In September 2003, the School at RMH Toronto opened in response to the increase in long-term stays of families at the House. Prior to this time, patients staying at the House were eligible for half an hour a day of tutoring through hospitals in Toronto and siblings did not have access to this service. At the School at RMH Toronto, siblings and patients can now attend class every day.

The School is important for both patients and siblings for a variety of reasons:

• Attending class provides a sense of normalcy for children during a very difficult and unpredictable time.
• It helps children maintain academic standing throughout treatment so they don’t fall behind while undergoing care in Toronto.
• Our teacher facilitates reintegration into home schools.
• The classroom is a safe environment for children to talk about their emotions and make social connections with other kids in similar situations.
• School gives students an alternative focus to their illness during a traumatic time.

Our school teacher is responsible for providing educational support to the twenty-eight families staying at the House. A classroom is located in the House and serves as a one-room schoolhouse for children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Twelve. All lessons and units follow the Ontario Curriculum.

School is much more than reading, writing and arithmetic here at RMH Toronto. Every week, students travel to a local university for Physical Education. Once a month, students travel on a field trip to complement the themes being studied. In addition, school fairs are held monthly. At these special events, students celebrate their learning by leading educational centres. Parents and staff are invited to join in the fun.