Ridley College needs some info...

D

DR1

Guest
Hello. I am the admission director at Ridley College, a Canadian boarding
school near Niagara Falls (close to the American border). I will be in the
Dominican Republic November 5-12 with a group of scuba divers from my
school, and was wondering how I would go about contacting local families
who may wish to investigate the possibility of having a child from
Dominican Republic attend Ridley. I will be staying at the Don Juan Resort
in Boca Chica Village, near Santo Domingo.

Here is a brief description of my school:

2001-2002 RIDLEY COLLEGE PROFILE

Overview
Founded in 1889, Ridley is one of Canada's most respected independent
schools. The college?s beautiful 90-acre campus is located 20 miles from
Niagara Falls in St. Catharines, Ontario, and contains outstanding
facilities for academics, athletics, information technology, and the arts.

Co-educational since 1973, Ridley enjoys student representation from over
30 countries, and stresses a structured, multi-faceted educational
environment: athletics, extra-curricular activities, morning chapel,
supervised evening study, and cadet corps participation are all mandatory.

Ridley annually matriculates almost its entire graduating class to
universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, and is renowned
worldwide for the strong sense of community which unites its students,
faculty, and alumni. To attract highly-qualified applicants, Ridley
offers one of the top financial assistance programs of all Canadian
schools. In 2001, $1.5 million in need-based bursaries and merit-based
scholarships was allocated; 25% of all Ridley students received funding.

Student Body
? 618 enrolled in grades 5 through 13/OAC (358 boys, 260 girls)
? 2001 new student intake: 197 (416 applied, 269 accepted)
? Residential students: 353 Day students: 265
? Middle School (grades 5-8): 113 students Upper School (grades 9-13/OAC):
505 students
? Average class size: 17 students Faculty/student ratio: 1:9
? Canadian representation: Ontario (415), Alberta (6), British Columbia
(5), Quebec (2)
? Foreign representation: Hong Kong (30), Mexico (24), Korea (22),United
States (21), Bahamas (16), Bermuda (15), Germany (15), Jamaica (14), Saudi
Arabia (7), Barbados (5), Japan (4), United Kingdom (4), China (3), France
(3), Grand Cayman (2), Taiwan (2), United Arab Emirates (2), one each from
Antigua, Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, Indonesia, Nigeria, Russia, Slovac
Republic, Spain, Tanzania, Trinidad, Zimbabwe
? Foreign students on visas: 130 (21% of the total enrollment)

Faculty
Professional staff of 94 (49 men, 45 women) Bachelor?s degree: 58

Master?s degree: 25 Doctorate: 4

Accreditation
? Ontario Ministry of Education ? Canadian Educational Standards Institute
(CESI) ? Canadian Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) ? English
Speaking Union (ESU) ? National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
? Secondary School Admission Testing Board (SSATB)

Academics
Ridley operates on a traditional (non-semestered) school year divided into
three terms: Michaelmas (September to December), Lent (January to March),
and Trinity (April to June). Examinations are scheduled in most subjects
in December and June, and progress reports are prepared on a regular
basis. Courses are taught on a four-day rotational basis; six 55-minute
periods are slated daily, except on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when classes
are conducted only in the morning in Upper School. All students are
assigned a faculty advisor for ongoing consultation.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are available on an independent basis to
interested students in a variety of subjects. l also serves as a testing
site for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the Secondary School
Admission Test (SSAT).

Ridley?s information technology resources are truly superb. A high-speed,
fibre-optic backbone provides two thousand internet plugins, allowing
campus-wide computer access to the school?s network, Tigernet. The
computers of choice are the Macintosh G3/G4 laptop (which runs both Mac
and IBM-PC Windows operating systems) and the iBook. The entire school
population will be laptop-integrated by the fall of 2003.

Why is Ridley a viable option for Caribbean students?

? In terms of the quality and scope of its faculty, facilities, academic
programs, and extra-curriculars, Ridley compares favorably with many of
the best American and British preparatory schools. The wide range of
courses, sports, and activities that are available to both boys and girls
at Ridley is truly exceptional, and the diversity of the student body
(over 30 foreign countries represented) is unmatched in Canada.

? Attending a Canadian school provides the unique opportunity for
Caribbean students to step outside their own national culture to obtain an
international perspective on both their own country and the rest of the
world. This global perspective will be invaluable to any young person in
the 21st Century.

? Strong Caribbean representation is a Ridley hallmark; over a dozen of
boys and girls from the islands are enrolled annually. Located in St.
Catharines (only 20 miles from the Canadian-American border at Niagara
Falls), Ridley's proximity to the USA allows the scheduling of cultural,
recreational, and athletic trips to America throughout the year.

? Ridley has a long-standing record of matriculating graduates to American
and international colleges and universities. In recent years,
approximately 20% of the senior class has gone on to study at public and
private institutions in the United States, Europe, and Latin America.
Admission officers from selective American universities visit the Ridley
campus each year; their familiarity with and respect for the demanding
Ridley curriculum ensures careful consideration of all Ridley seniors who
formally apply.

