St. John's-Ravenscourt Private School

• Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• Year of foundation: 1820
• Age of students: 5 to 18 years (foreign students are accepted from 13 years)
• Total number of students: 822 people, 24 of them are foreign students. 

Prestigious Canadian private boarding school St. Petersburg John's-Ravenscourt School is famous primarily for its academic education: for statistics, 100% of graduates enter the universities chosen by them with 98-99% in rather prestigious and ranking ones. It is especially worth noting that 99% of students enter the so-called "first choice universities", that is, they receive invitations from the most priority and desired educational establishments. Among the most popular and priority universities, graduates of the school can be noted the following institutions:

• University of Western Ontario
• Princeton University
• University of British Columbia
• Harvard University
• University of Toronto
• University of Ottawa
• Queen's University
• University of Alberta
• McMaster University
• University of Waterloo
• McGill University

About 80% of students receive scholarships and grants.

Students constantly take first prizes in international contests for discussions, debates, oratorical skills and the art of public speaking. For example, in 2014 St. John's-Ravenscourt School won the world championship on the debate, having done it already 14 times in 25 years! Students are different in sports: after graduation many of them go to profile universities, participate in national and international leagues, the Olympic Games. The educational institution is the recognized leader of the Canadian and international olympiads: among its graduates, 18 people became Rhodes scholarship holders, many today occupy high positions, have become recognized specialists in their fields.

The institution is a full member of the Canadian National Association of Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS). The Queen of Canada and Great Britain, Elizabeth II, personally patronizes the St. John's-Ravenscourt School.

St. John's-Ravenscourt School is located in Winnipeg, which serves as the capital of a large province of Manitoba: it is the largest city of its district, as it is here that 4 of Manitoba's 5 universities are located, the administration, the headquarters of major sports teams of professional leagues. Cultural events of a large scale are constantly held in Winnipeg: it is worth mentioning the Winnipeg Fringe Theater Festival, Festival du Voyageur or Folklorama.

For students, there are opportunities to visit numerous theaters, cinemas, festivals, museums and art galleries, various performances and concerts, opera. The nearest geographical "neighbours" of Manitoba are Ontario and the American states of Minnesota and North Dakota. Winnipeg has its own international airport, which makes it easier for students to transfer and travel.

Nadya Shupta

Regional Marketing & Recruiting Manager at London International Academy (until 2021)

Why are Canadian schools so popular with families around the world?

Canadian schools are distinguished not only by the quality of their education, but also by their approach to respectful personal development. In a Canadian school, you will not hear rudeness or shouting, which, unfortunately, are so familiar to our schools, they are great at preparing for Western universities.

The St. John's-Ravenscourt School curriculum is academic and prepares students for university enrollment. Teaching methods are evidence-based: play-based learning is used in junior grades, while advanced research, debate, design, and laboratory work are emphasized in senior grades. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8:1, the average class size is 22 students, with a maximum of 20 in K–3 and typically no more than 24 in Middle and Senior School.

Starting in Grade 6, students are required to have their own laptop. iPads and Surface Pros are used in K–5. Middle School offers Learning and Language Support Programs and a mentorship system with an assigned Advisor. The school teaches critical thinking, empathy, literacy, and age-appropriate ethical use of artificial intelligence.

University preparation includes a course with a university counselor in Grades 10 and 11. Grade 12 students receive individual support for all aspects of the application process. Counseling begins in Grade 8. For over 11 years, the school has integrated the Project 11 mental health program into classrooms.

St. John's-Ravenscourt School is an independent, non-denominational mixed school offering programs from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The academic structure comprises three stages:

• Junior School (K–5): play-based learning, AIM French language instruction, core subjects,
• Middle School (Grades 6–8): Visual Arts, Public Speaking, Drama, Science, English Language Arts, French, Accelerated Mathematics,
• Senior School (Grades 9–12): academically rigorous university preparatory program, including:
  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses,
  • English language and literature,
  • Debate,
  • Modern languages,
  • Computer science,
  • Social sciences,
  • Natural sciences,
  • Robotics,
  • Psychology.

The school has produced 15 individual World Debate Champions. Fifteen of the last 30 World Public Speaking Champions were SJR students.

In 2007, the school established its own Sports Hall of Fame to honor alumni with distinguished athletic careers. From 2009 to 2018, St. John's-Ravenscourt School was recognized as one of Manitoba's Top 25 Employers.

