School’s Cool is a six-week kindergarten readiness program created by SIRCH to help children succeed in school and in life. School’s Cool has been delivered by many different organizations to children throughout Canada.
Impact: In 2018, the average developmental increase in language, math, social, self-help and psychological skills of the 33 children evaluated was 88 weeks.
Evaluation by Guelph University professor Dr. Susan Chuang and by third party evaluators over many years and with thousands of children show that School’s Cool increases the skill areas of math, language, psychological, social and self-help skills by an average of 1 year of development!
In Haliburton County, SIRCH partners with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board to deliver the six week program to children who will be entering kindergarten in the fall (or children who have not done well in JK and need a boost). Pre- and post-evaluation (by a third-party evaluator) of the 35 children who went through School’s Cool in the summer of 2018, showed that the children gained an average of 87 weeks (almost a year and a half) in language, math, social, self-help and psychological skill! Get more information.
Up to 22 children in a group, ages 3 to 5 years of age, take part in a play-based curriculum held during July and August. Although the location varies, the programs are held in one or more kindergarten classrooms of the Trillium Lakelands District School Board. The fun activities prepare children for the challenges and opportunities of kindergarten. Children typically increase their language, math, self-help, psychological and social skills by up to one year in development over the 6 weeks of the program.
Three trained instructors provide a low teacher-to-student ratio so all children receive quality time. Because instructors focus on each child’s strengths, it is a positive, often life-changing, experience for children. Children start school in the fall enthusiastic and ready for success.
For more information about School’s Cool, go to www.schoolscool.com or call 705-457-1742