For readers new to Say Hello Spot, let me catch you up on the key players mentioned in Coco’s weekly reports: Coco, our main character, is a certified Bright Spot Therapy Dog. She has been a working Therapy Dog for over one year at the Robert E. Melican Middle School in Northborough, Massachusetts . The Mom Coco keeps referring to is her Bright Spot teammate and the assistant principal of the Melican School. The student population of the school is 650. Molly just recently began a certified Bright Spot Therapy Dog and now helps out at the school, as well. Finally, Julie is Molly’s teammate and the school’s guidance counselor. These sweet, gentle Therapy Dogs play important roles at the school – and, thanks to Coco’s weekly reports, we get to read all about the meaningful work they do for students in need.
Here’s Coco…
This week was another busy one for Molly and me. Molly went to school on Tuesday and Thursday, and I went on Wednesday and Friday.
Molly met with many students on Tuesday, taking walks and meeting with students one-on-one and in groups. One student came down to talk with Julie on Tuesday, and Molly was sitting behind Julie’s chair when the student came in. She is a student who has seen Molly a handful of times, but she must have forgotten Molly was there that day. She sat down and when Molly poked her head out, the student realized she was there and said, “Oh, hi, Molly! I love you!” and went over and gave Molly a big hug. It was so nice. Julie and the student had a good conversation and, on the way out, the student walked over to Molly, knelt down in front of her, gave her a kiss, and said, “Bye Molly. I love you.”
On Wednesday, I spent time with many different students, taking walks, and sitting with students while they completed their schoolwork. Mom and I met with a student who explained that his last day would be Friday – he had only been at Mom’s school for four weeks. He was finally beginning to connect with Mom and other adults in the building. I have mentioned him before in my posts, but this boy lived in a motel room for the four weeks he was at Mom’s school. He is very shy and withdrawn, which is to be expected from someone who has changed schools as many times as he has. Evidently, he has moved many times and has attended many schools in his short life. He loves dogs, and the bonds he formed with Molly and me helped him feel like a part of the Melican Middle School. He brushed us and walked us regularly, and he visited staff in the office to try to catch some extra time with Molly or me, whichever one of us was there. He seemed sad telling Mom that he would be moving again.
I also spent time in the behavior specialist’s room with students as they took breaks from their stressful days, completed homework, and spent time bonding with one another. As happens often, each of the custodians and secretaries let me give them kisses, and they petted me and talked to me. It is interesting that so many adults seem to appreciate my presence.
After school, Mom and I went to Greenfield, where she and I visited with our friend in the nursing home there. After that, Mom and I took a nice walk, and then I waited in the car while she helped teach a class at NB Productions.
On Thursday, the student I mentioned above, whose last day would be Friday, came down to visit with Molly in Julie’s office. He sat with her for a long time, just petting her and talking about different dogs he knew. The student shared with Julie that he was moving at the end of the week and that he had actually moved a lot of times in his life. It was going to be hard to have another move, but he said he really liked Mom and Julie’s school in the short time he spent here. He said he really loved seeing Molly and Coco, and he pointed out that out of all of the schools he has attended, “This is the only school that has therapy dogs.” Molly met with many students throughout the day, helping calm those who were upset or anxious, and helping Julie connect to lots of others. Mom says Molly is doing great at school!
On Friday, Mom got very busy with an investigation and subsequent parent and student meetings. As a result, I spent much of my day in the guidance counselor’s office and in the behavior specialist’s room. In those spaces, I was able to work with many students in one-on-one settings and in small groups. The boy I mentioned above, whose last day it was, spent one last time brushing and walking me (with Mom – she took a break from her investigation to say good-bye). Molly and I gave him a special card and present. He have me a long hug before saying good-bye. Mom says I am a huge reason he was able to connect with people at school, and that I helped make his four weeks at school very special – maybe the best four weeks at a school he has had. In the short time he was with us, the student and I developed a deep bond and a special connection – I will miss him.
After school, Mom and I went to the nursing home in Auburn to visit with our friend there. As he always is, he was very happy to see me. He had four milk bones waiting on his table for me. He hugged me, asked me for lots of kisses, and talked with Mom about going home on December 11th. His wife was there at the beginning of the visit, and she was also talking about him going home. Since I am having surgery on Monday, I will not be able to visit him this week. Mom says she will bring my sister, Sophie, to see him on Wednesday. Sophie is in training to become a therapy dog. Our friend seemed excited to meet Sophie, but I could tell he was a little sad that I would not be coming this week.
As we left the nursing home, Mom told me that we would continue visiting there each Friday on our way home. She says a lot of other residents really enjoy my visits, too, and that we should continue. It sounds good to me – I like it there.
~Coco
P.S. I will be recovering from surgery this week – since I will be out of work, I will not be able to write a post next week.