A FRIENDLY, gentle, and cuddly employee has joined Damascus College\u2019s team of staff this term.<\/p>\n
The school now has its own wellbeing dog in seven-month-old English pointer Remi.<\/p>\n
Supporting those in years 7 to 12, Remi\u2019s important job is to reduce anxiety amongst students, and enhance broader wellbeing, especially amongst those with diverse learning needs.<\/p>\n
Damascus\u2019 diverse learning coordinator of years 8 and 9, Trish Brown, is Remi\u2019s owner.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemi came into our family last year and has the perfect personality to be a therapy dog,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has completed an intensive week-long assistant animal program, learning basic obedience, and how to sit or drop next to somebody who is reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the pandemic, there\u2019s a lot more anxiety amongst the students, so even just patting the dog can decrease bad hormones and increase the feel-good hormones.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re introducing Remi to school, greeting students of a morning, and in the afternoon. She recently saw the year 7s off to camp, and went out to camp each night, and will come into school to lessen anxiety during events like immunisation days.\u201d<\/p>\n
During her visits to the Mount Clear-based school, Remi is very popular, receiving lots of pats in the corridors and yard from excited young people at recess and lunchtime.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe loves to walk around. Dogs can sense things, and she will quite often find somebody who needs a bit of a cuddle, and go over to them,\u201d Ms Brown said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemi gets a special treat, and an ear rub, from Dan in the office at the start of the day, too. She loves it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In semester two, Remi will become part of some students\u2019 individualised personal learning plans, and will work one-on-one with pupils more often.<\/p>\n
Next year, her work will become focused on comforting students with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, and language challenges.<\/p>\n
Remi will also be part of some English classes, sitting with readers to encourage their engagement.<\/p>\n
Much like a weighted blanket, she will also gradually learn how to rest in the laps of students who are soothed by the sensation of weight.<\/p>\n
Over the next two years, Remi will start to have a role in the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and Hands-On Learning programs, potentially visiting nursing homes and primary schools.<\/p>\n
But already in the first few weeks of term one, Ms Brown is receiving lovely glowing reports about the school\u2019s favourite four-legged community member.<\/p>\n
\u201cA number of parents have stopped me in the carpark or down the street, saying how happy their student is, coming home and talking about Remi. They\u2019re excited to see her the next day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s another benefit of therapy dogs; they can help school refusers come back on site, and encourage attendance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Damascus College\u2019s assistant principal student wellbeing Andy Robertson said Remi\u2019s presence is already proving to be wonderfully \u201ccalming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents can relate to her very non-threatening approach, and they feel welcome in the presence of a pet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemi is someone they can trust, who\u2019s not making judgement, and who\u2019s obviously very affectionate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the year 7s commencing at the start of the new year, having Remi here to assist has been really critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor our students with diverse learning needs, it\u2019s making their transition to our environment much more pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A FRIENDLY, gentle, and cuddly employee has joined Damascus College\u2019s team of staff this term. The school now has its own wellbeing dog in seven-month-old English pointer Remi. Supporting those in years 7 to 12, Remi\u2019s important job is to reduce anxiety amongst students, and enhance broader wellbeing, especially amongst those with diverse learning needs. […]<\/p>\n