Bringing joy to the classroom one paw at a time
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
Bringing pets to school can significantly impact students’ well-being and learning. Animals like dogs, cats or rabbits can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood. Spending a few minutes with a pet can make students feel calmer and more focused.
The Bertha-Hewitt School set out to achieve this goal. Principal Karla Weishalla approached school social worker Jessica Nelson and counselor Sammie McDaniels to make it happen.
“The principal was into boosting the kids’ mental health and mood, just getting them more excited to come to school. And then, I reached out to some people and asked if they wanted to bring in their pets. And a lot of people wanted to. And then we just started having a pet day every month,” explained Nelson.
Since January, staff and students have looked forward to their monthly pet visits. So far, the pets being brought in are dogs and puppies. Pet owners, typically teachers, must show proof of vaccination before the pets are allowed in. They also ensure the kids are not allergic to the animals.
Pets also make school more fun and engaging. Students often get excited to come to class on pet days. This excitement can lead to better participation and learning....