At Work

We are pleased to announce that Bright Spot Therapy Dogs won! We extend our deepest gratitude to all our members and friends of Bright Spot who voted for us in 2014. Your votes counted! Bright Spot Board members Diane Houston and Ernest Damon attended a dinner hosted by Florence Bank to honor the non-profit organizations receiving grants. Based on the number of votes Bright Spot received, we were given a check in the amount of $1,092.00. Voting has commenced for the 2015 Customers’ Choice Community Grants and runs through December 31, 2015. Don’t forget to vote again. Help Bright Spot win two years in a row! Thank You!

On my first morning back in the office after vacation it was great to open my computer and find Coco’s Report in my inbox.  As usual, she’s been very busy working with the students and staff at the Robert E. Melican Middle School.  Bright Spot Molly and in-training Sophie, too.

Here’s Coco…

This week, I went to school on Monday, Molly went on Tuesday and Friday, and Sophie went on Wednesday and Thursday. Between the three of us, we covered all five days.

Monday was another terrific day at school. The students in the behavior specialist’s room were so glad to see me, as they always are, and some of them were able to take me for walks throughout the day. I snuggled with students in there who were especially stressed or depressed. Mom and I also met with students one-on-one and in small groups. After school, I accompanied Mom to the faculty meeting, where I relaxed and drifted in and out of sleep.

Molly went to school on Tuesday and Friday this week.  She had a great time seeing her old “friends” and making a lot of new ones.  A few students interviewed Molly on Friday and that was very exciting.  They were making a video all about our school and they will show it to the fifth graders when they come to tour our school later in the year.  They wanted to make sure the therapy dogs were included in the video since they are such an important part of our school community. Some other students also interviewed Sophie and me earlier in the week.

One of the best things about this week was that the weather was finally starting to change a little.  Our walks with students have been limited this winter because of the cold temperatures, but this week we had a few really nice, longer walks around the school building that were fun and not too chilly!  Molly really loves getting outside with the students because all of us need a little fresh air and exercise during the day.  It feels good to get out and move around together.

This week Julie remembers two very special moments with students and Molly.  One time, Julie walked into the behavior specialist’s room to pick up Molly, and noticed she was lying on the floor calmly, and a student was lying right next to her.  He was hugging her and just relaxing with his friend Molly.  This is a student who has been making a lot of nice progress, both academically and behaviorally, since starting the school year.  A lot of it has to do with the great support he is getting from his teachers and the staff in the behavior specialist’s room, but I’ll bet Molly, Sophie, and I have a little something to do with it, too.

On Friday, Julie was eating lunch with some students in the main guidance area and Molly was sitting in her office, lying down and watching them.  A student came down to take a break in the guidance area and asked if he could go into Julie’s office and take his break with Molly.  Julie knew Molly would love it, and the student went in.  Julie continued to eat lunch with her group and occasionally looked over into her office to check on Molly and the student.  The student didn’t know she was looking, but as the period went on, the student got closer and closer to Molly.  He sat next to her and read while petting Molly.  Then a little later, he was sitting closer and just looking into Molly’s eyes and petting her face.  The last time Julie looked, he was lying on the floor next to Molly, just petting her and relaxing.  It is amazing to see how comfortable and safe the students feel with Molly.

Sophie went to school with Mom on Wednesday and Thursday. Mom says that Sophie loved being there. A few students did tell Mom that Sophie is their favorite because she has more energy and can be more snuggly than Molly and I are. That may be true, but she also gets tired and over-stimulated at times because she expends so much energy. Molly and I, on the other hand, are always relaxed because we have such a low energy level.

On Wednesday, Sophie met with many students one-on-one with Mom, and in small groups with Mom and the guidance counselor. She also took several walks around the building with students. This is especially good for her so she has an outlet for some of her energy. She is very good about keeping her energy controlled, but it is important to let her use it whenever there is an opportunity. It was great for students, too, who have been cooped up inside all winter and need some air. Sophie also spent lots of time in the behavior specialist’s room, which she and the students enjoyed very much. After school, Mom took Sophie for a nice long walk, and then she napped in the car while Mom attended the School Committee meeting. Sophie was exhausted when she got home at 10:00 p.m.

