Gainesville   is   the   county   seat   of   Alachua   County,   and   also   the   county's   largest   city.   A   two-­‐hour   drive   provides   access   to   a   number   of   hugely  popular  Central  Florida  a?rac@ons,  including  the  Kennedy  Space  Center  (located  on  Merri?  Island)  and  the  Orlando  tourist  des@na@ons  of  Walt  Disney  World,  Universal  Studios,  and  Sea  World.  Gainesville  is  noteworthy  for  being  the  home  of  the  University  of  Florida,  Florida's  principal  state  university,  consistently  ranked  among  the  na@on's  top  universi@es.  UF  is  the  largest  and  oldest  university  in  the  state  of  Florida.  The  city  is  also  home  to  Santa  Fe  Community  College,  one  of  the  largest  community  colleges  in  the  U.S.  The  Aspen  ins@tute  gave  Santa  Fe  the  Aspen  Prize  for  Community  College  Excellence  as  best  community  college  in  the  country  in  2015.  "Gainesville   boasts   world   class   medical   facili@es,   historic   districts,   new   or   newly-­‐restored   city   buildings,   and   numerous   cultural   venues.   The  presence  of  a  major  university  enhances  the  city's  opportuni@es  for  cultural   lifestyles.  Cultural  facili@es  include  the  Florida  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Harn  Museum  of  Art,  the  Hippodrome  State  Theatre,  and  the  Cur@s  M.  Phillips  Center  for  the  Performing  Arts.  The  city  of  Gainesville  is  an  avid   supporter   of   the   visual   arts.   Each   year,   two   large   art   fes@vals   a?ract   ar@sts   and   visitors   from   all   over   the   southeastern   United   States.  Gainesville   is  also  known  for   its  music  scene  and  has  spawned  a  number  of  bands  and  musicians,   including  Tom  Pe?y  and  the  Heartbreakers,  Stephen  S@lls,  Don  Felder  and  Bernie  Leadon  of  The  Eagles,  The  Motels,  Against  Me,  Less  Than  Jake,  Hot  Water  Music,  John  Vanderslice,  Sister  Hazel,  and  For  Squirrels.  

Sports   in  Gainesville   and  Alachua  County   center  on   the  University  of   Florida  Gators,   a  perennial   na@onal   college   football   powerhouse.  Be?er  known  as   ‘The  Swamp,”   the  Ben  Hill  Griffin  Stadium   is  home   to   the  Florida  Gators  and   is   the   largest   in   the   state.  Next   to   the  Gators   football  stadium   is   the   big  white   dome   known   as   the   Stephen   C.  O’Connell   Center.   It’s   home   to   the   basketball,   gymnas@cs,   swimming   and   volleyball  teams,  but  the  “O-­‐dome”  is  so  much  more.  It  also  holds  gradua@on  ceremonies,  career  resource  fairs,  concerts,  speakers,  family  ac@vi@es,  and  more.  The  other  prime  focal  point  for  area  sports  fans  is  the  sport  of  auto  racing.  Gainesville  Raceway,  a  local  drag  racing  landmark  which  opened  in  1969,  has  long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  fastest  tracks  on  the  Na@onal  Hot  Rod  Associa@on  (NHRA)  circuit.  The  facility  is  annual  host  to  one  of  NHRA's   largest  na@onal  events,  the  "Gatorna@onals",  held  every  March  since  1970.  Gainesville  climate   is  humid  subtropical,   It  has  mild  winters  and  warm  and  humid  summers.  

FUN  FACTS  "• Gainesville  is  the  in  the  top  10  ci@es  in  the  USA  for  outdoor  ac@vi@es. • The  sports  drink  Gatorade  was  invented  in  Gainesville  in  the  1960s  as  a  means  of  refreshing  the  University  of  Florida  football  team.  • In  April  2003,  Gainesville  became  known  as  the  “Healthiest  Community  in  America”  when  it  achieved  the  only  “Gold  Well  City”  award  given  by  the  Wellness  Councils  of  America.  

• For  32  years,  the  na@onally  recognized  Downtown  Fes@val  and  Art  Show  transforms  downtown  and  brings  out  a  crowd  of  more  than  100,000  people.  

• Alligators,  birds,  and  other  wildlife  can  be  seen   in  Gainesville  at   the  Lake  Alice  wildlife  area,  which   is  on  the  University  of  Florida  campus.  

• Florida  has  more  golf  courses  than  any  other  US  state.  

