With just one full week left to the school year, Coco continues to help the students and staff at the Robert E. Melican Middle School.
Here’s Coco…
I went to school with Mom on Monday and Wednesday this week. As usual, I enjoyed myself and I know I helped many students and adults.
On Monday, Mom and I started the day delivering classroom coverage slips and working on some obedience in the halls. Although I am not taking a class right now, I still enjoy practicing obedience, and Mom says it is important for me to remain obedient and to work that part of my brain, whatever that means. I worked with the guidance counselor with many students, and with the behavior specialist with several small groups of students. Students also took me for walks outside (with Mom). Students seem to enjoy the conversation and they love taking a break from their school day to spend time walking me.
Wednesday at school brought more of the same for me – obedience, lots of times with students, many walks outside with students, and some walks with adults (no students). Mom says that the adults need my support as much as students and that many of them ask for me when I am not there just like the students do. I know I help keep Mom calm, especially this time of year when things are especially stressful.
At the end of the day Wednesday, I waited with Mom outside at the buses. I would soon be reminded that I am important to the bus drivers, as well as to students and staff within the school building. Before the students were dismissed for the day, one of the bus drivers told us that the driver for bus 11, Anne, had to have her chocolate lab “put down” the day before and that she had not talked to anyone about it. Mom and I know her – she often comes out of her bus to spend some time with me, and she and Mom talk about dogs. I could tell that this interaction would be important for me and for Anne. Mom and I walked down toward bus 11, and I sat and waited patiently like I always do. Anne completed her safety check and then got off her bus and slowly walked toward us. She told Mom about her dog, and then she knelt down facing me, crying, holding my head, looking into my eyes, and kissing me. “Why do we do this to ourselves?” she asked me through her tears. I guess she was referring to the pain that inevitably comes with saying good-bye and letting go. Mom said something about it being the hardest part, but still so worth it. Through me, Anne was finally able to talk about the loss and cry about it. Mom says this is an important part of the grieving process. Another driver walked over to us and hugged Anne, and she was able to cry and talk with him about losing her dog. Mom says I helped Anne just by being me, and she was very proud of me.
After the buses departed, Mom and I joined students in the TLC program as they played Apples to Apples. They loved my company and I enjoyed being part of the laughter and overall good feeling that comes from being with students after school having fun. We met Dad and Sophie in Palmer so Mom could take Sophie to class in Greenfield. Dad brought me home and I was able to relax with my brother, Toby.
As usual, I had a great time at Mom’s school this week. I worked with many students and adults. Next week is the last full week of school and I am sure it will be busy. The guidance counselor and Mom are planning for a “special” last-day celebration next Friday for me, where they will make sure the students who are most connected to me get to spend extra time with me. I will miss the kids over the summer, but I am sure Mom will keep me busy. ~Coco