VALLEY SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - There’s a new therapy dog at school and his name will help carry on a legacy of comfort and love for students.
Valley Springs Elementary School librarian Melissa McDonald said 10-week-old “Charlie” is a Goldendoodle, a cross between a golden retriever and a standard poodle.
She at first had considered a library dog, according to The Harrison Daily News (https://bit.ly/2dh7l9S ). Children could read to the dog without being intimidated for fear of criticism.
As she was doing research, she discovered that Vilonia Schools had a therapy dog, one that children having problems could visit. Just petting the dog can help calm down a child in some forms of crisis.
She said she had money from fund raisers in the library’s activity account, plenty to buy a therapy dog. She broached the subjects with elementary principal Lisa Sherrill. She liked the idea and suggested they go to Superintendent Judy Green, who also thought the idea had merit and suggested they take the concept to the Board of Education.
Board members were open to the idea, but they suggested McDonald and Sherrill go to Vilonia and experience a day in the life of a therapy dog. And they did.
At an elementary school assembly last week, Sherrill addressed students while waiting for a technical glitch in a PowerPoint presentation to be remedied. She said the assembly was to introduce “a new special staff member” to the students.
“You’ve probably figured out we’re talking about Charlie,” Sherrill told the students, who responded with enthusiastic applause. They also applauded when the first slide of the presentation was a picture of the dog and the words “Welcome Charlie.”
Sherrill told students that when she and McDonald visited Vilonia they were impressed with all three of therapy dogs at the school. They rushed back to school and found Green still in her office about 4:30 that afternoon.
Green said the women told her stories for a couple of hours and she gave them the go ahead to secure a dog.
They found their Goldendoodle that afternoon at a local breeder in Western Grove, McDonald said.
Then it came time to name the dog. McDonald suggested Charlie in honor of former Superintendent Charles Trammell, who died Sept. 7 at the age of 61. It stuck.
McDonald explained that one of Trammell’s favorite things to do was to greet children when they arrived at school. The dog’s name seemed appropriate because students could go to him with their problems and he would comfort them.
Even after he retired, Trammell would return to the school to visit.
“He just could not leave Valley Springs School, it meant that much to him,” Sherrill said at the assembly.
Now everyone at the school knows Charlie and most remember his namesake.
“We thought it would continue his legacy, of loving on the little kids and just being a part of our school,” McDonald said.
Because Charlie was purchased with only library activity funds that students help raise, he’s not just McDonald’s dog, although he does live with her away from school.
“What I tell the kids is, ’You bought Charlie,’” McDonald said.
Sherrill agreed that Charlie is a friend for all.
“He belongs to all of us who are a part of Valley Springs Elementary School,” Sherrill told students.
“Charlie’s already earned his keep,” Green said, even though he’s only been at the school a short time.
Elementary counselor Brenda Landrum said one elementary student had been crying one day, so they took him to Charlie. After walking the dog for a little while, the student got better.
“He just reduces stress and anxiety,” Landrum said.
Green said Charlie’s future is exciting. She said students go to children with their problems and Charlie should be able to help.
“Our job is to educate the whole child,” Green said.
She saw only one problem.
“There may not be enough Charlies,” Green said.
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Information from: Harrison Daily Times, https://www.harrisondaily.com
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