Author Topic: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)  (Read 42613 times)

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Offline ticked

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Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« on: July 23, 2007, 02:22:56 PM »
Anyone else have experience with this "emotional growth school"? Heads up on this one-so many red flags, very sketchy. Its been growing over the last few years, and attempting to open a 2nd facility. In the meantime they are cramming beds anywhere they can fit them. Accounting practices are creative to say the least. Therapy is added on at very high cost, on top of tuition. They don't spell this out.

There have been quite a few girls from the US sent there.  Definitely not the place for a child with mental health issues. They seem to have a reciprocal agreement going with wilderness placements in Utah..alot  of girls get sent to wilderness before they are sent back or to other US facilities such as Island View.

Monitoring phone calls, reading mail etc is typical. Most parents have no clue what is really going on there.There is no liscencing or overview by the gov't. The Ministry of Education assigns credits, but it does not in any way oversee the quality of those courses or teaching staff. Its a level system, and not uncommon to make it close to the top and be knocked back down to incoming. Contact with parents is very restricted.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2008, 01:17:14 AM »
Hi - thanks for the note - I am Canadian and was reviewing Roclyn Academy as a potential school for my daughter, before I found out about all the abuse occurring in all these residential programs.  I was wondering what it was like there especially since there seems to be so few programs available in Canada -now I know that's a good thing!!   I am shocked at how rampant the problems seem to be, but after researching the industry it is clear why that is the case - there is alot of money involved, and nothing in place to stop it.  One of the sites I looked at had a link where you could watch the entire congressional hearing from OCt 10/07 with George Millar about these schools - excellent - anyone affected by these programs would be sure to like seeing it - people are starting to do something to help the kids......
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2008, 06:55:18 PM »
Program advertised as:

Rocklyn Academy is a leadership school specially suited to high school-aged girls who are sensitive, intuitive, creative and intelligent.  Often such young women encounter difficulties in traditional school settings and the home environment.

Rocklyn Academy offers young women enriched academics, individual and group counselling and a positive social and personal growth environment at a time in their lives when such goals may be overshadowed by negative distractions and challenging personal dynamics.

We provide an educational and residential setting structured to promote a safe and nurturing environment.
http://www.rocklynacademy.com/


Program Reality:

Hello. I discovered your site and am extremely relieved I found somewhere that might be able to help me. I have received reports of absuse in a so called therapeutic boarding school that has not yet been listed on your site. It's called Rocklyn Academy, located in Meaford Ontario Canada. My friend was sent to that school and came back reporting some disturbing things. First upon arrival there was a strip search including a squat tests and a full cavity search. From what I have gathered this did not occur only on intake. She reported gaining weight due to the fact that for the first several months at the school she was not allowed outside and denied exercise. On the website it states that girls on lower levels must be escorted by staff of upper level students while outside. They list an equestrian program on the website but it is only avaiable to upper level girls. Phone calls are monitored by therapists and terminated if the therapist deems the student is being "manipulative", on lower levels phone calls are limitted to one 15 minute phone call per week to parents only. Trips home must be earned and the school is open 365 days per year. Punishments are disturbing involving taking away their hair brushes and limitting the amount of toilet paper they can use. I assume this means they have to ask permission to se the bathroom. The punishments are not listed on the website though the potential "rewards" for moving up levels are. It is stated on the wesite that punishments will be told in the application package. Eating disorder and self-injurous behavious is listed on the website with the other punishable offenses, as is "inappropriate behaviour" ie. kissing or sharing beds. No staff are listed on the website and there are no indoor photos of the facility, only one shot from the edge of campus. The doctor (G.P. or psychiatrist I'm not sure) is under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for not having a medical degree. My friend also told me there were some things she couldn't talk about because they were "scary" She was kept in this school despite being over the age of 16.
 
While my friend no longer attends I am deeply concerned for the girls left there. I would like to get the word out so parnts are vary of this school and if possible have an investigation conducted.