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The  Rock  School  is  a  Private  Day  &  Boarding  School  located  in  Gainesville,  FL.  The  school  offers  a  challenging  academic  program,  with  more  than  10  AP  Classes  and  over  20  college  courses.  The  dual  enrollment  classes  are  offered  through  a  partnership  with  Southeastern  University,  a  university  located  in  Lakeland,  Florida.  The  dual-­‐credit  courses  are  taught  by  the  school’s  faculty  on  campus  during  the  regular  school  day,  but  credit  is  awarded  for  successful  comple@on  of  the  course  by  Southeastern  University.  Because  SEU  is  an  accredited  school,  these  credits  can  be   transferred   to   any   college  or   university   aker   gradua@on.   The   school   also  offers   free   ESL   classes   for   Interna@onal   students   and  a  variety  of  elec@ve  classes,  such  as  studio  art,  music,  drama  &  ac@ng,  physical  educa@on,  technology,  and  leadership.  With  small  class  sizes  (12  to  18  students),  teachers  are  able  to  focus  on  each  student’s  needs  and  help  them  achieve  their  College  and  University  goals.  "Graduates  of  The  Rock  School  go  on  to  a?end  colleges  and  universi@es  all  over  the  United  States.  97%  of  all  alumni  have  a?ended  college,  and  over  the  past  five  years,  more  than  65%  went  directly  on  to  a  four-­‐year  college.  The  Rock  School  boasts  an  87%  acceptance  rate  among  students  applying   to   the  University  of  Florida  as   freshmen.  At  present,   the  school  has  alumni   in  doctoral  degree  programs   for  den@stry,  medicine,  pharmacy,   and  optometry.  More   than  90%  of   The  Rock’s   interna@onal   students   a?end  a   four-­‐year  university   in   the  USA  aker  gradua@ng.  "Students  in  middle  and  high  school  each  receive  an  iPad  for  school  and  home  use.  Every  classroom  is  fi?ed  with  large  screen  televisions,  Apple  TVs,  and  desktop  computers  that  allow  both  teachers  and  students  to  ac@vely  par@cipate  in  teaching  and  learning.  Digital  textbooks  have   replaced   the   need   for   large   heavy   backpacks,   and   online   learning   plaoorms   give   students   and   parents   access   to   class   materials  any@me.    "The  athle@c  department  of  The  Rock  School  is  dedicated  to  enriching  the  lives  of  its  student-­‐athletes  through  sports.  The  school  has  very  compe@@ve  athle@c  teams  that  prove  that  hard  work  and  dedica@on  translates  to  success  on  the  playing  field  and  on  the  court.  Students  who   are   selected   to   play   at   The   Rock’s   basketball   and   volleyball   teams   have   had   a   98%   college   and   university   scholarship   offers.   The  Philadelphia  76ers  NBA  player  Joel-­‐Hans  Embiid  is  a  proud  alumni  of  The  Rock  School.  "Number  of  Students:  300  Grades:  Pre-­‐K  to  12  School  website:  www.therocklions.com     "

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AGE  REQUIREMENT  

Middle  School:  11  to  13  years  old  

High  School:  14  to  18  years  old  

"""SCHOOL  DETAILS  

ESOL/ESL  classes:  Yes  

Sports:  Yes    

12th  grade  students:  Yes  

GraduaJon:  Yes  

The   Rock   School   Boarding   Program   is   located   off-­‐campus   at   a   beau@ful   apartment   complex   just   minutes   from   the   school.  Accommoda@ons  include  gymnasium,  fitness  center  &  weight  room,  swimming  pool  and  club  house.  Each  apartment  is  fully  furnished  and   beau@fully   decorated.   The   unit   includes   a   complete   kitchen,   large   screen   TV   and   internet   access.   There   are   3   bedrooms   and   2  bathrooms  in  each  apartment  and  students  will  share  the  bedroom  with  another  student  of  the  same  gender.  Bathroom  is  shared  among  the  4   students  who   live   in   the   same  apartment.  There   is  one  Residen@al  Assistant   (RA)  per  apartment.  The  RA   is  a  peer  advisor  and  educator  who  is  responsible  for  fostering  a  coopera@ve  environment  which  contributes  to  the  academic  success  and  personal  growth  of  each  resident.    

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"Boarding  Details  "

• 3  bedroom  apartment  

• 2  students  per  room  (2  rooms)  

• 1  Residen@al  Assistant  (RA)  

• RA  single  room  &  bathroom  

• 1  bathroom  for  4  students  

• 3  meals  a  day  

• School  transporta@on    

• Books  &  Uniforms  included  

• Medical  Insurance  

• Weekend  trips  and  ac@vi@es  

THE  ROCK  SCHOOL  BOARDING  FACILITIES

HIGH  SCHOOL  PROGRAM  USA

GAINESVILLE  -­‐  FLORIDA

ExchangeMate  USA  -­‐  www.exchangemateusa.com  -­‐  info@exchangemateusa.com