Student authors write about school support dog
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Therapy dog Lexi sits with students at Rocky Heights Middle School while they work on projects.
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) has an emotional support dog, Lexi, and students wrote a book about her.
Always looking for new ways to fuel his passion for working with kids, school counselor Clark Wilhelm attended a conference a few years ago about the use of therapy dogs in alternate settings. Involved with dog rescue work at the time, Clark knew Lexi would be a great fit at RHMS.
The Douglas County School District (DCSD) has a strong Animal Assistance Intervention program, with more than 25 dogs visiting schools throughout the district. With approval from RHMS administration, Clark wrote a proposal to the RHMS parent teacher association for a grant to cover the cost of Lexi’s training. When it was approved, Lexi completed a 15-week training course and passed two certification tests so she could work in the school building.
The nine-pound Shih Tzu makes a huge difference on the two days a week she goes to school. Lexi has a calming effect on everyone around her. “Bringing her into the building and working with kids is phenomenal because she can do in 10 minutes what could take me weeks or months to do,” said Clark.
Lexi walks the halls, visits classrooms and goes to the lunchroom. She also works one-on-one with students who read to her. She deescalates tense or anxious situations in the counseling offices and during parent meetings. She has been the subject and prop for a speech about the virtue of dogs in a public speaking class.
Witnessing the love RHMS students have for Lexi prompted Clark to follow the lead of Castle Rock Middle School and the book they wrote about their school resource dog, Ru. Clark organized an after-school club for writing Lexi’s book. Ten sixth- and seventh-grade students signed up, and together they drafted ideas and got to work.
The book, Paws for Peace, was created entirely by students, from concepts, themes and photographs taken with their phones and computers; the final product was published by Walgreens. The focus of the book shows that even the tiniest of creatures—Lexi was the runt of the litter—can have a huge impact for peace in their community.
Creating a book provided the students an opportunity to “see an authentic product from beginning to end and have passion about a product that is available to the public,” Clark explained.
The entire process generated strong partnerships on many levels: students with Lexi; students collaborating with one another; and RHMS and the Buddy Center in Castle Rock, an animal shelter that will receive all of the proceeds from book sales.
To purchase a copy of Paws for Peace, call RHMS at 303-387-3300.
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Paws for Peace book cover. Completely created by middle school students, they wrote about Lexi, the Shih Tzu who was the runt of her litter. The book shares encouragement that even the smallest of us can affect change for peace.
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Rocky Heights Middle School counselor Clark Wilhelm with students from the after-school club dedicated to writing a book about Lexi.
By Celeste McNeil; photos courtesy of Clark Wilhelm