In the midst of snowstorms and school cancellations, Coco continued her work at the Melican Middle School in Northborough, Massachusetts. Here’s what she’s been up to on this shortened school week…
This week was another busy one at school for Molly and me. Molly went to school with her mother, Julie, on Tuesday and Thursday, and I went with Mom on Wednesday and Friday. There was a snow day on Monday, but she and I covered the rest of the week.
Molly was so excited to get back to work after missing all of last week (due to snow days and a half day for students). She really missed her student friends and she could tell the students missed her, too. She got a lot of extra hugs and attention as soon as she came back on Tuesday.
One student was asked to stay after school Tuesday with Julie to catch up on some work. The student was reluctant to stay after, but he was happy to know that Molly would be staying after with him, too. This is a student who has regular visits with Molly and me, but having a whole hour with a dog was a real treat. Instead of getting right to work, the student spent a few minutes petting and talking with Molly, and then he eased into doing some work. Molly never left his side for the entire hour; she lay at his feet while he read and worked on some missing assignments. At one point, he and Julie joked about how hard we therapy dogs work, but we don’t take home a paycheck. The student replied, I think love is pay enough for them. I agree.
Tuesday night, the principal and some student support staff members met with fifth grade parents of special education students. The principal showed Mom the program for the night, and Molly and I were listed as student supports at the middle school…that’s pretty neat.
On Wednesday, Mom and I dropped my sister, Sophie, off at the vet on our way to school. As soon as I arrived at school, Mom put me to work. As I always do, I spent lots of time in the behavior specialist’s room, helping students feel calmer, and giving many of them chances to take me outside for a brief walk in the cold. Mom and I met with so many students one-on-one and in groups. One student, who sees me every day I am at school, lay on the floor with me for several minutes. She explained to Mom that after she visits her mom next week (her parents are divorced), her mother is going to re-home her dog. She was sad when she talked to Mom about this, so I snuggled up a little closer to her.
After school, the principal and Mom had a difficult conversation with a teacher. I lay at Mom’s feet throughout this meeting – Mom says I helped ease the tension in the office. Mom and I then traveled to Greenfield, where we spent some time with our friend in the nursing home.
On Friday, I worked with lots of students like I always do. Since it was the day before vacation, the students were full of excitement and anxiety. Mom says for some of them, school is the best, most consistent and caring place, and it is difficult to know vacation is coming.
I also spent some time with one of my “regular” student friends. This student has had some transitions in his family that have, unfortunately, taken his own dog away from him. Naturally, he values his time with Molly and me very much and often says we remind him of his family dog. This student has the option to be active during his meeting time and sometimes chooses to play basketball. However, on Friday, he sat down on the floor with me right away and gave me a lot of love. I immediately put my head on the student’s lap and snuggled up with him. I could tell he really needed me. We sat in silence for a little while and then the student said, I really miss doing this with my dog. We used to just sit together like this for hours and hours. The student didn’t talk too much during our visit and he didn’t need to. It was a very special moment between the student and me…
I will miss the attention I get at school, but I am looking forward to resting and relaxing over the next week or so. ~Coco