Endorsing body:

IECA:

http://www.educationalconsulting.org/cf ... de=execute

Contact: Nancy Coulbourn Ike M.Ed., CEP
Phone: 513-271-4044
Email: http://www.strugglingteens.com/archives ... sit03.html


Nancy is also a NATSAP affiliate:
http://www.natsap.org/individual_affiliates.asp
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2008, 12:55:11 AM »
If someone can arrange for the application package to appear on Wikileaks so we can link to it from our datasheet about this program, please let this thread know it when it is done.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2009, 12:09:42 PM »
I found an enrollment form.

http://netpacepromotions.com/rocklynaca ... ration.pdf

Parents and guardians financially responsible for the girl named below are required to sign this agreement in duplicate, and return both copies along with payment of the non-refundable tuition (payment option 1) or the tuition deposit and first month’s
installment (for payment options 2) or 3) to Rocklyn Academy. One copy will be countersigned and returned to you.

Name of student: ______________________________________
Full names, complete physical addresses and phone numbers of both parents and/or guardians:

Father Mother

In consideration of acceptance of the Registration and Enrolment Agreement by Rocklyn Academy, the undersigned agree to pay the required Tuition for the above-named student for the above-specified enrollment term. I/We further agree to be financially responsible for all expenses incurred by the student during the currency of this agreement. All payments made are non-refundable.

TWO-SEMESTER TUITION FEES
(Tuition Fees are subject to change without notice)
Payment Options
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
42,600.00 Deposit 9,500.00 Deposit 9,500.00
month 1 6,860.00 month 1 4,437.50
month 2 6,860.00 month 2 4,437.50
month 3 6,860.00 month 3 4,437.50
month 4 6,860.00 month 4 4,437.50
month 5 6,860.00 month 5 4,437.50
month 6 4,437.50
month 7 4,437.50
month 8 4,437.50
Total Tuition 42,600.00 43,800.00 45,000.00

Additional charges for student activities and expenses at the school are estimated to cost approximately $6,000 for the twosemester
term as specified above. These additional charges will be billed to the students' personal accounts as they occur. Items falling under this category include: uniforms, tuck, horseback riding, skiing/boarding, weekend activities, stationery, medical expenses, special events and the counselling with our therapists.

Initials of parents or guardians
____________
____________

I understand that in accepting this Registration and Enrolment Agreement, Rocklyn Academy assumes an obligation to provide educational services to said student and others attending the Academy and incurs obligations, both financial and otherwise, including but not limited to administration expenses, for this purpose and accordingly my obligation to pay fees is unconditional and irrevocable, that no portion of the fee paid or outstanding will be refunded or cancelled in the event of absence, withdrawal, or dismissal from Rocklyn Academy of the above-named student.

I hereby declare that I have disclosed to Rocklyn Academy, all known background information relevant to the physical and emotional health of the applicant.
I understand that in signing this Registration and Enrolment Agreement I am agreeing to accept the rules and regulations of Rocklyn Academy and the rules governing the payment of fees described herein.

Furthermore, I understand that Rocklyn Academy reserves the right to deny classes and services to a girl should fees not have been paid by the required date, and acknowledge that Rocklyn Academy will assess a late payment charge on overdue balances at the rate of 2% per month (24% per annum) after the due date of this agreement and I agree to the policy of Rocklyn Academy that a final report card will be withheld until all accounts are paid in full. It is further agreed that any negotiable cheques that are returned by the bank for any reason shall be assessed at an
administration fee of $50.00.

A statement of charges to the student’s account will be sent out periodically during the year.

To reserve a place for a student, a non-refundable cheque in full payment of the Tuition or Tuition Deposit and both copies of this Registration and Enrolment Agreement must be forwarded to Rocklyn Academy. This instrument shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario. In particular, it is agreed that the fees and tuition paid or outstanding will be considered liquidated damages.

