Meet Gily, Our Beloved Therapy Dog
Voted KME's Most Adorable Staff Member
A Message to Parents and Guardians about Gily:
Gily is our amazing therapy dog. She joined the KME staff in 2020! She received extensive training on how to interact with elementary students in a school environment and has undergone temperament and obedience training.
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Gily is a Golden Doodle. She is hypoallergenic and non-shedding to minimize the risk of allergies. If your child is allergic to dogs, please contact me or the school nurse, and we will make the appropriate accommodations.
There are many benefits to having a therapy dog in a school setting. These benefits include:
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Cognitive – companionship with a dog stimulates memory, problem-solving and game-playing
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Social – a dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing and focused interaction with others
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Emotional – a school dog improves self-esteem, acceptance from others and lifts mood, often provoking laughter and fun. Dogs can also teach compassion and respect for other living things as well as relieving anxiety.
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Physical – interaction with a furry friend reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation, assists with pain management, gives motivation to move, walk and stimulates the senses.
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Environmental – a dog in a school increases the sense of a family environment, with all of the above benefits continuing long after the school day is over.
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Reading – reading to dogs has been proven to help children develop literacy skills and build confidence, through both the calming effect the dog’s presence has on children as well as the fact that a dog will listen to children read without being judgemental or critical. This comforting environment helps to nurture children’s enthusiasm for reading and provides them with the confidence to read aloud.
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We want Gily’s presence at KME to be a positive one for all children and staff. If you DO NOT wish for your child to interact with Gily for any reason or if your child has a fear of dogs, please contact Mrs. Rosekrans at any time. We hope you will join us in welcoming Gily to the KME family and embrace all that she has to offer the school.
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Shawn Rosekrans
Principal KME
513-398-8050 ext. 14000
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Keri Perdrix
School Counselor
513-398-8050 ext. 14003