By Sheldon Spackman

Yummy Support

Smile Cookies back to support Reading College program

Sep 16, 2019 | 2:39 PM

Struggling young readers in Red Deer once again stand to benefit from this year’s annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign.

The campaign which runs nationally from Sept. 16 – 22, allows Canadians to purchase a smile cookie for one dollar, with all proceeds supporting a local charity.

In Red Deer, for the eighth year in a row, proceeds will go to the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools and their Reading College program, a month-long program held each July for struggling young readers entering Grade 3.

Foundation executive director Bruce Buruma says Reading College truly inspires its young students to enjoy reading and writing.

“We’ve been partners with the local Tim Hortons for a number of years and they just are so inspired by this program and the difference it makes and that’s why we rely on this support from the community,” he exclaims. “The Optimist Clubs are a founding sponsor for that program and when Tim Hortons came on, it was really important because we need that to make the program sustainable, so they’re huge partners in making this possible.”

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Buruma points out in the early years of school, students are learning to read, but as they get older, begin reading to learn.

“One of the best predictors of high school completion is whether or not a child is at reading level at the end of Grade 3,” he explains. “So it just makes sense that if these kids are struggling at the end of Grade 2, we provide them those interventions and supports and it’s just going to increase their chances of being more successful in school and that means more successful in life.”

“It’s the perfect time to do it,” adds Buruma. “These kids know that they’re struggling, they want to get better, so they work so darn hard over the summer. We mix that up with some really great fun activities and the kids love it.”

Each year, officials with the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools say the Reading College program helps roughly 60 struggling young readers.

Students are offered what is described as a literacy-rich environment where they receive support to develop their literacy skills and become excited to read and write.

Reading College is hosted each year at Red Deer College, who Buruma acknowledges as a major partner in the program.

“We have some of our best literacy teachers who are working with that,” says Buruma. “We also hire recent graduates from Red Deer College. Red Deer College is a huge partner in this program and just having the program on site makes a big difference because it really shows those students that college is a possibility down the road.”

Buruma notes Red Deerians bought 30,000 cookies during the 2018 Smile Cookie Campaign.

“That’s $30,000 that’s going to the Reading College program, so we just encourage people to go out there and buy some cookies,” he exclaims. “What a great way to go back to the office and share some cookies with your friends and colleagues and people love that. That’s all that they need to do and they’re making a big difference.”