Casey Grammar’s staff member Buddy, the school’s well-being dog, celebrated his second birthday this week with a special birthday treat, a peanut butter and sweet potato cake.
Since joining the school 12 months ago, Buddy has had quite an impact on staff and students.
He’s a regular in the classrooms and can often be found connecting with students in the playground, and in the hotter summer months, he’s easily spotted wearing his bright orange and blue sneakers.
“Buddy’s shoes are quite eye-catching, and they protect his feet on the hot concrete during warmer days. The students love seeing him in his shoes!” Casey Grammar Library technician Rebecca Birch, who is also Buddy’s primary carer, said.
“Last year, Grade 3 students in their STEM classes designed a few items to keep Buddy comfortable, including his own backpack and an umbrella hat to keep him in the shade on hot days.”
Buddy is a Labradoodle and joined Casey Grammar as part of the whole school wellbeing program.
He was trained as a well-being dog through the Dogs Connect program.
“Since joining the school, he’s probably become the most popular member of staff,” principal Fiona Williams said.
“Buddy settled into classes quite quickly and now attends school four days a week and regularly visits our Foundation to Year 12 classrooms.
“He’s definitely lifted morale and some students who were previously afraid of dogs now enjoy getting close to Buddy without any fear.
“Dogs in schools have been proven to provide emotional support and help students and staff build connections and Buddy carries out his role like a true professional.”
Wellbeing dogs bring a range of benefits to classrooms including reducing anxiety and stress, improving attendance rates, strengthening connections between students and the school community and increasing empathy and understanding.
During the school day, Buddy plays ball with students at lunchtime and is read to by Junior School students during their morning literacy groups.
He’s even attended coding classes to improve his IT know-how and listens patiently as students explain their latest STEM inventions to him.
“To celebrate Buddy’s special day last year, he joined his first online Teams meeting to hear the Junior School singing Happy Birthday,” Ms Birch said.
“The staff sang Happy Birthday to Buddy this year, and presented him with his cake and he later played ball with students on the oval. It was quite a day.”
