The Dalton Family: Leaving Rundle a Better Place for the Next Generation

Education has always been a Dalton family value, and when their children were first approaching school-age, Will and Jennifer Dalton knew that independent education was the best fit for their family. They appreciated the smaller class sizes and the ability for teachers to offer more one-on-one attention, they valued the incredible academic and co-curricular programming, and they cherished the relationships built between families in such tight-knit communities. 

They enrolled their two children in respected independent schools, but it was when their son Liam entered grade 6 that they decided to pursue an additional level of support for him. 

“Liam’s need was help with reading,” says Will. Liam entered Rundle Academy in grade 7, and was immediately immersed in a tailored, intensive program to strengthen his reading skills and build his confidence, supported by the incredible teachers and support staff at the school. 

Now in grade 10, Liam is not only excelling academically, he’s also joined two sports teams, is active in the theatre program and has a strong social circle. 

“All schools have great teachers, but Rundle Academy has an amazing team of educators who holistically understand a student’s learning needs, and balances those with their needs as individuals,” says Jennifer. 

“The teachers take time to understand how students learn,” adds Will. “They guide each student through the curriculum in a way that’s meaningful to them, helping all students succeed. Students also learn how to advocate for themselves so that by the time they get to university, they know how they learn, and they’re ready.” 

Recognizing the need for more resources to support students like Liam, the Dalton family wanted to contribute to the Building Futures campaign. 

“We’ve been fortunate to experience schools with world-class facilities, and we’ve seen the benefit they bring to the student experience. Outstanding facilities enhance learning and provide a place for community to grow,” says Will. “For our family, this is a unique opportunity to be part of creating a legacy that will last generations.” 

Already heavily involved with the PAC, community-wide parent socials and fundraising events, the Daltons committed to contributing $50,000 to the Building Futures campaign to build a new Academy building. 

“Independent schools need parental support, and we’re hoping to inspire other families to help make the Building Futures campaign a success,” says Jennifer, adding that while tuition “keeps the lights on, building the incredible new facilities relies entirely upon family and community donations.

“We believe the entire Rundle community will benefit from this building, whether students are graduating before it’s completed or they’re at Rundle College or Studio. It’s creating a much-needed space, which improves Rundle overall,” adds Jennifer. “We have benefitted from other families’ generous donations over the years, so if we can leave our school better than we found it, that’s a wonderful thing.”