SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (SNN) — A wave of happiness and inspiration sweeps through the halls of the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School in Sarasota and it’s all thanks to a furry new addition.
The school and its students have found the secret ingredient to success. It comes in the form of Jax the Therapy Dog.
Jax makes appearances in reading groups and acts as a muse for writing projects all while easing anxiety around the school.
The idea to bring a furry friend in traces back to a 2021 student research project.
A group of 5th graders posed the question: how were people with neurodiverse and physical challenges viewed and treated prior to the Industrial Revolution versus today?
One student group explored pet therapy and its impact on people with physical learning disabilities.
Their well-informed pitch to school leadership made it happen, and the school said the results have been impressive.
“When there is tests and things that our kids are feeling anxious, he often times just seems to know. Anxiety, he lessens that, they’re just happier to come to school,” said teacher and Jax’s owner Joannie Bloch.
One student agreed, adding, “I feel like whenever someone sees Jax, it brings like a bunch of positivity.” Another student continued, “everyone is more excited when he’s here.”
The school said Jax’s presence aligns perfectly with their emphasis on social-emotional learning and project-based education.
They said not only does he bring happiness to students, but he also serves as an inspiration for writing assignments.
“We have a Jax January coming up in fourth grade and they’re going to be making dog ears and they’re going to be writing and reading about dogs. So, it spurs ideas,” said Bloch.
Jax’s journey began about a year ago when he was just 6 months old.
“He’d like run around the classroom and we would be like, sit in a circle and we’d all throw the toy and he’d come running back,” said a 7th grade student at Community Day School about Jax’s early days in class.
Now, Jax participates in reading groups on Mondays and enjoys recess with students on Mondays and Fridays, primarily with fifth graders.
Students say they’d like to see this idea live on at the Community Day School and hope to see other schools adopt the idea.
“It’s been working so far so, probably keep him in the same grade, like right before they go to middle school so they feel better about school,” said a 7th grade student.
Another added on saying, “yeah, definitely brings a lot more positivity to our school.”
A third student agreed saying, “and maybe even in other schools.”
Community Day School said their plan is to expand Jax’s time on campus, and allow him to interact with students of all ages in the coming months.