I give approval to my daughter’s participation in all the school’s programs and activities including without limitation, participation in physical education and athletic programs and activities, acknowledge that such participation involves risks and hazards incidental thereto, all of which are expressly assumed and do hereby waive, release and absolve and agree to indemnify and save harmless, Rocklyn Academy, its employees and agents of and from any and all liability arising there from, except suchas shall arise solely as a consequence of its or their willful neglect or default.

I agree that all pictures, still or video, taken of my daughter may be used for public relations.

Signatures of both parents and/or guardians who are financially responsible for the student.
___________________ ____________________________________
Date Parent / Guardian
___________________ ____________________________________
Date Parent / Guardian
ACCEPTED:
Date: _______________________ ________________________________


Of particular notice: the second last paragraph where they ask parents to waive blame if the students is harmed unless due to "willful neglect" so accidental neglect is okay? Also the tuition amount increases with more installments which means parents will likely lose more money withdrawing their daughters early.... they also state MULTIPLE TIMES that tuition fees will not be refunded if the students is withdrawn/kick out etc. They mention only education and only mention "counselling" once..... while informing the parents that in a therapeutic school such as this "counselling" is an extra expense which will be billed to them separately... as will gym. Basically the entire enrollment application focusses on getting parents to sign on that they will pay Rocklyn no matter what happens..... Probably a good statement of the interests of the school.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2009, 03:00:56 PM »
Any counselling one on one was billed-and it was expensive. Of course, if once a week was not enough-then the recommendation was to meet with the therapist several times a week, every week. And then have them monitor the kid's phone calls-which, of course are billable therapist time. And we never were able to figure out if the therapists were qualified, and if so in what type of therapy, and what level. Perhaps the guy that did group therapy was really a therapist of some sort, who seemed to genuinely care and the girls like him. But as my dd put it-how can he not see what is happening there? He has been there for several years. How could he not see and not be ethically responsible to report to whatever body oversees his credentials??

Its a free for all in this province. Hang up a shingle on your mailbox-and no one will question it.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2009, 08:47:59 PM »
I was sent to Rocklyn Academy for my Grade 10 year, 2005-2006. To call the experience awful would be an understatement. Due to the difficulties (which I don't deny having) between my parents and I, they assumed I was lying and trying to manipulate them into bringing me home early. It wasn't until I came home for the summer, unhappier than ever before and having made no progress on the issues which brought me there in the first place, that they realized what kind of place it really was. They now apologize profusely and plead with me to forgive them for sending me to what they openly call a "terrible place" and a "hell hole."
Like all of the other parents who go to Rocklyn on tours, they are given a glowing report by the staff and girls. They are told how much we like it there, how bad we were before and how much we've changed for the better since coming to Rocklyn, and how much their daughter will benefit from the experience. These are LIES. If the parents go on a students' tour and then decide that the school is not right for their daughter, the girls are punished severely. I and the other students quickly learned how to become convincing liars, saying anything we had to in order to sell the school.
The owners of Rocklyn Academy are liars and cheats who want as much money as possible while giving as little back as they can get away with. Your daughter will be mistreated, cheated out of a proper education, and is at risk for entering the deep depression that most students experience.
Keep your daughter and your wallet far away from Rocklyn Academy!
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2009, 04:31:00 PM »
Hi there.
I spent 31 days at Roclyn Academy (June 19th-July 20th, 2009) and I can honestly say that Rocklyn is a SCAM!
On my arrival, I was told many different things such as being promised hot-air balloon rides, a pool on campus, lots of activities, etc.
Unfortunately, none of these promises were followed through with, and Rocklyn was basically hell.
My friend and I ran away from Rocklyn, when given the chance to go into Meaford (Rocklyn Academy is IN Rocklyn, ON. 15 minute drive from Meaford) to a used book store. Our only intention was to get the word out to not only our families, the families of others but also the police about this place. My parents have been following an ongoing investigation, which we may have found out that Daryl and Anne (management) are known for their business, which is to "rip-off" farmers. The RCMP are following up on the investigation and I really hope they can do something about it. There are so many talented, beautiful people at Rocklyn and it bothers me every day since I've been back that they are still suffering out there! (Not to mention, it's in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE).
I went through a lot of crap at Rocklyn, and the only thing I can hope for is that if you're reading this, DO NOT SEND YOUR DAUGHTER THERE.
If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to message me.
[email protected]
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2009, 05:22:38 PM »
Ashley-sorry to hear you ended up in that hellhole. Wouldn't wish it on anyone. I am glad your parents are following up with the rcmp. Which detachment-i might be able to contact them and give some statements to your claim. Darryl has been arrested, and was in custody though he may be out on bail now. Call the Grey Bruce detachment of the OPP also, as there is an ongoing fraud investigation related to Darryl's beef marketing business.

