Torry Academy puppy receives "paws-itive" report card
Arnie is a 10-month-old King Charles spaniel
A puppy dog in Aberdeen has received a paws-itive report card’ at the tail end of his first term at Torry Academy.
Arnie, a 10-month-old King Charles spaniel, enrolled at the school in April 2017 as part of the academy’s PAWS programme – the pupils’ attainment and wellbeing strategy.
He attends school three days-a-week and is based within the support for learning department, working with pupils to help improve their health and wellbeing, and ease stress and anxiety.
Research has shown there are many benefits for children, young people and adult interactions with dogs.
Jenny Cranna, head teacher at Torry Academy said: “Arnie has brought a breath of fresh air into school with far more pupils and staff taking up ‘walking’ as a hobby.
“Arnie generates smiles wherever he goes and feeds into a general feeling of wellbeing in the school. When he’s not at school pupils and staff always ask after him.”
Highlights from Arnie’s report card include:
• Physical Education – Arnie has come on leaps and bounds. In fact he always takes the lead.
• Home Economics – Arnie loves making a dog’s dinner. His favourite is woofles.
• Science – Arnie doesn’t have a ‘lab coat’ because he’s a King Charles spaniel.
• Maths – Pupils and staff can count on Arnie.
• Art – Arnie enjoys art. His favourite artist is Vincent Van Dogh.
• English – Arnie can help with literacy work as his presence can have quite a calming effect. None of his books are dog-eared.
• Technology – Arnie’s bark is worse than his byte.
Arnie has had such a great time at school he will be ‘bark’ for the start of the new academic year in August 2017.