This week at Mount St. Catherine’s, we were delighted to welcome back Gary from Assistance Dogs (NI) as part of our ongoing therapy dog training sessions with our much‑loved Scooby. Mrs McCaul, Scooby’s foster mum also assisted in the training. During the sessions staff took part in hands‑on training focused on techniques to nurture and support the wellbeing of our children through Scooby‑led nurture activities. The strategies shared were incredibly valuable, offering us deeper insight into how Scooby can continue to play a therapeutic, calming and confidence‑building role in our school community. Our staff truly valued the high‑quality training and the opportunity to further develop the skills needed to enhance Scooby’s sessions with our pupils. Every session helps us grow in confidence, understanding, and creativity in how we use Scooby’s presence to support children emotionally, socially, and behaviourally. At Mount St. Catherine’s, we place great emphasis on ongoing staff development. We are committed to continuously updating our skills to reflect the most up‑to‑date approaches, ensuring our whole school community benefits from the very best strategies and practice. Thank you once again to Mrs. McCaul, Gary, and Assistance Dogs (NI) for their continued partnership and guidance. Scooby is quite the star, and our children are thriving because of it! 💛🐾
