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Spring Into 2009: Celebrating Success

Leacock to Fund 2009 Literacy Day Camps: For many children living in Toronto’s inner city communities, the summer months can mean long, hot days with little to do and nowhere to go. For too many students, it can also be a timewhen they are at the greatest risk of losing important gains made during the school year.


In 2009 this program will provide up to 150 children with four weeks of summertime learning, laughter and enrichment in four locations across the city, for less than $940 per child. Our goal: a fun summer and an academic head start on the school year ahead. Are you curious to learn more about what happens at literacy day camp? Visit us here.

Expert opinions confirm the need for more school: In 2008 we commissioned a study to evaluate the literacy day camp program’s effectiveness. The study, undertaken by OISE academic Steven Katz confirmed that our camps are meeting a need by helping at-risk students from falling behind in the summer months. Read more about why this type of program is needed in Toronto.


We gratefully acknowledge the support of Branksome Hall, Crescent School, Havergal College, the TDSB and York University’s Faculty of Education for its support of the 2008 program and are grateful for the dedicated leadership of Camp Directors Christina Braid, Audrey Fung, and Jill Strimas, their staff and volunteers. Stay tuned for announcements about our 2009 program.

Our staff expands: Judy MacLellan has joined our team in the newly created position as Triangle of Hope Program Director. Judy is a 30-year education veteran, and as the retired Head of Junior and Middle Schools at Toronto's Branksome Hall, she is ideally suited for this part time role which will provide greater support to our school partnerships.


This is so important, especially in light of the findings from the Honourable Roy McMurtry and Dr. Alvin Curling’s report on the “Roots of Youth Violence”. We know that our programs already address a number of the root causes identified in this report by creating positive opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive making a positive difference in our communities. Judy’s new role will provide added supports to front line educators and the students who inspire them.

The Triangle Partnership program expands: In Toronto, we welcome our newest independent school partner- Greenwood College, to be partnered with Woburn Junior Public School in Scarborough and the Get Ahead Project School in Whittlesea, South Africa. The partnership was launched this past January when 16 student and 2 staff volunteers from Greenwood, and volunteer staff members from Woburn launched an eight week after-school leadership program for Grade 5 students. The program will draw from Greenwood College students' recreational experiences in order to tap into Woburn students’ leadership potential as they approach their senior public years.

Other established partnerships include:

• Havergal College and Derrydown Public School: Triangle of Hope Toronto- based programs funded at Derrydown include a Monday night parenting program, homework club, Saturday morning program, music program, Join the Dance, Debate club and literacy day camp 2008. Last year, Havergal College donated a number of desks to Derrydown PS and dedicated proceeds from its Celebration Saturday to Leacock programs in addition to dedicating hundreds of volunteer hours to the Saturday morning program. Director of Student Life, Barb Macintosh recently travelled to the GAP School in South Africa to build upon Havergal’s connection with their South African partner.

• Crescent School and Firgrove Public School: Firgrove receives added supports from the Ministry of Education/TDSB for its involvement in the model school initiative so in 2008 Leacock funded its literacy day camp. Crescent boys visit Firgrove weekly to provide high ratio tutoring as part of the Youth to Youth Coalition, and a group of staff and students will traveled to the GAP School this past March 2009 to deliver programs related to their global outreach initiative.

• Branksome Hall and Rose Avenue Public School: the programs undertaken at Rose Avenue PS include Music and Jump math and peace builders, and literacy day camp 2008. Two grade four classes from each school recently shared an author visit! In addition to dedicating hundreds of volunteer hours to the Rose’s music and math programs, a group of Branksome Hall staff and students traveled to the GAP School this past March 2009 to deliver programs related to their global outreach initiative.

• Kingsway College School: Kingsway College School is a K-8 independent school in Toronto's east end. It raises funds for the Triangle of Hope program, and has done so for many years now. A recent donation received from the school will allow Leacock to furnish two new pre-school classrooms at the Whittlesea GAP School in South Africa.