With all the snow days we have been having here in western Massachusetts, three-day school weeks have been common. But, while she is there, Coco always manages to touch the lives of many at the Melican Middle School. And, she never fails to write up a report on her work as a Bright Spot Therapy Dog…
I had another interesting week at school. Monday and Tuesday were snow days, and Thursday was a half-day for students because of parent-teacher conferences. I went to school with Mom on Wednesday and Friday this week.
Wednesday was a very long day for me, leaving the house with Mom at 5:15 a.m. and returning home at 9:45 p.m. I was so happy to get back to work! I spent the day meeting with students and Mom, and working in the behavior specialist’s room. Since students had just returned from four days off because of the two snow days, Mom says it was wonderful to have me there to help them transition back. Some students have a very difficult time getting back into their routines so for many, spending time with me was very beneficial.
It always surprises Mom to see how many students want to pet me when I am in the halls with her. Generally, I do not walk in the halls as students are passing from class to class, but sometimes I do. Inevitably, many students ask to pet me, and hundreds of students touch me, say something nice, and keep moving. Of course I love all the attention and Mom says the students instantly smile when they see me. It is pretty amazing to be such an integral part of the school community.
After school, I napped in the car while Mom supervised a basketball game at the regional high school. I really needed that nap! Finally, we went back to school, where Mom attended a School Committee meeting. The plan for me to go with her to that meeting did not materialize, so I waited very patiently in her office. I have a bed in there and Mom puts some music on so it feels like my second home.
Friday was another exciting day for me. Throughout the day, I spent time meeting with students with Mom, I spent time with the guidance counselor and students, and I spent lots of time in the behavior specialist’s room as I always do. I consider the behavior specialist my second mother since I spend so much time with her and the many students who spend parts of their days in that room. I think the students in there also consider the behavior specialist to be their second mother – maybe their first mother in some cases. It does feel like a close-knit family in that room. Students lean on one another, talk each other through difficult situations, and look to guidance from the behavior specialist. Mom says I am a significant part of that family.
After morning homeroom, I met a student who was starting her first day with us. She recently moved here from New Hampshire. She petted me as Mom talked to her. She has her own dog and LOVES dogs, so this was a nice way to break the ice with her. Next, eight students came to Mom’s office to spend time with me, and talk to Mom and each other. Mom had called four of them down to her office, but apparently she forgot that she had already told four others to come at that time. We all squeezed into Mom’s office for ten minutes or so. I couldn’t have been happier with all those hands petting me at the same time.
Mom and I also led a sixth grade boys’ lunch group. I slept at Mom’s feet while the seven boys ate and played a game. As they finished eating, each one came to sit with me and pet me. Mom and I usually attend the last five minutes of this lunch group so the boys can spend time with me after they eat but, as we did once before, we were in charge of the group this time. Listening to the boys chatter about silly things (the funniest things they have ever done, trouble they have gotten into, etc.) is very calming to me. Each of them gave me a hug on his way to class, and I got to clean up some crumbs on the floor while Mom washed down the table.
After school, two former students visited Mom for a few minutes. They are currently juniors in high school. It was interesting to listen to them talk to Mom about school, working, and the “old days” of middle school. As they talked to Mom about their rebellious middle school years, they petted me. Mom explained that we have two therapy dogs that spend time at school. One of them said, “I wish we had dogs at school when we went here – they would have really helped me. I would have come down a lot to spend time with them.” The other student agreed.
To culminate the day, Mom sat on the floor with me as she, the principal, and the guidance counselor filled one another in on the day’s happenings. As I drifted in and out of sleep, I couldn’t help but think about how difficult life is for middle school students and their families and what a privilege it is to work with such a committed and caring staff. ~Coco