Therapy Dog - Maycee
Maroochydore State High School has partnered with Therapy Animals Australia to launch the P.A.W.S in Schools Program. This unique, innovative program has been designed to enhance the well-being of our students. The program includes the introduction of Maycee, a beautiful groodle puppy onto our school campus this term.
Careful planning, along with a structured, consistent approach towards training is required when bringing dogs into a school environment. This adorable baby girl has been carefully selected for our school in consultation with Therapy Animals Australia, who specialise in training and accrediting therapy dogs for use within school environments.
Our golden girl will follow the P.A.W.S training Model. This model uses the acronym P.A.W.S as it is easy to remember and encompasses the key components of a successful school therapy dog program. A well-trained, confident, happy therapy dog can be an invaluable resource for supporting the social and emotional learning of students, as well as fostering a sense of community spirit.
Benefits
- Provision of new social connections.
- Develop a greater sense of community.
- Meet social and emotional needs/ facilitate a sense of belonging.
- Context for teaching/instilling whole school values such as empathy, kindness, gratitude, respect etc.
- Support for school refusal and reluctant learners.
- Academic support: engage and motivate learners with special needs.
- Emotional Regulation and stress relief.
- Means for sharing success/ achievements and challenges.
- Creates opportunities to develop social skills.
Our staff will work closely with the Therapy Animals Australia team to explore how proven animal assisted learning strategies and techniques can be incorporated into our existing wellbeing and intervention programs.
Calie Fothergill is Maycee's owner. She is the designated staff member responsible for the housing and welfare of Maycee (she certainly has a very loving home). Calie is working hard to complete the required training and manage Maycee whenever she is on school grounds. Please contact her for more information if you have any specific questions about this program.
We can't wait to get to know our golden bundle of joy. Once she is settled in, we are confident that everyone will just love getting to know her too. We look forward to sharing this exciting journey with you.