Student Wellbeing
Support Dog
You may have noticed our latest member of the Well-being team. Poppy the Labradoodle has joined us full time this term and she is a delight. The aim of canine support at Concord School is to improve the wellbeing and engagement of students, increase attendance, assist in managing behaviours and decrease anxiety for both students and staff. Poppy’s most important role is to offer unconditional love and support to students who may benefit from her presence.
Trish Kuhar will promote and demonstrate Poppy’s role with the whole school community, including at special events and with staff, parents, students, carers and family members.
Poppy is still only a puppy and we are introducing her to school gradually and ensuring she has her rest breaks.
The guidelines for a Support Dog at Concord School are:
- Poppy is owned and managed by Trish Kuhar.( Teacher Aide/Student Support)
- Poppy will be a member of the Well-being team at Concord School.
- Poppy is a Labradoodle, she has been chosen for her temperament, intelligence and her hypoallergenic non-moulting coat
- Visitors to school will be informed of Poppy at the school reception area.
- Poppy is to attend school every day Trish is present
- Poppy is to attend Watsonia Campus regularly.
- Understandably, parents may be concerned about potential allergic reactions to Poppy’s within the school environment. Poppy will be regularly groomed to minimise allergic contact. Poppy will only be put in situations where students voluntarily participate, thus avoiding risky contact.
Daily management of Poppy
- Not allowed in school if unwell.
- Will be kept on lead when moving between classrooms.
- Be under the supervision of Trish Kuhar or Poppy monitors at all times.
- Continue to be trained in obedience, including release time inside the school grounds.
- Be up to date with all vaccinations, worming and grooming.
- Will not be taken off the site without Trish Kuhar or nominated staff.
- Will have a safe area within the school.
- Poppy will wear training vest to ensure she is recognised as a support dog
Student expectations
- Will not have sole responsibility for Poppy.
- Will be reminded of appropriate behaviours around Poppy.
- Will always be reminded to respect Poppy and remain calm around her at all times.
- Always approach Poppy in a calm slow manner
- Do not disturb Poppy while she is eating, drinking or sleeping.
- Never to feed Poppy.
- Poppy pack to be carried by dog monitors containing; excrement bags, rubber gloves and hand sanitiser.
- Will abide by the rule ‘we are kind to Poppy’
Health and Safety
- All persons should always wash their hands after handling Poppy
- Any Poppy excrement to be cleaned and disposed of appropriately by Trish Kuhar or Poppy monitors
- Where possible - external gates to the school to remained closed at all times while Poppy is onsite
Clubs
There are many good reasons to have lunchtime clubs at Concord School. Meeting new people, doing an activity students enjoy as well as finding purposeful activity over the lunchtime period are all positive reasons.
The Student Representative Council are the group that initiates these clubs and staff have volunteered their lunchbreak to run them.
Newspaper Production, Library Club, Minecraft and Radio Station are all starting this term. These are additional to Basketball, Computer, Dance and Drawing and Quiet Club that are already underway.
Colin Simpson
Assistant Principal