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Grain Valley South Middle School

Every Student. Every Day.

PAWS Program: Meet Alice the Therapy Dog

Alice sits in a chair with a student while the student is working on school work.
Alice shakes hands with a individual in the hallway at south middle school.
Alice gets pets from students in the hallway.
Alice sniffs the Eagle mascot.
Alice lays outside with a student near.

Partnering with Animals in Schools (PAWS)

What is a Therapy Dog? 

A therapy dog is a specially trained and certified dog that provides comfort, emotional support, and companionship in various settings, including schools. Unlike service dogs, which perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs offer general emotional and social support to a broader group of people.

In a school setting, therapy dogs help students regulate their emotions, improve social skills, and engage more effectively in learning. All therapy dogs in the Grain Valley Schools’ School Therapy Dog Program must meet specific behavioral and training criteria to ensure they are well-suited for interaction with students and staff.

Bright Futures Grain Valley Logo

 

Alice the Therapy Dog. Meet Alice! 

Alice is a whoodle (Wheaten Terrier/Poodle) and serves the South Middle School students and staff. 

Alice starts her day by greeting students at staff throughout the building, ensuring their day is already off to a great start. Her morning duty assignment includes greeting students and staff who call her. Alice spends most of her day supporting students in the recovery room or greeting students in the hallway. 

Stay connected with Alice's adventures at SMS by following her Facebook page. 

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Grain Valley Schools PAWS Program

Emotional and Psychological Benefits 

  • Therapy dogs help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression among students.
  • They promote emotional regulation, helping students manage frustration, anger, or sadness.
  • The presence of a therapy dog can increase oxytocin (the "bonding hormone") while decreasing cortisol (the "stress hormone"), creating a calming effect in students.

Social and Behavioral Improvements

  • Therapy dogs help students build connections with peers, teachers, and other school staff.
  • They can reduce behavioral issues by encouraging empathy, patience, and respect.
  • Structured interactions with therapy dogs can support students with social difficulties, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or emotional disabilities (ED).

Academic Engagement and Motivation

  • Students may feel more comfortable and motivated to engage in schoolwork with a therapy dog present.
  • Reading programs with therapy dogs encourage reluctant readers to practice literacy skills in a non-judgmental setting.
  • Therapy dogs can be used as an incentive for academic participation and positive behavior reinforcement.

Trauma-Informed & Brain-Based Learning Connections

  • Students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or trauma histories benefit from predictable, calming interactions with therapy dogs.
  • Therapy dogs help regulate the nervous system, supporting students in transitioning from heightened emotional states to a more focused and engaged mindset.
  • Emotional safety is critical for learning; therapy dogs help create a school environment where students feel valued and supported.