Molly, as well as Coco, has become a shining star at Melican Middle School in Northborough, Massachusetts. The pair of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs certainly impressed the reporter who interviewed their teammates, Michelle and Julie, assistant principal and guidance councilor, at the school. Read on as Coco tells about their week…
I went to school with Mom this week on Wednesday and Friday. Molly went with her mom, Julie, on Tuesday and Friday. Mom and Julie were off-site at a training on Thursday, one of Molly’s regularly scheduled days to work at school, so she came on Friday. As usual, both Molly and I worked with many students over the course of the week.
On Wednesday, I worked with students in small groups in the behavior specialist’s room, spending homeroom with a group of them. Students love having me in the room – they walk me, pet me, and talk to me. Next to Mom’s office, this room is the most comfortable space for me at school, one where I spend lots of time. As is the norm in this small room, on Wednesday, there were different configurations of students throughout the day, with some students spending more time there than others. There was chatter and laughter, discussion about physics, ancient civilizations, algebra, and literature, and there was complete silence from time to time as students worked diligently on all types of assignments. There were tears, conversations about life’s struggles, and an overall feeling of support and caring for each other. Students come to this room for various reasons. Some of them need a small group study period (as opposed to being with twenty or more students), some students need portions of their curriculum delivered there one-on-one or in small groups, some students need to take breaks there, and some students simply need a smaller “home base” than the typical homeroom configuration can provide. Mom says students who spend homeroom or one or more periods there each day are doing very well with the extra academic and emotional support they receive. And she says I am an integral component of that success. All the students who spend time in that room love me, and I love each of them. This week was particularly challenging for a few of them. One student’s sister had a baby within the past several days, and this has added to his overall stress level and his already-full plate. Another student was feeling very depressed this week for reasons unclear to me. Another student has been dealing with a difficult home situation. The three adults who work in this room are amazing, offering students support, but pushing them and placing appropriate demands on them, holding them to high standards, while keeping a delicate balance. Students enjoy having me in that room. Mom says I am a constant and non-judgmental presence that helps them manage school and life. I feel at home there, and am glad I can help.
Mom and I also met with students throughout the day Wednesday. There are students who enjoy sitting with Mom, petting me, and talking about school, home, and anything else on their minds. Several students took me for walks, which I thoroughly enjoyed. One boy, who has been particularly stressed lately, came to Mom’s office and asked to spend some time with me. The three of us went for a brief walk, and then he was ready to continue with his day. We met with many students who are “regulars” – they look forward to it, as do Mom and I. Sometimes the meetings are brief and the conversations light; other times, the meetings are longer, and the topics heavier and more thoughtful. I enjoy all of the interactions that happen, relaxing and getting petted throughout the day, listening to voices and enjoying having a purpose. Mom brought me with her outside at the end of the day as students left the building. Lots of them petted me or talked to me before boarding the buses and heading home.
As we do each Wednesday, Mom and I went to Greenfield to visit with our friend in a nursing home there. After our visit, Mom took me for a nice walk, and then I waited in the car while she helped with a class at NB Productions. I sleep during the time Mom is inside since I am always very tired at the end of a full day of work.
On Friday, both Molly and I went to school. Mom and Julie met with a reporter to talk about the therapy dog program at school. It was very interesting to hear them talk about the program and how far it has come since last December when Mom and I first became certified as a Bright Spot therapy dog team. And it was interesting to hear them talk about Molly and me. Mom explained the difference between service dogs and therapy dogs, and she explained the purpose of the MMS Therapy Dog Program, which was established to: 1. Enhance our positive school culture, 2. Supplement the offerings of traditional student support resources, 3. Support academic, emotional, social, and behavioral growth and learning in students, and 4. Strengthen the connections within the school community. I have heard the purpose many times, and it is posted on the school’s website and the Bright Spot bulletin board, but it is always good to be reminded formally about WHY we are doing the work we are.
Mom talked about how I am a “rescue” from Indiana, who came to Mom and Dad after they lost their two beloved yellow labs within a six-month period, and how I actually “rescued” them. Pretty cliché if you ask me, but she went on to say how much she wanted to “share” me with others, and use me to help other people. That part was pretty neat. Molly is also a “rescue” – that’s pretty neat, too. Mom and Julie talked about how Molly and I make them better at their jobs. I do not exactly understand what they meant by that, but they both seemed pretty clear with the reporter: “We are better at our jobs because of Molly and Coco.” Wow. That is a powerful statement. Later in the interview, two students, who spend time with Molly and me regularly, came to talk to the reporter. The girls were very excited to know that their pictures and some of what they said to the reporter will be in the newspaper. As the reporter was leaving, she said to Mom and Julie, “Wow – this is great! Every school should have a dog.” We all agree.
Molly worked with Julie and I worked with Mom and with the behavior specialist to meet with many students and to take lots of walks with them. Molly and I also got to spend some time together, which was pretty cool, since it is not typical to have more than one dog at school at a time. Mom says we will not do that regularly, but it is nice to know that Molly and I can handle it – we are calm and we enjoy each other. The students were also happy that there were two dogs at school at the same time.
On our way home, Mom and I stopped to see our friend in the nursing home in Auburn. Initially, we could not find him because he was not in his room. As we were looking for him, several others wanted to meet me. Mom and I were happy to visit with people as we looked for our friend. One of the residents we met could not speak, and she had many physical limitations. Mom and I could tell by her eyes, however, that she wanted to meet me. As she petted me, Mom asked her questions and she did her best to respond with vocalizations. She was so appreciative of the time we spent with her. When we did find our friend, he was very happy to see me, petting me and asking me for kisses. He “shared” me with other residents in the nursing home, saying, “Coco comes to see ME every Friday.” When someone asked him why he is so special, he replied, “I know people…” It was all in good fun, and he and the others joked around about lots of things. Mom and I met many others at the nursing home. We walked out with our friend, and he let me kiss him good-bye and told Mom and me he will see us next Friday – what a terrific way to end our week! ~Coco