Mom should have taken her cues from Sophie and kept her home on Thursday – she was tired. But Mom brought her to school again because students wanted her to. Sophie did really well for the first five hours, meeting with lots of students, meeting with a parent who wanted to see her, and working in the behavior specialist’s room. She was happy and was enjoying her time at school. At one point, however, she backed away from a student and went to the opposite side of the guidance counselor, away from the student. Both Mom and the guidance counselor realized that she had had enough for the day. She napped in the car for the rest of the day, completely wiped out from her work at school. Because Molly and I are so easy-going, can sleep anywhere, and make the work look easy, Mom expected Sophie to be able to do the same. She cannot work for an entire day without some breaks where she is allowed to sleep without distraction and disruption – that is just who she is. She also cannot work for nine to ten hours a day like Molly and I can. She was very good about letting the adults know when she had had enough, but Mom learned a very important lesson: The work we do at school is difficult. Molly and I make it look easy, but it is not. It takes a lot of energy, control, and patience to do what we do every day we are there. Mom is confident that Sophie will grow into working full days at school, but for now when she goes to school, she will only work one to two hours at a time.  ~Coco

Coco ends her report by saying she is exhausted.  After reading what this amazing Bright Spot Therapy Dog has been up to this week, you’ll know why.  I’d be exhausted, too!

Here’s Coco…

This was our first week back at school after February vacation. It was tough for everyone to get back into the swing of things. I went to school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Molly went on Tuesday. Mom says having dogs in school helps students, adults, and staff members settle into the routine.

Tuesday was fun – everyone seemed even happier than usual to see me. One student talked to Mom about how terrible her vacation was as she petted me. She lay her head down on me for a few minutes and just took some deep breaths. She and I know each other well, and I can tell how much she needs her visits with me. Another student talked with Mom about her own dog, taking him to the vet, and spending lots of time with him over vacation. As usual, I also spent a significant amount of time in the behavior specialist’s room. Because there are many students who suffer from anxiety and/or depression who spend some or most of their days in there, I provided comfort to all of them. They walked me, talked to me, hugged me, and completed assignments next to me.

One student just started spending time in the behavior specialist’s room on Tuesday. He and I have known each other since he moved to Northborough last year. He absolutely loves dogs, and we have a very special bond. When he moved to Northborough, he had to rehome his dog that he loved very much. Just as I helped make his transition to Northborough easier, I am also helping make his transition into the behavior specialist’s room easier. He spent a lot of time petting me and sitting with me while he completed work.

After school, Mom and I went to the Superintendent’s Office for some meetings. When we arrived, several of the administrative assistants wanted to visit with me. One of them said, Coco, we have missed you… Mom decided that she and I MUST schedule a monthly time to visit with the administrative assistants so they can have more time with me. First, the assistant superintendent, Mom’s principal, and Mom met for thirty minutes, and then the other Northborough administrators and the central office staff joined the meeting, making the total number of participants close to fifteen. When the superintendent first came into the room and noticed I was there, she was so excited! She was hugging me and petting me and decided to sit next to Mom so I would be next to her, as well. She petted me throughout the entire two and a half hour meeting. Mom says my presence made that meeting much less stressful for everyone than it usually is. At one point, as I drifted in and out of sleep, I started snoring. A few people heard and laughed with Mom at the appreciated interruption.

Wednesday was another great day at school. One student, who had a tough time getting in the door without his mother the day before, came right into the office. Mom welcomed him and told him how happy she was to see him. He lit up at the sight of me, gave me a pat, and then headed off for a great day. I also spent some time with the guidance counselor meeting with students, I spent time with Mom and students, and I spent time in the behavior specialist’s room.

After school, Mom and I went to Greenfield and visited with our dear friend in the nursing home there. So many other residents and staff members also like to see me and spend time with me when we are there, and Mom and I are happy to oblige. Even though I was hungry after we said good-bye to our friend and were walking toward the door (and I knew we were headed to the car for me to eat), we stopped to visit with several additional people. Mom says I am very patient in those situations.

Mom was extremely busy at school on Friday. She told me that several students were falling apart for various reasons. Because Mom got so busy with students, I spent more time in the behavior specialist’s room than I generally do. I enjoy my time in there and am very comfortable there. Even when it is cold outside, students in the behavior specialist’s room take me for short walks outside, and they take me for walks inside the building. Mom and I did meet with some students one-on-one, and we spent time in the transitional learning center visiting with students and participating in their social skills class.

