(Supplied/Red Deer Public Schools)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

MAY 3 SMILE COOKIE DAY

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It’s that time of year again: the Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie Campaign is back to raise funds for locally chosen charities across the country in return for a sweet treat.

The official Smile Cookie Day takes place on May 3 at the Timberlands Tim Hortons (#1101 20 Thomlison Avenue) from 9 a.m. to noon. Red Deer Emergency Services and RCMP sheriffs will be there to show off their vehicles and equipment, and a science teacher will conduct a wacky experiment, in support of the campaign.

Held annually, 100 per cent of the proceeds raised during the campaign goes directly to charities. In Red Deer, that charity will be The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools’ Reading College program. Each cookie is $2.

“It’s a program that’s geared for students who are struggling in reading and writing in Grade 2. We take them in July of each year, put them in a rich literacy environment and give them an opportunity to enhance their reading and writing skills,” explained Kevin Shilling, board member for the foundation.

The program is held at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), which provides students with additional activities and experiences like visiting the trades wings and seeing science experiments.

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Best of all, it’s completely free for the students. The foundation provides transportation, food, instructors and activities for the children, so they can focus on showing up and learning at their best, Shilling said.

He added, “Kids that go through the Reading College come into Grade 3 with much more confidence in reading and writing and it really sets them up for success in that year.”

That foundation of success extends even further, as reading scores at this grade level are strong indicators of later success in high school. Shilling said RDP has been conducting a longitudinal study on the success of Reading College participants, which should be released around the end of May.

“Anecdotally, we know that kids come into Grade 3 a lot more prepared to learn more and are more successful,” he said.

This year marks 14 years of Reading College programming, which has seen 800 kids complete it.