WELLBEING & DOGS
Fur-fetched It is not only staff joining the Exeter School family this year, but also some very loyal, very friendly, and very canine friends. by
LIV PORTER
HELEN WILSON Teacher of Chemistry
What were you doing this time last year? Living in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk! I had just sold my house and was in the process of buying a house in Sidmouth. What music do you enjoy listening to? Do you have a song you will never get tired of? I enjoy pop music, with the 70s and 80s as my favourite decades. I will never tire of listening to anything by Queen.
Juniper and Mr Sprake
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Being active in the outdoors. My current favourites are cycling and walking and one of my ambitions now that I’ve moved to Devon is to walk the SW Coastal Path (but not all at once!). Living by the beach, I also intend to take up a new watersport and plan to buy a SUP soon. What is your signature dish? That’s easy – chilli! I never tire of eating a good chilli. When I have friends to stay, I also enjoy cooking a decent Full English breakfast. What is your pet hate? Lack of respect. Respect for each other and for our environment. I often think that, if we could all just show a bit more respect, the world would be a better place. What is the highlight of the school year for you? Seeing students achieve, whether that’s a small achievement in a lesson or on the sports field, or a major achievement enjoying public recognition. Where would you most like to live and why? Sounds cheesy probably, but Sidmouth! For the past few years I’ve wanted to live in Devon, by the sea – and now I do! If you had a time machine, what period of time would you travel to and why? Doh! I should have read this question before I answered the last one!
A
Betsy and Bertie
dded to the non-pupil areas are the residents: Rafa (the Bursar’s collie) and Betsy and Bertie (Ms Simpson’s beagle and new cocker spaniel puppy respectively). It has been a widely-welcomed move adding dogs to the community, as for years previously our furry friends were banned from the premises. Maybe the Head was swayed by the post-lockdown abandonment felt by dogs and humans alike - as days previously filled purely by online work, indoor confinement and an over-excited companion suddenly shifted to whole days spent separated. And why would we ever want to be separated from our shedding, often smelly, extremely vocal companions? Not when they are proven to encourage exercise, set a routine, calm owners, and give unconditional love. Owning a dog has helped people with many challenges they face, to only name a few: depression, loneliness, self-confidence, ADHD and even reading aloud. Everyone can surely
Rafa
agree that their dogs, sometimes as flippant and moody as humans, not only create a calming presence but also act as an excellent ice breaker - who doesn’t want to chat about your dog or give them a good scratch? It seems that there is little question that we should allow these courageous little warriors a chance to do that at work as being with their owner (in a safe environment – away from teaching zones) is surely only a positive. Who knows - maybe in the future, with the largely positive impact they have, dogs will be a welcome presence across the school site. That being said, I know there is one character that is certainly dead against having to share the adoration of pupils, but I’m sure Pythagoras, the unofficial school cat, will get over it. Editor update: Since writing this article, we have been joined by Sarah Coldrey (our new Pastoral Assistant based in room 3) and her very cute, very excitable puppy Dotty. We would strongly suggest nipping in to say hello! The Exonian 2021 17