I am exhausted from my busy week, but I know that I made a huge difference for so many people this week.  I am happy to settle back into my work routine.  ~Coco

Stress-relief, the therapy dog kind (the best kind!) was in full swing at the Student Union Ballroom on the UMass Amherst campus last Thursday, February 26th.  King and I were running a bit late and had to wade through the mass of students waiting in the lobby of the Student Union for the doors of the Ballroom to open at 11:30 a.m.

Many of the students had attended every event Bright Spot Therapy Dogs has held on campus.  They call the dogs by name, remembering Max, the Greyhound, Rowan, the red standard Poodle, King, the English Setter, and many of the other dogs that participate with their teammates in our Mid-Term and Final Exam Stress-Relief Events.  In addition, they met many new dogs that day.  Newly certified Bright Spot teams have signed up to participate in our college events.

It is pretty amazing to watch and listen as several hundred students at a time snuggle and pet the therapy dogs.  What is so amazing is the soft-spoken tone throughout the large space.  Students are smiling, laughing softly, talking to the dogs.  All in hushed, calm, relaxed voices.

It is often said, I feel so relaxed when I come here and pet the dogs.  Or, I love these dogs.  I miss my own do so much.  And, I have attended everyone of these events.  I mark my calendar each semester so I won’t forget to come and see these wonderful dogs.  Always, some will say, This is the best event the school does for us.

I must admit, I wasn’t feeling very well when I woke up that morning.  I’ve been fighting a cold that has gone into my chest.  I really needed to rest (so I was feeling).  But, King was all brushed and excited about going.  On with his vest, on with my Bright Spot shirt, and off we went.  I love these events, so I really didn’t want to miss out on this one.  I love watching how my dog makes others happy, whether it’s folks in a nursing home, a patient on hospice care, a child learning to read, or the college students just wanting to hang out.  Therapy Dogs make everyone feel good.  By the time I left, I was feeling so, so much better.  The power of the human-canine bond is a very special thing.

Every time slot was filled for our week-long School Vacation Reading Buddy Program at The Eric Carle Museum in South Amherst, Massachusetts.  Many of the spaces were filled by children who had participated in our Bright Spot Summer Reading Buddy Program that ran July and August at The Carle.

Last June 2014, Bright Spot Therapy Dogs entered into a partnership with  The Eric Carle Museum.  Since both organizations share a common goal of fostering a love of reading, the partnership seemed a perfect fit.  We kicked off this joint venture by participating in The Museum’s Family Fun Day, where children and their families got to meet several of our Bright Spot dogs and learn about the different things Therapy Dogs to do help people of all ages.

Every Monday afternoon in July and August, children who had signed up ahead to reserve a time slot, joined one of our Reading Buddy Teams in the Museum’s library where these specially trained dogs listened attentively as readers on all levels read aloud to them.

The Reading Buddy Program at The Carle was so well-received that the plan was hatched to run our special Program during both February and April school vacation weeks.  I’ve been told that many of the children who participated in last week’s program have already reserved their spots for April vacation.

The Reading Buddy Program is a win-win for everyone.  The children love it.  The parents love it.  The dogs love it.  And, our volunteers love bringing their dogs to The Carle to inspire a love for books.  Bright Spot and The Carle couldn’t be happier about this highly successful partnership.

Have you been thinking about getting your gentle, friendly, well-trained dog certified as a therapy dog?  Feel our Bright Spot Therapy Dog Training Classes in Northampton, MA, are too far for you to travel?  We just added a new training location in Northborough, MA, which should be more convenient for those living in Boston or other areas of eastern Massachusetts.

An added bonus of this class is that it’s being taught by veteran dog trainer and AKC Obedience judge, Tibby Chase.  If you have trained with Tibby, you know what a great teacher she is.  If you haven’t, take my word for it.  I’ve been attending training classes for over 50 years, and Tibby is fabulous.

Tibby’s class will run 3 sessions, with part of the training taking place in a nearby nursing home, enabling participants to try out the new skills and techniques taught in class on real residents – and get a taste of seeing how much folks living in such a facility enjoy interacting with the dogs.

The Northborough Therapy Dog Training Class will be held at the Melican Middle School, starting on March 8th.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to receive Therapy Dog Training with Tibby.  To learn the details, check out the Bright Spot Therapy Dogs website today.

In the midst of snowstorms and school cancellations, Coco continued her work at the Melican Middle School in Northborough, Massachusetts.  Here’s what she’s been up to on this shortened school week…

This week was another busy one at school for Molly and me. Molly went to school with her mother, Julie, on Tuesday and Thursday, and I went with Mom on Wednesday and Friday. There was a snow day on Monday, but she and I covered the rest of the week.