? Our grade 13/OAC year is an exciting alternative to the postgraduate
(PG) year available in the United States for students who have completed
grade 12 and wish an additional year of preparation before embarking on
university studies.

? Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which are highly recommended to high
school seniors by selective American universities, are available at Ridley
in almost a dozen academic subjects.

? Ridley is a testing centre for the College Board (SAT) examination,
which is a required component of the admission process at most American
universities. The school's Guidance Office provides consultation and
preparation for the SAT, and also schedules students to write the ACT and
TOEFL.

? Ridley students score above the U.S. national norms on the College
Boards. Mean scores on the SAT for Ridley students who matriculate to
American universities are approximately 560 verbal and 580 math (total
1140). It should be noted that since the majority of Ridley students enrol
at Canadian universities (particularly Ontario institutions) where SAT
scores are not required for admission, only about 40% of all seniors write
the SAT.

? Caribbean students receive merit-based scholarships and need-based
bursaries through Ridley?s financial assistance programme, which disbursed
almost $1.3 million in the fall of 2000 ? a Canadian record.

? Don't forget that the American dollar enjoys a high premium over
Canadian funds.

At current rates, a Ridley education costs approximately $19,000 U.S.
Compare that to boarding fees of $26,000+ at many boarding schools in the
USA and the UK!

Sincerely, Don Rickers
 
H

hillbilly

Guest
I think I would have taken my students

to someplace other than Boca Chica!! Barahona, Monte Cristi, Cabarete!! are just three good diving sites that come to mind. And what about Samana??
Methinks you blew it..sorry to say...
And Jim, I recognize BC is your baby, but let's be frank, it is not for kids...

HB

P.S. An ad in the local papers would do wonders for your recruiting, BTW..
 
J

Jim Hinsch

Guest
Re: I think I would have taken my students *PIC*

Actually, Boca Chica is better for kids than any of the towns you mentioned. They'll love it.

Aside from being one of the most breathtaking beaches in the country, an opinion shared by many, the water is shallow and calm. It is very popular with Dominican families on weekends, especially those with small children.
boats_along_shore_small.jpg


Everything in town is within a 6-block walk. Click here to see.
<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/map.html"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/images/maps/map_boca_chica_small.jpg" width="152" height="100"></a>

The area has the country's best reef and wreck diving. Click for details.
<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/diving.html"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/images/diving/treasure_divers_small.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/diving.html"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/images/diving/treasure_divers2_small.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/diving.html"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/images/diving/treasure_divers_boat_small.jpg"></a>

From http://www.dr1.com/travel/English/Scuba.html:

The best area for enjoyment of reef and wreck dives, night dives and fresh water cave diving near Santo Domingo is La Caleta National Underwater Park. At La Caleta, one can choose either shallow or deep water diving. ... Here, you can discover the Hickory wreck, an iron ship used many years ago to explore Spanish galleon wreck treasures.

A second more recent wreck, at a depth of 100 feet, is only a few minutes away by boat from the Hickory. The coral formations at this depth are a carpet of color, a tapestry of textures creating a profound sense of wonder at the delicate balance in this ecosystem.

This underwater park can be reached in about 17 minutes by fast boat from Boca Chica, or about 25 minutes by slow boat from the public park on Las Americas highway. The Don Juan Beach Resort in Boca Chica is located near La Caleta and has its own PADI-certified diving school which offers diving trips to the area and across the island.

The nightlife is for adults, but families and teenagers can be seen roaming around up until about 11pm when the restaurants close.

A month ago I had the chance to speak with a group of about 30 high school students (and their chaparones) from the USA that were visiting Boca Chica. They were spending 1 day at the beach after weeks in the campo doing volunteer construction. They were elated and loved it. They stayed at the Hotel Europa.
<a href="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/europa"><img border="2" src="http://www.BocaChicaBeach.net/images/hotels/europa7_small.jpg"></a>

I doubt there is a child in Boca Chica that would not love to attend school in Canada (expenses paid). The visa will likely be a problem.

I'd be happy to introduce Mr. Don Rickers to local families in the area of the Don Juan, and I'll be in Boca Chica starting Nov. 8th. E-mail me for details.

Local school in Boca Chica on election day:
election10.jpg


Either way, Don Rickers should visit www.BocaChicaBeach.net to learn about the area, see what to expect, and to see a map of the town.

Don Juan Hotel as seen from the pier:
beach37.jpg


The pier at the Don Juan Hotel:
beach2.jpg
 
F

Franck

Guest
Re: I think I would have taken my students

I think I would have taken my student to an other place than Boca Chica... It's really famous for sexual turism... And for diving?... That's not really the better, for me the best places are in Bayahibe, at about 1h30 far from Boca Chica. Really lovely village with just one resort there and a good and cheap dive center, Casa Daniel, where I was diving for a few weeks. Have a look on their web site, http://casadaniel.tripod.com
 
H

hillbilly

Guest
I just knew he'd do this!!!

Good luck finding a Dominican in Boca Chica willing to sent their child to Canada to prep school...

Don't start Jim, I know you have a very large interest in the Boca Chica region. Good and well.

