MS Students Greeted by Four-Legged Friends
On Friday, October 14, our students finished the first quarter of the academic year. Wow, time flies! The end of a quarter is an accomplishment to applaud and a time to recognize the hard work our students put in. How do we unwind? How can we balance hard work and a healthy life? What are the resources in our community that we can lean on? On the last day of the first quarter, the middle school invited two licensed therapy dogs to interact in select classes and with some lucky students!
Juno and Maki have been meeting students in the greater Seoul area over the past few years. Juno, a nine-year-old Husky, loves meeting new people, running through an agility course, and eating treats. Maki, a three-and-a-half-year-old Labrador, loves her stuffed toy and meeting new humans. Their trainers, Jeena and Shelby, are on a mission to educate youth on animals, reduce the stigma surrounding big dogs, and encourage the power of animal bonds. Research has shown that therapy dogs help reduce stress levels, as well as lower reported anxiety and depression among students. Our students who met them seem to agree!
Juno and Maki left a positive and lasting impression on our 8th grade leadership class and 8th grade wellness class. In each class, students learned about therapy dogs, the service work they are involved in, and were able to ask questions to the trainers. At the end of class, students remarked on how much more calm and happy they felt. At the end of the first quarter, that is exactly how we want our students to feel. After morning classes, a select number of students were randomly chosen to meet with Juno and Maki in the middle school office. They were able to pet and learn about the dogs while feeding them the occasional treat.
At YISS we understand how important it is to care for our students. The amount of time, energy, and effort they put into their school work and building community is astounding. We also must encourage and help them take care of themselves. We are thankful to Jeena and Juno, and Shelby and Maki for visiting our school and supporting our kids!
