Our Land Acknowledgement shows recognition of and respect for Indigenous peoples from the past and the present. We acknowledge that the property of Richland Academy is situated upon traditional territories of the Anishinabek, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, Mississaugas of the Credit, Mississauga and the Wendat peoples.
Recognizing this land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.
In 2027, our new Senior School campus in Aurora will open its doors to Middle School students (Grades 7–8), with Senior School (Grades 9–12) to follow, offering a thoughtfully designed, purpose-built environment for meaningful learning and growth.
From September 2027, our Junior Campus will continue to be the home of our Kindergarten to Grade 6 students. Our Grade 7 and 8’s will relocate to the new campus, where we will also introduce our first Grade 9 cohort. Each academic year after that will see the introduction of the next grade, until 2030 when the full offering to Grade 12 will be complete.
Although there will be 2 separate campuses, both will continue to deliver Richland Academy’s 21st-century progressive education model, where our students are prepared to be Deeper Thinkers, Confident, and World Ready. The core ideas of the Reggio philosophy will continue to permeate into the Senior Campus with our world-class IB Program providing the framework on which the students’ learning will continue to grow.
With the expansion of our program offering from Kindergarten through to K12, it is logical for the school to expand our IB offerings to eventually include the Diploma Program (DP). We have set ourselves the goal of becoming an IB Continuum school by 2028, making Richland Academy one of only 2 IB Continuum private schools in the York Region.
The new Senior Campus is a retrofit of an existing building and construction work is well underway. The retrofit will include upgrading the building’s structural strength, insulation, and soundproofing. All new HVAC equipment will be installed and all the windows will be replaced to ensure that our students continue to learn in a safe environment.
There will be a 10,000sq ft second floor added within the building, allowing for 9 multipurpose classrooms, 5 dedicated specialty learning spaces, multiple collaboration rooms, and a large gymnasium. There will also be an outdoor field and a recreation area, which will be developed further when the next phase of the site is ready to go.
We’re excited to introduce Mark Schoemer, who will be joining us as our Senior School Principal!
Mr. Schoemer will begin working with our community in September 2026, using the coming year to get to know our students, connect with families, and collaborate closely with faculty. Together, this work will support the thoughtful implementation of programming and resources for our state-of-the-art, student-centred environment from the ground up.
Mr. Schoemer brings a strong background in both Middle and High School leadership, along with extensive experience across the IB continuum. He is known for his thoughtful, people-first approach, prioritizing strong relationships, student wellbeing, and the creation of a learning environment where every student feels known, supported, and inspired.
Mr. Shoemer shares a personal message:
I am very excited to be joining the Richland Academy community as the founding Senior School Principal. Over the course of my career, I have worked in international schools in a range of leadership roles, with a particular focus on building strong academic programs and supportive, student-centered school cultures. Most recently, I have been serving as a founding principal within a multi-pathway high school in Qatar, where I have worked closely with students, staff, and families to establish programs that balance academic rigor with a strong emphasis on well-being and belonging. I have also had the opportunity to teach and lead across the IB continuum, which has given me a strong appreciation for the student journey and the important transitions between each stage of learning.
What drew me to Richland was the clarity of its vision and the strength of its community. It is clear that there is a deep commitment to knowing students well and supporting their growth, both academically and personally. The addition of the Senior School represents an exciting next step, and I look forward to working in partnership with students, families, and colleagues to build a program that is thoughtful, challenging, and supportive, and that reflects the values of the wider Richland community.
On a personal level, I am also a parent, and I understand the importance of choosing a school where children feel known, supported, and encouraged to grow into confident, capable young people. I am grateful for the warm welcome I have already received and very much look forward to getting to know the community in the months ahead.
Warmly,
Mark Schoemer,
Senior School Principal
Phase 1 of the Senior Campus utilises about half of the new site and whilst future plans are still far away, we have already prepared a concept of what the next phase will look like so that we can be sure to accomodate:
