portaging and ending up in Temagami Lake.  They will truly have a memorable experience with their entire group and their group leaders Dr. Peter Wells, Briar Manning and Erin Storosko.  See gear list below.

For all Canoeing trips, this will be grade 7,8,9 and 12 the following gear is required.  This equipment will be used several times throughout the year if the student is in Outdoor Education, or just being on campus so make sure you choose multipurpose gear.

* Items marked with an asterisk are absolute imperatives.  Students must ensure that they have these items and that they are satisfactory.  (In most cases, students should be able to make do with clothing they already own for mid-layers, as long as their base (clothing closest to your body) and outer layers (ones that protect you from the elements) are adequate.

Footwear

Comfortable and broken in *hiking boots (this means you have worn them and they will not cause blisters) with good ankle support for hiking and portaging.  Running shoes and flip flops will not work so please don’t bring them on your outtrip.

Liner sockes-2 pair thin, synthetic socks to wear underneath wool socks so your boots do not cause blisters.

Optional– 1-pair of closed toe sandals or water shoes for swimming or wearing around the campsite at the end of the day. (foot wear is required on trip at all times so if you want to get out of the hiking boots make sure you bring a pair with you, brands like “Keen” are a closed toe sandal/ water shoe that would be great for the end of the day and has strong straps for foot support and you can wear socks in them unlike flip flops and slip on sandals)

Pants

1 pair Warm pants for night or your long underwear- fleece or wool is preferred
1 pair shorts- nylon or quick drying material is preferred
1 pair Quick dry pants- nylon or quick drying material is preferred
5 pairs of underwear

Shirts

1 warm shirt- medium weight, long sleeved fleece or wool preferred
1 warm sweater-thick fleece or wool preferred
2 t-shirts- synthetic material is preferred
Ladies- 1 sports bra

Other Clothing

* 1 pair long underwear- 1 top and 1 bottom polyester, synthetic (fleece), or wool
* 1 pair of Rain pants and jacket – they must be waterproof not just water resistant
* 1 warm hat-wool or fleece is preferred
* 1 sun hat or baseball cap- worth bringing for sun protection
* 1 pair gloves- fleece or wool preferred
1 swim suit

Toiletries

Toothbrush & small tube of toothpaste
Ladies- feminine supplies
*Sun screen and lip balm (30 SPF rating )

Personal Camping Gear– the school does not supply these items so you must have them upon arrival or purchase them before outtrips commence.  You will use these items if you are in outdoor education or in the Duke of Edinburgh program.  Your sleeping bag can double as a blanket while at school.  Make sure it is synthetic not the cotton filled ones as they do not compact and will not dry if they should become wet. It should be at least -10 regulated. 

Sunglasses
*Headlamp
*Sleeping bag
*Sleeping pad
*1 litre water bottle  (life straw to go with it)
* Two 20 L dry bags one for your clothing and one for your sleeping gear.

Optional Items

Facecloth or camp towel- 1 small chamois style, quick drying not big cotton beach towels
Camera (you may wish to purchase a waterproof case for your camera to protect it)

Please DO NOT bring the following items

Electronics (cell phones, iPods, MP3 players etc.  Where you are going there will be limited cell service and no internet access
Do not bring food to store in tents as it attracts unwanted visitors
Knives
Valuables (jewelry, money etc)
Shampoo and other soaps – there are no showers and soaps are harmful to our delicate environment

Click here for the above Information and gear list

Alumni Golf Classic

News Flash

RLC Alumnus and Director, Mr. Jeff Mitchell is pleased to sponsor and underwrite a $50,000.00 hole-in-one prize for our fall colours golf tournament on September 24th, 2016 at Seguin Valley Golf Club.  There will be one prize which will be structured with the first person to ace the designated hole receiving a cheque for $25,000.00, plus RLC 50th receiving a cheque for $25,000.00.  The recipient who aced the hole will receive a tax receipt for $25,000.00 from RLC.  

Leadership

“Leaders inspire action by making themselves, and those around them, better.”

Academic

Please find below the course selections for the 2016-2017 school year. Please complete and returned to the RLC office by Monday, August 29th either by email:  cheryl.bissonette@rosseaulakecollege.com or fax: 705-732-6319

Grade 9 Course Selection

Grade 10 Course Selection

Grade 11 Course Selection

Grade 12 Course Selection

Cheryl Bissonette
Student Services Lead

Co-curricular

Another year is upon us, and it is sure to be an exciting one as we celebrate Rosseau Lake College’s 50^th anniversary and continue the implementation of the Future Forward program. We are proud of the opportunities our students have for agency, teamwork, and personaliized learning in the classroom… and beyond! At RLC, we believe that educational co-curriculars are an integral aspect of schooling. Our program is designed so that all students are immersed in academics, athletics, and arts. This balance ensures that our students have the opportunity to explore and experience various activities as they develop their personal brands. RLC students develop competence as they work in teams and learn from ‘stretch zone’ experiences, gain confidence as they acquire new skills and apply them in performance-based settings, and build character as they fulfill commitments to one another and persevere through challenges.

Our co-curricular program provides students with the opportunity to exercise their bodies and minds, develop a love of sport and art, and learn values and life skills through participation in practice, performance, and healthy competition. We believe that co-curriculars empower young people and teach them to be adaptable and well-rounded individuals in every arena of life. To that end, we ask that students at RLC be involved in athletics and arts throughout the duration of the school year. We offer several options each sports term, and a variety of clubs in the winter term, so students can select the ones that best meet their needs, preferences, and goals. On Registration Day, students are asked to visit the co-curriculars table to sign up for their choice of sports and clubs. Below are the options for each term:  Fall Sports:

Fall Sports:  Girls’ Field Hockey, Boys’ Soccer, Co-ed Cross Country and Co-ed Health & Fitness

Winter Sports:  Girls’ Volleyball, Boys’ Basketball, Co-ed Snowboarding, Co-ed Nordic Skiing and Co-ed Health & Fitness

Winter Clubs:  Visual Arts, Band, Jam Band, Culinary Arts, Media Arts and Drama

Spring Sports:  Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ Rugby, Boys’ Badminton, Co-ed Ultimate, Coed Rowing and Co-ed Health & Fitness

We are looking forward to another exciting year in athletics and arts. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Jessica Sheppard

2016/17 School Calendar