We haven’t heard from Coco in a week due to her April school vacation. Now, fully-rested, this senior canine is back working full-force as a Bright Spot Therapy Dog at the Robert E. Melican Middle School, helping her mom, Michelle, who is the assistant principal there. Coco’s reports are always inspiring.
Here’s Coco…
It was wonderful getting back to school after our vacation. I went to school Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Molly went to school Tuesday and Thursday.
On Monday morning, two parents came to school to meet with Mom and one of the guidance counselors. The mother asked if I could be present at the meeting. As the four adults met to discuss a student and his very specific needs, I lay on the floor, providing comfort and calm to the parents who were composed but clearly very concerned for their son.
After school on Wednesday, a student fell down a set of stairs. After Mom and some teachers helped get him into a wheelchair and into the health office, Mom and I sat with him to try to help him stay calm. He and I know each other, so it was nice that I was able to spend some time with him as he waited for his mother and the ambulance to arrive. I could tell he was scared and was in serious pain, but I helped calm him and distract him from the pain he was feeling.
One little boy would not come to school Monday and Tuesday. He recently moved here from Florida to live with his grandparents. His mother is still living in Florida and, as anyone can imagine, he misses his mother terribly. He has other struggles, including his learning and his mental health needs, but he still needs to come to school. Mom met with his grandmother on Tuesday and explained that we NEED him to come to school every day so Molly and I can get our early-morning walks. The boy came early on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and made it through his days. He was able to walk me and talk with Mom two or three times each of those days. Mom and I are hopeful that we will be able to continue helping him.
I played basketball with some students and Mom at the very end of the day Friday, a nice reward for students who had met their goals for the week, and a nice way for Mom and the guidance counselor to connect with them before the weekend. I wanted to be involved in the game, which added an interesting dimension to the game. Mom says I set lots of “picks” for her and her teammate – not sure what a pick is, but I guess I was helpful. After school, Mom and the principal worked to create the schedule for upcoming MCAS testing while I napped and rested from the long week.
Throughout the week, Molly and I met with many students and took lots of walks. Mom says we helped students and staff get back into the routine of school, which can be difficult after a nice week off. ~Coco