Meet the support dogs at Croton-Harmon schools
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Duchess, one of three support dogs for Croton-Harmon schools, usually starts her day welcoming students as they arrive to Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School or Pierre Van Cortland Middle School.
Next, the 4-year-old German Shepherd plays fetch outdoors or in the gym with students, and then returns with them to the classroom to help them get settled and focused to start their day.
Middle school social studies teacher Joe Streany, Duchess’ foster dad, spearheaded the program two years ago as a way to provide social and emotional support for the students.
“Duchess is a brood (a female dog used for breeding) for Guiding Eyes. That's her primary service. Here, at our schools, she is our school support dog and her primary job is to welcome kids and make them feel like school is a warm and welcoming place,” Streany said. “She recognizes when it's time to be empathetic and then she also just recognizes when it’s time to play and gives them a positive outlet to have that chance to run around and be kids. It helps them gain their focus so that when they come back here to the classroom, they have a real chance that they can focus and do whatever it is that the task is going to be for morning.”
Selina, a 13-year-old black Labrador, is another support dog for the district. She can be found by school counselor Robin Woolley’s side at the elementary school greeting students in the morning, helping students feel comfortable during one-on-one meetings or visiting classrooms for lessons on different topics.
Another support dog, Maple, spends her days greeting students in the halls and classrooms at Croton-Harmon High School.
Support dog Selina lays on the floor recently between school counselor Woolley and first-graders during a lesson on diversity at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School. When Selina visits classrooms with Woolley for lessons, students get a few minutes in the beginning of class to pet her and then are taught to ignore Selina, which also teaches the students to ignore distractions.
Kindergarteners pet support dog Duchess during a recent morning meeting in teacher Lisa Frey's class. When scheduling allows, Duchess and her handler Streany join the class for the morning meetings to help calm the students.
Sometimes students that have a connection with Duchess return to Streany’s classroom because they need her support.
“Whether it's a social situation that's going on or something academically, the access to her gives them a chance to just make their day go a little bit better,” he said.
Third-grader Isabella Nube walks support dog Duchess to the classroom after playing in the gym. Students take turns walking Duchess, giving them a chance to be a leader among their peers.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: See the support dogs at Westchester school district, learn what they do