Contact: Constable Steven Starr
519-794-7827

I hope the remaining girls' parents are following this and give some serious thought to their safety. I hope your are in a supportive situation now. Its really a nightmare, and its hard for anyone who hasn't gone through this to understand how they get away with this.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2009, 05:26:26 PM »
Ashley-there is another thread on darryl williams in the Troubled teen industry thread.  Post again there -More people might see it. There are a few with similar experiences at Rocklyn.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=28283

Do you have immediate concerns for the safety of the girls there?
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2009, 10:21:57 AM »
Quote from: "AshleyFromLondon"
Hi there.
I spent 31 days at Roclyn Academy (June 19th-July 20th, 2009) and I can honestly say that Rocklyn is a SCAM!
On my arrival, I was told many different things such as being promised hot-air balloon rides, a pool on campus, lots of activities, etc.
Unfortunately, none of these promises were followed through with, and Rocklyn was basically hell.

Let me guess. They promise a whole list of fun summer activities, and then come up with some ridiculous reason to cancel them, by accusing an individual or group of some misbehaviour, or lowering their level so that they can't go out.  Maybe a few get to go(much cheaper right-your parents paid for those activities, but they pocket the $) Instead you get to scrub the washroom, do chores, and told if you work hard your level will be restored. But it never happens, because something will always prevent that. Looks like another girl ran this summer too. Did the police listen or ship you right back there?
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2009, 11:04:11 PM »
A parent would be better off taking the money and using it to take a year off with their kid and bum around Europe getting to know them. Or holing up in a cabin in Alaska for a winter. Or better yet use it to get therapy for the adults, so they can learn how to be the kind of parents that don't need to send their kids away.  Face it:  al kids are born perfect; it takes a hell of a lot of parental screwing up and denial to create a child you want to get rid of.  Don't be a sucker.  There is no "program" out there that is going to fix anything except the bank accounts of some pretty sleazy people.  As a parent you had the kid, you created the problem, you fix it!
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #12 on: August 17, 2009, 12:37:37 AM »
Please get the message out that Rocklyn Academy is a fraudulent business, pretending to be a boarding school with treatment for young girls having difficulty in their current school or home environment.  Listen, we got taken to the cleaners just recently and we are not stepping back and letting these people, including Darryl Williams, Supposed Dr. get away with this.  

This place just grabs your money and if they find that your child doesn't conform to the program they expel them.  Just like that, no warning, no REFUNDS.  Hello...........!! You don't pay for services and have no refunds when the services aren't rendered.  Something wrong with this picture.

Seriously, get the OPP on their case as well as lawyers and agencies that will assist in exposing this SCAM and Fraud.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #13 on: August 17, 2009, 08:34:06 AM »
Quote from: "logans24"
Listen, we got taken to the cleaners just recently and we are not stepping back and letting these people, including Darryl Williams, Supposed Dr. get away with this.  