• The school has existed for over two centuries: its history dates back to 1820, when Reverend John West founded the Mission School in the Red River Settlement,
• St. John's College was one of the founding colleges of the University of Manitoba, along with Manitoba College and St. Boniface College,
• The Alumni Association includes more than 7,000 members across Canada and around the world,
• The longest-serving teacher at the school has been on staff for 41 years,
• In 1984, Max Bell made a gift to the school, the largest donation to a Canadian school at that time,
• In 1981, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted royal patronage to the school.

St. John's-Ravenscourt School graduates enter leading postsecondary institutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Universities where graduates have been accepted include:

• McGill University,
• University of Toronto,
• University of British Columbia,
• University of Waterloo,
• Durham University,
• King's College London,
• University of Edinburgh,
• University of Manchester.

Students who choose boarding accommodation occupy rooms in a cozy common residence (there are 3 houses in total). The meals are organized according to the full boarding system (three times a day). Double rooms - in general, on the terms of a boarding house, there are up to 50 children (boys and girls are approximately equal). Weekend boarding children often spend with Canadian families and other students.

Subject list: Art, drama, maths, social sciencies
Activity list: badminton, basketball, cross, field hockey, football, rugby, Sports running, track-and-field athletics, volleyball

Extracurricular elective classes are given great attention here: teachers and the administration of St. Petersburg. John's-Ravenscourt School believe that only a well-rounded personality can be sufficiently harmonious and successful. All hobbies of children are only encouraged, and in their free time each student can find himself one or several classes to taste. Here there are clubs of fans of literature and chess, a concert group and a jazz band, an art studio, a photo studio. One of the most famous clubs is a discussion club, which regularly defeats rivals in international competitions and holds the championship. Over the past 25 years, the club has won 14 times in the world championship: no other school has been able to repeat this achievement! There are also studios for theater and fine arts, you can take music lessons, play musical instruments.

A lot of time is spent on sports, for which there is a developed infrastructure and all the necessary equipment:

• Ski
• Hockey
• Rugby
• Football (there are both open and closed fields)
• Rock Climbing and Climbing
• Hockey
• Track and field athletics
• Basketball
• Yoga
• Curling
• Frisbee
• Wrestling.

School hockey players were especially distinguished: many students made a decision to continue their sports career and play in the NHL, participate in the Olympic Games and world championships.

• Accreditation and membership in multiple local, national, and international educational organizations,
• Approximately 75 different clubs and extracurricular activities for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Since its foundation (1920s) John's-Ravenscourt School has grown to 23 acres of land in the bend of the Red River: it is a cozy, quiet residential quarter in the south of Winnipeg. Today, the campus houses a large number of open and covered playgrounds, including a beach volleyball field by the river, climbing walls and hiking trails. There is also a closed large ice arena, where there are hockey exercises, a spacious fitness club. The renovated educational building was opened in 2014: it houses 12 spacious classrooms, biology laboratories and cozy lounges for recreation.

In addition to tuition, there are supplementary expenses not included in the cost of education:

• Initial payment for international students (includes New Student Registration Fee),
• Air tickets in both directions,
• Visa fees and services, fee at the Embassy,
• Round trip,
• Additional activities in music, sports, art (optional),
• Tutor services and individual academic lessons (optional),
• Studying materials, books and manuals,
• Extracurricular and pocket expenses.

Extras:

• Application fee 2400 CAD
• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 10400 CAD

Applicants must provide a report card from their last place of study, recommendations from teachers (necessarily - from the teacher of English and mathematics), write an essay (about yourself, your interests, goals and aspirations). As the entrance exams are offered tests in mathematics, natural sciences (physics, biology and chemistry) and English.

The school offers an extensive need-based financial aid program. Financial assistance is available to students in Grades 6–12 and may cover up to 50% of tuition. An independent service, Apple Financial Services, is used to assess family financial circumstances. Financial aid is typically renewed annually through graduation, contingent on satisfactory academic performance and conduct. International students are also eligible for financial assistance.

The Red River Scholars Fund provides additional tuition reduction for new students in Grades 9–12 regardless of financial need (boarding students are not eligible for these funds). Only 8 Entrance Scholarships are available each year: four for Middle School and four for Senior School. University Scholarships are awarded to qualified Grade 12 graduates. The school does not offer full scholarships.

Financial aid decisions are made independently of admissions decisions.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision