STUDENTS, parents, and teachers have welcomed a new four-legged staff member to Inverleigh Primary School.<\/p>\n
The beginning of term three has seen two-year-old border collie, Lottie starting her new job as the school\u2019s therapy dog.<\/p>\n
The canine companion is principal Steven Trotter\u2019s family pet, and he said the distinction will be made between Lottie\u2019s two roles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she\u2019s here she\u2019s not a pet. She\u2019s here to do a job. At home, she\u2019s crazy, she runs around and chases shadows and birds, barks, everything dogs do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut once the uniform comes on, the switch is off and she\u2019s in therapy mode. It\u2019s a really important transition because she\u2019s here as a calming therapeutic presence for the kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s very passive indoors and around kids because she knows that\u2019s not playtime, so I knew she had the right personality but it was just about getting that training.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Trotter said he had the idea while teaching at South Geelong Primary School when he saw how his students engaged better with the presence of therapy dog, Ivy.<\/p>\n
After several months of online preparation, Lottie received her qualifications via a three-day practical course at K9 Support in Benalla over the school holidays.<\/p>\n
She will work alongside Mr Trotter while on-site, accompanying him when visiting classes and attending events.<\/p>\n
Mr Trotter said Lottie\u2019s new role will benefit the school greatly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means we\u2019ve got a completely different option in terms of support for the kids that I can\u2019t do as a principal nor the teachers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe impact of an animal is a skillset we just don\u2019t have, so there\u2019ll be kids in every space that will have a real positive outcome based on Lottie being there.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the benefit won\u2019t be measurable. It\u2019ll be anecdotal. You\u2019ll be able to see the kids engage and see the energy lifting in the room when she walks in.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STUDENTS, parents, and teachers have welcomed a new four-legged staff member to Inverleigh Primary School. The beginning of term three has seen two-year-old border collie, Lottie starting her new job as the school\u2019s therapy dog. The canine companion is principal Steven Trotter\u2019s family pet, and he said the distinction will be made between Lottie\u2019s two […]<\/p>\n