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Rockway Mennonite Collegiate provides its students with an opportunity to grow and thrive through a comprehensive school curriculum that includes rigorous academics, character building athletics with fantastic coaching, a varied arts and music program that includes drama, vocal, and orchestral opportunities and additionally highlights the importance of spiritual practice. On February 15th, 1945, delegates from the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada decided to open a new Mennonite high school. With seven months to plan, they went to work and hired the school's first Principal, Harold Groh, and secured a 14-acre plot of land located close to the Rockery (now Rockway Gardens). A fundraising goal of $50,000 was quickly set, and the community went to work in making alterations to the existing house and barn to accommodate the first group of students. Rockway's first teacher, Salome Bauman, was also hired to guide the academic program. Thus, Rockway was born 27 students crowded into the grade 9 room and 11 students into Grade 10 that first year. School life was closely monitored, and extracurricular activities were closely regulated. A devotional committee was struck, the student newspaper was called "Classroom echoes," a social committee began, and instead of custodians, students had to clean that facility. Boys swept, washed blackboards, emptied ashes from the furnace girls waited on tables, washed and dried dishes, peeled vegetables, and cleaned the second floor's dorm area. Overriding all of the logistics of both opening and operating the school was the underlying vision and mission of Rockway. Rockway's founders desired a school that would provide a vital academic and faith education while also creating opportunities for students to grow in character and understand their ability to impact the world around them positively. Rockway is, first and foremost, an outstanding school with a rigorous academic program. More than ninety percent of our students go on to universities and colleges in their program of choice. More than half of our graduates last year were Ontario Scholars. We offer an enriched program in small classes designed to reach students of diverse learning styles, taught by a remarkable team of dedicated and gifted teachers. Our students are deeply involved in our school's life, its activities, and its engagement with the broader community. As you will see throughout this website, our small size is a considerable asset. It offers us tremendous flexibility in developing and delivering a rich, creative program that addresses our student body's academic, social, athletic, artistic, and spiritual needs in an affirming learning environment. Rockway is a Mennonite school, and approximately half our students have personal connections to that faith tradition. Ours is a religious tradition concerned with putting its values into action through service and peacemaking, an awareness of our obligations to one another in community, and discerning together what makes for a just and compassionate world. We welcome students from diverse backgrounds and appreciate the richness that this diversity brings to our classrooms and our school. Rockway offers an outstanding and rigorous academic program for students in Grades 7 through 12. Our school is fully accredited by the Ontario Ministry of Education and awards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Rockway offers a more enriched and dynamic learning environment than you will find in most schools. Moreover, our students emerge from their time here ready to succeed and excel in whatever futures they choose to pursue. Rockway's Grade 7&8 program offers rich academic programs in which small class sizes facilitate unique learning opportunities designed to reach students with diverse learning styles. We offer our Grade 7 and 8 students many opportunities for leadership development not available to all students in other schools, and the difference is clear: our 7&8 students embark on a path towards graduation ready to pursue their dreams, eager to make a difference, and prepared for life's challenges. Rockway offers many unique opportunities for faith and character formation. The entire school community gathers twice a week for the chapel. Through scripture, prayer, music, visuals, hands-on spiritual practices, celebrations, storytelling, sharing, and thoughtful reflections, all participants are encouraged to explore and grow their understandings of a life lived from a Christian faith perspective. Rockway's Business program offers our senior students an entry into the world of international business and leadership through in depth study, discussion, and hands-on learning. Our goal is to expose learners to local businesses and international leaders through Rockway's values' unique lens. Students have the opportunity to explore business issues through practical case studies, learning tours, and conversations with community leaders. Whether you are playing a pick-up game in the gym at lunchtime or competing on a school team, Rockway values the student-athlete and their contributions to our school. Rockway students lead an enriched arts life having the opportunity to get involved in the Visual Arts, Drama, and Music in all grades. In addition to the in-class study, Rockway offers various opportunities to take skills development to the next level through events like our Visual Arts Exhibition, Christmas and Spring Music Concerts, and our annual Dramas/All-School Musicals. View full school