Health and Wellbeing

Lead the Way

Over four days Lead the Way run three different programs. Denise brought with her Cayley & Bailey and it was hard to pick a favourite.

Happy Paws

Eight sessions were run over 4 days. The Happy paws was the small group program which consisted of eight students from Year 7, 8 and 9. As part of this program students created an artwork with Cayley or Bailey. 

Happy Paws is a wellbeing group designed to help students improve their skills in managing stress, anxiety, and worry, and to build confidence working with others. Students learned about how to create a happy healthy life by learning the life lessons of dogs. Denise guided the students through dog-led experiences, each linked to key wellbeing skills, including play, relaxation, dog-training, and developing an obedience/agility routine. 

Friendly Paws

22 students from Year 7, 8 and 9 were involved in this program. 

Friendly Paws is a wellbeing session designed to enhance engagement, acceptance and inclusion. Students met with Cayley and Bailey in small groups and developed an understanding of each dog’s different personality, strengths, preferences, learning style, and family situation. After meeting the dogs, students worked together to create fun activities with the dogs that matched the dogs' skills and abilities. 

Peaceful Paws

This program is aimed at the older students and included 19 students from Year 10, 11 and 12. 

Peaceful Paws is a wellbeing session designed to support students with managing stress through interactions with therapy dogs. Students observed the unique ways that dogs manage physical and mental stress via ‘life lessons of dogs’ such as living in the moment or ‘shaking it off’. 

Thank you to Denise, Cayley and Bailey from Lead the Way in making this opportunity available to Donald High School students.