Strong Start® Charitable Organization is proud to announce a new partnership with the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) to deliver the Letters, Sounds and Words™ program to schools across the district. This collaboration will provide targeted literacy support to children in Year 2 Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2, helping them build the foundational skills necessary for reading success.
Letters, Sounds and Words is a unique 10-week program that supports children ages 5-9 in acquiring essential reading skills through fun, engaging activities. Trained community volunteers work one-on-one with students to reinforce their understanding of letters and sounds; practice phonemic awareness and sound-blending capabilities; and learn to read words—critical components of early literacy.
“We are thrilled to partner with LDCSB to bring this valuable program to even more children,” said Machelle Denison, Chief Executive Officer of Strong Start. “Together, we can help children build the skills and confidence they need to become successful readers, setting them up for a bright future.”
The LDCSB is equally excited about the potential impact of this program. “The Strong Start Reading Program is an incredibly effective way to engage students who struggle with reading, building their confidence and skills through targeted support,” says Andre Kelly, Principal at St. George Catholic Elementary School, London ON. “The Letters, Sounds, and Words Program has a noticeable impact on students’ reading abilities, helping them develop essential literacy foundations. Additionally, it provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and community members to get involved, working one-on-one with students to support their reading journey and foster a love for learning.”
With this partnership, Strong Start and the LDCSB aim to reach more children across the district, working together to create a generation of confident, capable readers. This work is part of Strong Start’s broader goal to bring the Letters, Sounds and Words program to 750 more schools across Ontario in 750 days, ensuring even more children are equipped with the tools they need to flourish.
Strong Start also partners with the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) who implemented the program in 2018. To date, 1,628 TVDSB children have received literacy support thanks to the time and dedication of 1,022 volunteers, who have contributed 16,363 volunteer hours. This year, four schools in the TVDSB are running the program.
For a full list of schools offering the program in the Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford region, please click here.
For more information about the Letters, Sounds and Words program and how it is making a difference in schools, click here.
About Strong Start® Charitable Organization
Strong Start® is a registered Canadian charity that helps children learn to read. Its programs involve working with children directly in addition to providing resources for families to support the development of strong literacy skills. Strong Start works through partnerships with schools, community centres, educators, and thousands of volunteers to create lifelong readers. For 23 years, Strong Start has been helping children and families across Ontario with the flagship program, Letters, Sounds and Words™. In 2024, Strong Start celebrated helping over 60,000 children learn to read.
About the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB)
The London District Catholic School Board seeks to develop in its students a love of God, people and self, an appreciation of prayer and a moral foundation to assist them as they journey through life. Catholic schools provide a complete academic program in an environment that integrates learning, religious instruction, Gospel values, and spiritual formation into all aspects of the curriculum. The schools have strong links to parishes.
The administrative, teaching and support staff are dedicated to teaching learners in a student-centered educational community. This philosophy nurtures values, skills and the ability to learn based on each student’s potential and is directly linked to well defined and measurable outcomes.