The St. Lawrence Academy

Where the path to success begins

The first step on the path to success begins in our

Kindergarten Program 

The Pre-K and Kindergarten program at SLA utilizes the Learning Without Tears, Jump Math and Jolly Phonics curriculum. Focussed on creating readers ready for Grade 1, SLA’s Kinder program uses a hands-on learning approach while acknowledging the important of rote learning. It is through this balanced program that we build students ready for the challenges of grade 1.

Jolly Phonics


What is Jolly Phonics Handout

Handwriting Without Tears

Children who master handwriting are better, more creative writers. The earlier we teach children to master handwriting, the more likely they are to succeed in school, and write with speed and ease in all subjects. We use fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate instructional methods to enable children to master handwriting as an automatic and comfortable skill.


JUMP Math is dedicated to helping children succeed at, and enjoy, learning math. There is a strong causal link between a child's academic success and his or her future contribution to society. We strive to increase children’s chances of success, to reduce socio-economic disparities, to engender a sense of belonging and, most importantly, to endow voiceless children with opportunity.

The JUMP Math approach starts with a confidence building exercise that has demonstrably changed children's perceptions of their abilities. By adopting the methods and principles of JUMP Math, schools can teach mathematics to a higher standard, without leaving students behind, and in a cost-effective manner. There will always be differences between students, but we don’t need to exaggerate or highlight them by setting up unnecessary hierarchies. By using materials and methods that minimize differences, teachers can cover more of the curriculum and can narrow or close the wide gap in student performance that exists in most classrooms. (