-
-
Left to proper, Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, First Lady Cathy Justice, and coach Jil Mazellan play with Nutter, Ravenswood High School’s new remedy canine at Friday’s introduction ceremony. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
-
-
Back: Vicki Shannon, Chief of Staff to First Lady Cathy Justice and Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, Front: Katie Speece Morris, Special Assistant to the First Lady and Cathy Justice, First Lady of West Virginia, pose with Nutter the remedy canine throughout his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
-
-
First Lady Cathy Justice, Chief of Staff Vicki Shannon and Ultimate Canine Trainer Jil Mazellan speak about Nutter the remedy canine throughout his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
-
-
Assistant Principal Trevor Cummings, left, watches as Communities In Schools Coordinator Courtney Koon, middle, and her canine Spike meet Nutter and coach Jil Mazellan outdoors Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Back: Vicki Shannon, Chief of Staff to First Lady Cathy Justice and Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, Front: Katie Speece Morris, Special Assistant to the First Lady and Cathy Justice, First Lady of West Virginia, pose with Nutter the remedy canine throughout his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
RAVENSWOOD — The employees at Ravenswood High School grew by 4 paws Friday, because of a statewide psychological well being and schooling initiative.
Friends With Paws is a collaboration between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools Nonprofit and the West Virginia Department of Education. These organizations work collectively to place licensed remedy dogs in colleges throughout the state whose college students wrestle with poverty, dependancy and different at-risk conditions. Nutter, an 11 month old male brown Labrador, turned the 18th placement in this system.
Jackson County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook described the advantages to college students who gathered in the highschool auditorium for the introduction ceremony.
“We all have bad days, whether you’re the superintendent, whether you’re a teacher, whether you’re a service employee personnel. It doesn’t matter. … Every single day you’re going to have a dog at school that’s going to unconditionally love you. No matter what kind of day you’re having. And that’s powerful. That’s powerful in life to have that,” Hosaflook stated.
West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice, and three of her employees members, attended Friday’s occasion. She inspired college students to cease and pet Nutter, give him a hug, or learn to him. She stated he was there to supply help to the scholars.
First Lady Cathy Justice, Chief of Staff Vicki Shannon and Ultimate Canine Trainer Jil Mazellan speak about Nutter the remedy canine throughout his introduction ceremony at Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
Justice stated Friends In Paws has placed dogs in elementary, center and excessive colleges and the advance in psychological well being may be seen in all ages.
“This can happen at any age, either a death of a parent or someone close to them, another student who’s having a hard time, even suicide. The dogs are like a security blanket when they’re going through everything. The problems are the same, just a little bit bigger and different as they get older,” Justice stated.
Special Assistant to the First Lady Katie Speece Morris stated just one canine is placed in every county.
“You guys can’t imagine how many calls we get in our office and ask about a therapy dog in their school. Ravenswood High School is very lucky to be the school that receives a therapy dog. Whenever we are selecting schools, we look for folks inside the school that make a good team. You have a team of therapy dog handlers at your school. These are the people that will have Nutter throughout the day,” she stated.
Assistant Principal Trevor Cummings stated Nutter can be beneath the supervision of 4 completely different employees members all through the day: Cummings, steering counselor Shelly Updegrave, English trainer Brittany Stephens, and CIS Coordinator Courtney Koon.
Left to proper, Joslyn Barnhart, Communities in Schools Liaison, First Lady Cathy Justice, and coach Jil Mazellan play with Nutter, Ravenswood High School’s new remedy canine at Friday’s introduction ceremony. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
“Every day that Nutter is here, he will change the kids’ day for the better,” Cummings stated.
Kristen Hainkel may be contacted at [email protected]
Assistant Principal Trevor Cummings, left, watches as Communities In Schools Coordinator Courtney Koon, middle, and her canine Spike meet Nutter and coach Jil Mazellan outdoors Ravenswood High School Friday. (Photo by Kristen Hainkel)
