Start a Running & Reading Club in Your School
Same award-winning program. Powered by you.
You don't need to be a charity to change a child's life. If you're a principal, teacher, or school staff member who believes every child deserves access to quality literacy and well-being programming — you can make it happen right in your own school.
The School-Led Running & Reading Club (R&R Club) puts the power in your hands. Start2Finish provides everything you need — curriculum, books, journals, running shoes, nutrition, training, and ongoing support. You bring the passion, the space, and the students!
Why This Matters
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1 in 5
Canadian children lives in poverty — affecting their readiness to learn, their health, and their futures
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39%
of Ontario Grade 3 students did not meet the provincial reading standard in 2023–24 — up for the third year in a row
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61%
of Canadian youth do not meet daily physical activity guidelines
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3-6 PM
is the after-school window when children are most vulnerable — and most in need of support
The children who need after-school learning and well-being supports the most are the least likely to have access to them. Cost, geography, and a shortage of qualified programs all stand in the way.
The School-Led Running & Reading Club is built to close this gap — meeting children where they already are, in the schools they trust.
What Is the School-Led Running & Reading Club?
The School-Led Running & Reading Club is Start2Finish's traditional Running & Reading Club (R&R Club) model — delivered by your school's own teachers, staff and school volunteers, rather than by external S2F volunteer coaches.
It is the same evidence-based, 32-week holistic curriculum that has produced measurable results for over 250,000 children across Canada. The difference is who runs it: you do. This gives you more flexibility to select the school facilities and weekly timing that works for you.
Each Session Includes:
Sessions run one afternoon per week for two hours, from October through late May/early June. The program culminates in a regional year-end championship where your students run a 5 km race and compete in a jeopardy-style reading challenge alongside R&R Club participants from other local communities.
Fitness
Regular movement reduces stress and activates “feel good” endorphins, building physical stamina, improving cognitive function, fostering confidence, and giving children a sense of accomplishment they carry into every other part of their lives.
Social-Emotional Learning
Structured social-emotional learning (SEL) activities teach children how to regulate emotions, overcome challenges, manage conflict and build friendships, skills that help them navigate challenges both in and out of the classroom.
Recognition
Closing out sessions with teacher-awarded "shout-outs" that celebrate children's effort and improvement helps to foster motivation, self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Sessions run one afternoon per week for two hours, from October (or January) through late May/early June. The program culminates in a regional year-end championship where your students run a 5 km race and compete in a jeopardy-style reading challenge alongside R&R Club participants from other local communities.
What Start2Finish Provides:*
Your school provides: a dedicated space for in-person sessions, staff time to facilitate the program, adherence to the program framework and curriculum, and a commitment to the children you serve.
*SOME EXCEPTIONS MAY APPLY: Our program coordinator will confirm the supplies and materials provided prior to program launch.
Literacy Activities & Reading
When children see themselves reflected through diverse books and supportive mentors, they develop a greater enjoyment of reading, engage more deeply with literacy, and build the confidence to see themselves as capable readers.
When you start a School-Led R&R Club, Start2Finish supplies everything your program needs — at no cost to your school.
32-week R&R Club curriculum — developed by our in-house pedagogist and validated by independent researchers and other literacy experts
Program manuals and student journals — for every participant
A curated set of culturally relevant books — aligned with the literacy curriculum
A brand-new pair of running shoes — for every child in the program
Grocery gift cards to purchase nutritious snacks — for every in-person session
Event materials and resources — for the year-end championship
Comprehensive teacher and staff training — in-person and/or virtual, before the program begins
Ongoing support and check-ins — from the Start2Finish team throughout the year
Access to our evaluation tools — to track participant progress and outcomes
A Nutritious Snack
A healthy snack — which for some participants may be the only healthy nutrition they receive that day — refuels children's bodies and prepares their brains for learning.
How to Start a Club in Your School
Getting started is simple!
STEP 1: Express Interest – Fill out our short interest form and a Start2Finish program coordinator will reach out to discuss if your school is a fit.
STEP 2: Complete Training – Once approved, your program leads attend our R&R Club teacher training — available in-person or virtually.
STEP 3: Receive Your Program Kit – Before Club launch, your school receives all materials including the curriculum manual, books, journals, and snack and prize gift cards for Term 1.
STEP 4: Launch Your Club – Your first session begins in either October or January. We'll check in regularly throughout the year to offer support, answer questions, and celebrate your students' progress!