It’s been another great week for our guest blogger Coco. Her co-worker, Bright Spot Therapy Dog Molly keeps a busy schedule at the school, as well. It’s nice when Coco includes Molly in her posts, too. Read on….
I went to school with Mom Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week, and Molly went Tuesday and Thursday. It was a great week, with lots of walks and lots of attention from students and staff. The terrific weather was a definite bonus for the week before school vacation.
Monday I spent time in the behavior specialist’s room, helping keep students calm, and giving some of them a reason to get some school work done. I met with lots students with Mom and I got to take walks with students and staff members. After school, I attended the faculty meeting with Mom. Before it began, several teachers came up to pet me and talk to Mom about me.
Wednesday was an interesting day at school. It was Community Reading Day in the town of Northborough, so thirty-one people from the community came to read to the thirty-one different homerooms. After the event, Mom and I stood in the lobby to say good-bye to the readers and to thank them. Many of them petted me and talked to Mom. One woman, who is a doctor, talked to Mom about having me visit in the locked psych unit at her hospital. Evidently she was instrumental in recently creating an animal policy for the hospital, and the counselors have been begging for a therapy dog to come. I have no idea what a psych unit is, but Mom says I would do fine working in one. If we do work there, Mom says we will need to go through some additional training this summer.
Another woman talked to Mom about having her dogs become therapy dogs through Bright Spot. Apparently she used to belong to another therapy dog organization. She seemed excited to meet me, and wanted Mom and me to meet her two Newfoundlands that were in her car. They are wonderful and calm dogs and, in my opinion, would be great therapy dogs. Mom and their handler talked about therapy dog work and about dogs in general. The conversation was pleasant enough, but I was more interested in the two huge dogs (mother and daughter) from champion bloodlines, whatever that means.
Thursday was another busy day at school. Both Molly and I were there. Because the weather was gorgeous, we took many walks outside with students. It feels like spring is here, and students were very appreciative of the walks they took with us. I met one student on Wednesday when we took a walk, and then we walked again on Thursday. She has been struggling with some issues and she, Mom, and I connected this week and will continue to meet after vacation. Molly and I also went outside to watch some students play basketball. While we were out there with Mom, the head custodian came over to spend some time with us. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood this week – not sure if it was the beautiful weather or the fact that vacation was coming . . . probably a bit of both.
The funniest thing happened on Thursday at the end of the day – Molly and I were sound asleep in Mom’s office because we were exhausted from our busy day. Mom was next door in the principal’s office. At some point, Mom came out of the principal’s office and walked over to the PA system and started making an announcement to the entire school. I saw Mom and I started barking like crazy. I had been sound asleep, but suddenly I saw Mom and I wanted to be with her. After school, many students and teachers asked Mom if I was helping with the announcements . . . I guess they all heard me through the classroom speakers. Very funny! No, I just missed my mom and wanted to be closer to her.
Since I worked two days in a row, Mom gave me Friday off. I spent most of the day sleeping. Mom says she wished I had been there, though, for one student in particular. A sixth grader, who has only been at Mom’s school for three weeks, was having a difficult day. He and I met earlier this week. He is living with his grandparents and he is really missing his mother, who lives in a different state. He came down to spend some time with Mom, but was hoping to spend some time with me. Mom says she helped him, but that I would have done a much better job. The student and I will connect after vacation – we will have at least two visits each week. I think we will become very good friends.
Mom and I are excited for a week’s vacation from school. I will miss the students, but I am looking forward to hiking and walking with Mom, and relaxing and napping. My little sister, Sophie, is having her evaluation on Thursday to become a Bright Spot Therapy Dog. I hope she does well! ~Coco