This place just grabs your money and if they find that your child doesn't conform to the program they expel them.  Just like that, no warning, no REFUNDS.  Hello...........!! You don't pay for services and have no refunds when the services aren't rendered.  Something wrong with this picture.

Seriously, get the OPP on their case as well as lawyers and agencies that will assist in exposing this SCAM and Fraud.

Be sure to document any thing possible in terms of what "treament" or medical advice in particular was offered. Keep copies of the billing for certain services.Did Daryl ever give medical advice or supervise treatment? Did anyone watch your child undress, do a physical check, watch them shower? Were they ever denied medical treatment, or did they fail to phone you to inform you there was an injury or illness. Did anyone ever reveal your dd's mental health history to another student or vice versa.

Dale Stohn and Bob Shaw have no conscience-they will scrape every penny they can off the suffering of these girls. The time they are stuck at Rocklyn means they get a serious delay in real treatment-and they take girls who need real help-very serious disorders. They are in no way trained to work with most of these girls. Its a huge marketing scam. And since there are so few jobs in the area, and the employees lack training, they keep their mouths shut. The ones who know leave because they know its a disaster in the making.

There are no qualified medical personnel there. Not even to hand out meds-and some of these kids are on powerful meds. We found out when our daughter came back, the girls were "cheeking" the meds(something a trained person would know what to prevent) and they were snorting them off their compact mirrors. I found crushed pills and powder in her luggage. Some staff, particularly Dale tormented her emotionally. She will never forget the girls who were dropped off by their parents without being told wher they were going, crying all night for their parents to get them. And then not being able to call home, not being able to tell them what is really happening. And then to top it off they tell you the kid is manipulating!! They are sick, twisted people. I believe the place is dangerous.I have informed authorities, i urge anyone else who is concerned to do the same, as they need all the evidence they can get.
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: Rocklyn Academy(Canada)
« Reply #14 on: August 17, 2009, 07:43:05 PM »
To the OPP Grey County:Please begin investigating the fraud at Rocklyn Academy.  My daughter was there and she wasn't conforming to the rules so they put her on a special RAMP program.  She also AWOLed early in July with another student.
The girls were located in Cambridge after being away for 3 days.  The Staff at Rocklyn did nothing to find them.  They notified the OPP but the OPP said that they couldn't be out looking for two teenage girls all weekend.  We were told that if our daughter went missing, they would ensure she was "captured" and returned to the school.  In fact, what happened, is the girls were detained at the Cambridge Police Department and no one at Rocklyn would make the executive decisison to go and get them and the police refused to pick them up.  By they way, the people, Darryl Williams and Anne Kossatz, who run this place, were unreachable on the cell, the home phone, nobody could reach them.  By the way, these two fraudsters are married and are in this together.
The parents had to drive from their respective cities and pick up the girls and make the 3 hour trek up to Meaford/Rocklyn.  My daughter was returned at 4:30 AM and went thru a strip search which her father refused to watch and then he had to turn around and drive back to his city and arrived after 8 AM, in time to go to work.  Is there something wrong with this picture?  Same thing with the other teen.  

We started asking questions and demanding answers.  We got no response, however, Dad got a call on Friday the 19th of July, stating that they no longer wanted our daughter at the school and that we were to pick her up at Chatsworth Police Station.  This message was conveyed via email at close to 5 PM on a Friday.  Needless to say, we did not receive this email and subsequently our daughter waited for close to 5 hours at the detachment and when we called, we were told we could not speak with our daughter.  The phones weren't for public use.  We called several times.  In the end she was taken to CAS Owen Sound and transferred to CAS London.  I spoke to the commander in charge of the detachment and he assured me that we should have been given permission to speak with our daughter, who did not know what was
going on.  More detail when this goes to court.

Any parents with kids there, GET THEM OUT!!! ANd fight for your $$$$$  It's a scam.
Docor
False promises and no medical personnel on site.  Darryl WIlliams is NOT a MEDICal  DR.
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