Molly was so excited to get back to work after missing all of last week (due to snow days and a half day for students). She really missed her student friends and she could tell the students missed her, too.  She got a lot of extra hugs and attention as soon as she came back on Tuesday.

One student was asked to stay after school Tuesday with Julie to catch up on some work.  The student was reluctant to stay after, but he was happy to know that Molly would be staying after with him, too.  This is a student who has regular visits with Molly and me, but having a whole hour with a dog was a real treat.  Instead of getting right to work, the student spent a few minutes petting and talking with Molly, and then he eased into doing some work.  Molly never left his side for the entire hour; she lay at his feet while he read and worked on some missing assignments.  At one point, he and Julie joked about how hard we therapy dogs work, but we don’t take home a paycheck.  The student replied, I think love is pay enough for them. I agree.

Tuesday night, the principal and some student support staff members met with fifth grade parents of special education students. The principal showed Mom the program for the night, and Molly and I were listed as student supports at the middle school…that’s pretty neat.

On Wednesday, Mom and I dropped my sister, Sophie, off at the vet on our way to school. As soon as I arrived at school, Mom put me to work. As I always do, I spent lots of time in the behavior specialist’s room, helping students feel calmer, and giving many of them chances to take me outside for a brief walk in the cold. Mom and I met with so many students one-on-one and in groups. One student, who sees me every day I am at school, lay on the floor with me for several minutes. She explained to Mom that after she visits her mom next week (her parents are divorced), her mother is going to re-home her dog. She was sad when she talked to Mom about this, so I snuggled up a little closer to her.

After school, the principal and Mom had a difficult conversation with a teacher. I lay at Mom’s feet throughout this meeting – Mom says I helped ease the tension in the office. Mom and I then traveled to Greenfield, where we spent some time with our friend in the nursing home.

On Friday, I worked with lots of students like I always do. Since it was the day before vacation, the students were full of excitement and anxiety. Mom says for some of them, school is the best, most consistent and caring place, and it is difficult to know vacation is coming.

I also spent some time with one of my “regular” student friends.  This student has had some transitions in his family that have, unfortunately, taken his own dog away from him.  Naturally, he values his time with Molly and me very much and often says we remind him of his family dog.  This student has the option to be active during his meeting time and sometimes chooses to play basketball.  However, on Friday, he sat down on the floor with me right away and gave me a lot of love.  I immediately put my head on the student’s lap and snuggled up with him.  I could tell he really needed me.  We sat in silence for a little while and then the student said, I really miss doing this with my dog. We used to just sit together like this for hours and hours.  The student didn’t talk too much during our visit and he didn’t need to.  It was a very special moment between the student and me…

I will miss the attention I get at school, but I am looking forward to resting and relaxing over the next week or so.  ~Coco

Our Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program started in 2013 as an after school program at the Westhampton Elementary School in Westhampton, MA.  Today, our special Reading Buddy Program is in thirteen elementary schools and one middle school in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester counties, running during the academic day.

Special training must be completed for therapy dog teams interested in participating in this highly successful reading program.  To participate, a team must be a Bright Spot certified therapy dog team, and the dog must be completely comfortable interacting with children.  The team must be available to participate in the program during regular school hours.

With these pre-requisites, a team must then go through our special training in an actual school setting.  Depending on the aptitude of the team, training can be completed in two sessions, or as many as needed.  Session one is an observation for the volunteer only where a veteran team conducts a meet-and-greet with an entire class, then two to three individual reading sessions with children.  The volunteer is then asked to bring his/her dog to the next session where a meet-and-greet is held with the team-in-training.  If the dog is comfortable with the children, the team can model two to three one-on-one reading sessions with individual children.  If the dog is uncomfortable interacting with children in the group portion, the session is terminated.  The veteran volunteer serves as the evaluator.  As long as the team shows promise, it may conduct additional sessions to become familiar with the program.

This past week, we completed training for two new reading buddy teams.  Both were completely comfortable with the program in two session.  Each team will start the Reading Buddy Program in a new school, adding to the number of schools served by this unique way to build confidence in reading.

Eleven Bright Spot Therapy Dogs attended the Puppy Love event held at Elms College in Chicopee, MA, yesterday.  What a great group of dogs!  All so well behaved.  They were model Therapy Dogs as groups of students flocked into the faculty dining room to meet and pet each one.