HB
 
J

Jumday

Guest
You're cheerleading again...

However, if a few others had a waterskiing and cell phone rental operation in BC (like yourself) they might resort to this deceptive promotion as well.
 
N

Natasha

Guest
Re: Hinsch understands

Jim Hinsch "knows" Boca Chica very well. And, he sure understands what freedom is all about. That freedom is not limited to NICE critcism. If it stinks, say it stinks. Sugar coating not required, well unless...nah won't go there!

But back to Boca Chica. To those who read Spanish, this is an ALARMING article about AIDS in Boca Chica. So far this year, 53 persons have died due to AIDS.

En Boca Chica mueren este a?o 53 personas por causa del SIDA

LA EPIDEMIA ATACA tambi?n aqu? A LA POBLACI?N JOVEN de 15 a 35 anos de edad.
DORIS PANTALE?N
Boca Chica.-
El SIDA se ha estado apoderando en los ?ltimos a?os de la poblaci?n de Boca Chica, donde cada d?a se diagnostica un caso nuevo de la enfermedad y en lo que va del a?o han muerto 53 personas. Esta realidad llega a tales niveles que en una sola cl?nica privada se han diagnosticado en los ?ltimos 10 meses, alrededor de 25 casos de VIH y pacientes atendidos por un solo m?dico han muerto nueve.
Todo esto ocurre ante la indiferencia de las autoridades y la impotencia de quienes de forma particular han asumido esta lucha. El doctor Alcibiades Hern?ndez, de un centro de salud privado, no tiene palabras para explicar lo que siente en su interior cuando ve a uno de sus pacientes infectados de VIH, que sabe que tiene la enfermedad, saliendo con otras personas, consciente de que los va a enfermar, y no puede hacer nada, porque la ley le prohibe revelar los nombres de personas afectadas. La realidad se vuelve m?s preocupante cuando se toma en cuenta que una gran parte de los ni?os y ni?as de Boca Chica han empezado la vida sexual antes de los 15 a?os y que muchos est?n siendo explotados sexualmente o ven en esta actividad su forma de vida.
Las causas de la incidencia del SIDA son atribuidas a varias razones, entre estas a la influencia del turismo, a la falta de empleo, a la pobreza y especialmente a los bajos niveles de educaci?n de la poblaci?n, sobre todo en lo relacionado a la educaci?n sexual y a la prevenci?n.
Un estudio sobre el impacto del SIDA en Boca Chica, realizado para conocer la cantidad de muertes a causa de esa enfermedad desde el 1990 hasta el 2001, en el centro de Andr?s, La Caleta y zona tur?stica de Boca Chica, arroja datos lamentables. Revela que en el a?o 2000 murieron 39 personas, entre ?stas, dos homosexuales, dos ni?os y tres trabajadoras sexuales.
La investigaci?n revela, seg?n su coordinador Jos? Beato, que en lo que va de este a?o se han muerto 53 personas, el ?ltimo el viernes pasado, de los cuales 35 han sido hombres, entre ellos un homosexual y un ni?o, y 18 mujeres y actualmente hay siete personas manifestando la enfermedad. De enero a noviembre del 1999 fallecieron 26 personas, j?venes la mayor?a, de los cuales 10 eran hombres y 15 mujeres, de ?stos uno era homosexual, cuatro mujeres prostituidas, y hubo la muerte de un ni?o. En ese a?o quedaron hu?rfanos nueve ni?os.
El Grupo Acci?n Comunitaria Contra el Sida revela que desde enero de 1990 hasta diciembre de 1998 murieron en Boca Chica 152 personas a causa del SIDA, para un promedio de 19 por a?o, dejando un total de 35 ni?os menores de 16 a?os hu?rfanos.
El centro de Andr?s, seg?n el estudio, que es la zona ca?era, industrial y portuaria registr? en ese per?odo de ocho a?os, 81 muertos, para un 53.3 por ciento; La Caleta, 43 muertos y la zona tur?stica, 28, para un total de un 18.4 por ciento.
 
J

Jim Hinsch

Guest
Re: I just knew he'd do this!!!

Just about any parent would jump at the chance for their child to go to study abroad, if the expenses were paid. This is true in Boca Chica, or elsewhere.

For the record, I have no businesses in Boca Chica. I lose/gain nothing when tourism levels in this region fluctuate. I wish I did, because this seems to be the only part of the country that is doing well.

The man did well by selecting Boca Chica, as I'm sure he already knows.
 
D

Doug

Guest
Re: Dumday is lying.

AS Jim has said beofre there is nothing wrong with Boca Chica, I've been there many many times and can't wait to bring my children to this beautiful beach, the beach is great as it is relitivly clean and you can go out for quite a while without getting to deep and do not have to worry about undertow. As for the seedyness of the area.....well better there than in the Capital late at night! And as someone said earlier....opinions are never wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
J

Jumday

Guest
Oh my....hit the nerve of truth did I?

The only liar in this discussion is yourself. Seems quite a few people know of your ventures. Be careful before all see the slime trail you leave.

Seems you fit quite well in Boca Chica, deceptive opportunists are around every corner.