I am thrilled that Bright Spot Therapy Dog Coco has agreed to be my weekly guest blogger again this year. At the end of each week, she brightens my day when I read about all the comfort and caring she has brought to the students and staff at the Robert E. Melican Middle School in Northborough, Massachusetts, where her Mom, Michelle Karb, is the assistant principal.
I’m certain my readers who followed her weekly reports last year are as happy as I am to know that she plans to continue her meaningful work at the school and that we get to read all about it. Those who are new to Say Hello Spot are in for a therapy dog treat. Coco never missed a single week blogging!
So, without further ado… written in her own words… Here’s Coco:
It is so great to be back at school with Mom! To start the year, I will be working Wednesdays and Fridays. Our school also has another certified therapy dog, Molly, who will be working Tuesdays and Thursdays. Molly is our guidance counselor’s (Julie’s) dog. Because of my work last year, Julie pursued therapy dog certification through Bright Spot. Our first week at school was exciting and fun – we both worked very hard, and our week culminated with a parade on Saturday. Mom and I are both exhausted, but we had a wonderful time working with students and adults.
Molly, the new Bright Spot Therapy Dog at Melican Middle School
The two days are a bit of a blur for me. I worked hard. Of course Mom and I start each day practicing obedience and then delivering classroom coverage slips to teachers’ rooms. Wednesday, Mom and I presented to 5 sixth grade classes. On Friday, we presented to the other 5 sixth grade classes. Mom explained exactly what a therapy dog is and what it is not, talked about the work I did last year, the plans for Molly and me this year, and how any student who wants to can have some time with Molly and/or me. Mom used a PowerPoint to present, but the part of her presentation that students responded to best was when she asked about the different types of pets students have. Many students have dogs and cats, but some have snails, ferrets, fish, rabbits, and the list goes on. Mom asked students about that “feeling” they get when they pet their dogs, snuggle with their bunnies, or watch their fish swim, and all students could identify with that. Next, she shared with them what she saw when they walked into the classroom before her presentation began – huge smiles, shoulders lowering, much calmer and happier students than they were before they knew I would be with them. She connected this “feeling” to the purpose of the therapy dog program at school. Kids really seemed to get it. She also reviewed very specific reasons for the program, basic student guidelines, and shared my work from last year. Of course, I was the star of the presentations, and I just sat there next to Mom, or lay on the cool floor. Every time I heard my name, though, my tail thumped and, of course, the students loved that.
Between presentations, I worked with many students in one-on-one settings, and in small group studies. On Wednesday, Mom and I met with a seventh grade boy – he is new to our school this year – who has life-threatening medical conditions. He and I instantly bonded. He hugged me, and talked to Mom about his treatments and how he is feeling. Friday, he shared his story with his class, and I sat next to him, providing him some comfort. He was very brave to share his story with his classmates, and Mom and I are proud of him.
On Thursday, there was a student who would not get out of her mother’s car to come to school. She was having a very hard day. Mom “borrowed” Molly and walked out to the car. As soon as she saw the dog, the girl (through her tears) opened the car door and started petting Molly. Mom explained that she and Molly really needed her to come into the building, and after a few seconds, she did – nice work, Molly!
On Friday, I saw so many students. I worked with students in our Transitional Learning Center – one boy said, “I am addicted to Coco,” which made my mother laugh. Later in the day, another boy came down to the office because a student was making fun of him, and he was crying. He petted me while Mom talked with him, gathered the details, and offered him support. One sixth grader set up an appointment to meet with Mom and me. She said, “I’m not much of a dog person – no offense – but when I saw Coco, I instantly fell in love with her and I just knew I had to meet her.” She said she has never met a dog as calm as I am.
At the end of the day Friday, I went outside at dismissal with Mom. As students exited the building to board the buses, over a hundred of them petted me. Many told me to have a nice weekend. Some thanked Mom for bringing me. Some said they couldn’t wait until next week to see me again.
On Saturday, Mom and I, Julie and Molly, and several students led our school’s float in Northborough’s AppleFest parade. It was great to meet Molly – since she and I will not be working on the same days at school, it was nice to have a chance to meet one another – we instantly bonded, knew we were there to work, and got to business, marching in the parade. As we walked the parade route, many children and adults recognized me, yelling my name and talking about me with others. There were lots of smells, sounds, and other dogs in the parade and along the parade route, but we focused on what we were doing. After we finished the parade, I enjoyed the ride back to school, feeling the cool air overcome me, and welcoming the smells I was able to experience. Mom helped her principal and band director bring everything from the float back into the school and, though I was very tired, I stuck with Mom, in and out of the building, up and down the stairs. I slept the whole ride home, and spent most of the rest of the day sleeping. The parade route was only a mile, but the over-stimulation was exhausting for me.
I am looking forward to the year at school. Mom says in four days, Molly and I made a significant difference for the students and staff at Melican. ~Coco