Every dog has its day at school

Rosie, who is nearly 11 months old, is a groodle, a cross between a standard poodle and a golden retriever.

She was bred at Murray River Puppies in Cobram and named after the last Sister of Mercy to work with the school, Sister Rose McGiffin.

She is part of the Dogs Connect Programme, a world-first mental health and wellness program.

“The program assists us with the training of Rosie and gives us the advice to help integrate a wellbeing dog into our school community,” deputy principal Emma Reynoldson said.

Rosie’s first day at Notre Dame College was the beginning of the second school term.

At first, she was on-site for short periods, and her time there gradually increased as she became older.

Having a wellbeing dog on campus was important for the college because, after COVID-19, staff noticed an increased number of anxious students.

“From our experiences with other schools and research into wellbeing dogs, we believed having one would benefit these students,” Mrs Reynoldson said.

She said along with being placid and friendly, Rosie was hypoallergenic. This allowed her also to support students with allergies.

Wellbeing support Heather Turnbull said having Rosie in her wellbeing sessions was a wonderful way to calm many of the kids who saw her.

“They (the students) feel more comfortable talking to me while playing with Rosie,” Mrs Turnbull said.

She said bringing Rosie to the college had also had a “really positive” effect on many other students.

“Kids see Rosie, and their demeanour changes instantly. They get all happy and excited. They want to pat her,” Mrs Turnbull said.

Year 7 student Olivia Hamer said Rosie was “a big ball of energy, and she puts a smile on everyone’s face”.

At the end of the school day, Rosie goes home with Mrs Reynoldson.

Mrs Reynoldson lives on a farm, so Rosie’s “a bit of a farm dog when she’s not at school”.

“She’s a bit of a character. She’s not precious at all. She’s not an inside dog,” Mrs Reynoldson said.

She recalled letting Rosie out at 6.30am that morning (November 30), as Rosie is an “early riser”.

The previous night was the first time this summer that the sprinklers at Mrs Reynoldson’s home were on.

At 7.50am, Mrs Reynoldson had finished getting ready for work. When she called Rosie over, she was “like a swamp monster”.

Rosie isn’t the only member of her family to undertake such a noble task.

Her brother Murray is the wellbeing dog at Bourchier St Primary School.

Murray is named after Sir Murray Bourchier, whose statue can be seen in Shepparton’s Queen’s Gardens.