It’s alway a pleasure to bring a group of our Therapy Dogs to a college campus.  The students get such enjoyment out of interacting with the dogs.  Just hanging out with them and relaxing.  Many talk about missing their own dog at home.  They are also genuinely interested in talking to the volunteers about the training dogs must go through to become Therapy Dogs and learning about the impact Therapy Dogs have on children, adults, and elders who receive visits in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other health care and educational environments.

Therapy Dog events on college campuses are so well-received by the students that college administrators now sign their schools up well ahead to insure a date on our event calendar for both mid-term and final exams.  Since most colleges hold exams around the same time period, we are able to accommodate only those schools that have signed up at least a semester in advance.

With all the snow days we have been having here in western Massachusetts, three-day school weeks have been common. But, while she is there, Coco always manages to touch the lives of many at the Melican Middle School.  And, she never fails to write up a report on her work as a Bright Spot Therapy Dog…

I had another interesting week at school. Monday and Tuesday were snow days, and Thursday was a half-day for students because of parent-teacher conferences. I went to school with Mom on Wednesday and Friday this week.

Wednesday was a very long day for me, leaving the house with Mom at 5:15 a.m. and returning home at 9:45 p.m. I was so happy to get back to work! I spent the day meeting with students and Mom, and working in the behavior specialist’s room. Since students had just returned from four days off because of the two snow days, Mom says it was wonderful to have me there to help them transition back. Some students have a very difficult time getting back into their routines so for many, spending time with me was very beneficial.

It always surprises Mom to see how many students want to pet me when I am in the halls with her. Generally, I do not walk in the halls as students are passing from class to class, but sometimes I do. Inevitably, many students ask to pet me, and hundreds of students touch me, say something nice, and keep moving. Of course I love all the attention and Mom says the students instantly smile when they see me. It is pretty amazing to be such an integral part of the school community.

After school, I napped in the car while Mom supervised a basketball game at the regional high school. I really needed that nap! Finally, we went back to school, where Mom attended a School Committee meeting. The plan for me to go with her to that meeting did not materialize, so I waited very patiently in her office. I have a bed in there and Mom puts some music on so it feels like my second home.

Friday was another exciting day for me. Throughout the day, I spent time meeting with students with Mom, I spent time with the guidance counselor and students, and I spent lots of time in the behavior specialist’s room as I always do. I consider the behavior specialist my second mother since I spend so much time with her and the many students who spend parts of their days in that room. I think the students in there also consider the behavior specialist to be their second mother – maybe their first mother in some cases. It does feel like a close-knit family in that room. Students lean on one another, talk each other through difficult situations, and look to guidance from the behavior specialist.  Mom says I am a significant part of that family.

After morning homeroom, I met a student who was starting her first day with us. She recently moved here from New Hampshire. She petted me as Mom talked to her. She has her own dog and LOVES dogs, so this was a nice way to break the ice with her. Next, eight students came to Mom’s office to spend time with me, and talk to Mom and each other. Mom had called four of them down to her office, but apparently she forgot that she had already told four others to come at that time. We all squeezed into Mom’s office for ten minutes or so. I couldn’t have been happier with all those hands petting me at the same time.

Mom and I also led a sixth grade boys’ lunch group. I slept at Mom’s feet while the seven boys ate and played a game. As they finished eating, each one came to sit with me and pet me. Mom and I usually attend the last five minutes of this lunch group so the boys can spend time with me after they eat but, as we did once before, we were in charge of the group this time. Listening to the boys chatter about silly things (the funniest things they have ever done, trouble they have gotten into, etc.) is very calming to me. Each of them gave me a hug on his way to class, and I got to clean up some crumbs on the floor while Mom washed down the table.

After school, two former students visited Mom for a few minutes. They are currently juniors in high school. It was interesting to listen to them talk to Mom about school, working, and the “old days” of middle school. As they talked to Mom about their rebellious middle school years, they petted me. Mom explained that we have two therapy dogs that spend time at school. One of them said, “I wish we had dogs at school when we went here – they would have really helped me. I would have come down a lot to spend time with them.” The other student agreed.

To culminate the day, Mom sat on the floor with me as she, the principal, and the guidance counselor filled one another in on the day’s happenings. As I drifted in and out of sleep, I couldn’t help but think about how difficult life is for middle school students and their families and what a privilege it is to work with such a committed and caring staff.  ~Coco