What's happening: On Friday October 4th, therapy dogs Leo and Valdi visited RHS with their respective owners, Sue and Karen! Students and staff delighted in spending the lunch hour with them, giving tons of “pets” and learning about the process for therapy dog certification. 🐾
Why it matters: There are many benefits to spending time with therapy dogs, including a proven reduction in anxiety and depression, increase in social skills, and gains in personal confidence. Repeated visits with therapy dogs within the school setting can also help improve attendance, encourage stronger executive functioning skills, and improve overall morale and mood for those who participate.
What they’re saying:
“The therapy dogs were so fun and I loved seeing them! I had a very stressful week with college application due dates coming up… It was great to spend some time with the therapy dogs and to take a break in my day!” -Ellie Walsh, RHS Senior
What’s next: We look forward to bringing therapy dogs into all schools across the district throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
🏫 Next stop - Smith School! 🐶
