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Tuesday 26 October, 2021
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Vol 15 No 42
Puppy boost for wellbeing
There is a new ‘student’ at Gordon Primary School, meet Arlo the groodle. Photo – Gordon PS
By Lachlan Ellis Mental health has been given extra attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a local school has purchased a furry friend to support its students. Gordon Primary School bought the 12-week-old groodle puppy as part of the ‘Dogs Connect’ program, which puts dogs into schools, hospitals, aged care homes and more. Scientific evidence shows that having a well-trained dog around can decrease heart rate, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve social connection and communication. In a survey conducted by Dogs Connect, 92 per cent of students said they felt more relaxed during teaching and learning time when there was a dog in the classroom. Gordon Primary School Principal, Russel Cowan, said
the needs of the entire school community had been considered in choosing the dog. “The purpose of having the dog is around mental health concerns like anxiety, as well as children with needs, like ASD children with sensory needs. It’ll be tailored to the needs of our school,” Mr Cowan told the Moorabool News. “COVID had a lot to play in the decision. The Government has introduced a wellbeing fund of over $200 million for schools, we’re adapting it towards this Dogs Connect program in our school.” The dog will undergo a six-month training process, with a core leadership group at Gordon Primary tasked with making sure plans go as smoothly as possible. “The whole community trains the dog…the leadership
group will set everything up, from the dog’s wellbeing to the school’s wellbeing, risk management and assessment, community feedback – are there kids that are allergic, are there kids that are afraid of dogs,” Mr Cowan said. “The program is inclusive and fully responds to the entire community need.” Each student at Gordon Primary had the chance to submit a name for the dog, with the school leadership choosing the winner. On Thursday 21 October, it was announced that Gordon Primary’s groodle would be named Arlo. Arlo will be a wellbeing dog at Gordon Primary for his whole life, supporting the school community with their mental health for many years to come.
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