{"id":10003,"date":"2021-03-19T11:08:58","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T15:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=10003"},"modified":"2021-04-19T14:48:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T18:48:53","slug":"meet-kevin-north-landings-four-legged-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/meet-kevin-north-landings-four-legged-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Kevin, North Landing\u2019s four-legged friend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"""\"<\/a>
School counselor Annie Baugher and her therapy dog, Kevin, share a moment with second-grader Corey B. and other students at North Landing Elementary.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When second-grader Corey B. was feeling frustrated one day at North Landing Elementary, the school counselor asked him what might help.<\/p>\n

Corey said, \u201cI just need to talk with Kevin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin is the school\u2019s therapy dog, and Corey felt good enough to return to his studies after a nice outdoor stroll with his furry friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt made me feel very happy,\u201d Corey said.<\/p>\n

Kevin has been a cuddly companion for students, faculty and staff at North Landing this year, thanks to Annie Baugher. When she was a teacher in Illinois, Baugher saw how therapy dogs soothed the sorrows of tornado victims, so when her standard poodle Kevin grew up into an easy-going, lovable 5-year-old, she thought he\u2019d be an excellent partner in her first year as a counselor at North Landing.<\/p>\n

Principal Jill Barger was thrilled when Baugher asked about training Kevin to be a therapy dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey came to us as our dynamic duo,\u201d recalled Barger, adding that now both students and faculty regularly ask to spend a little time connecting with Kevin, which helps them recharge before returning to work.<\/p>\n

To build the required skills for therapy dog certification, Baugher and Kevin went to training once or twice a week for about 10 weeks at Einstein K-9 in Virginia Beach. They worked on basic commands and doggy self-control. Once the trainer felt the pair was ready, Baugher and Kevin began testing, which involved observing the duo in public settings such as Lowe\u2019s, Home Depot and pet stores.
\n\"""\"<\/a>
\nDuring the tests, the observer watched for Kevin’s ability to follow commands and Baugher\u2019s ability to direct and redirect him. Kevin passed with flying colors and earned certification dog through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The school received a waiver to see what help Kevin could provide this school year. Parents were given the choice to decline having their child interact with Kevin, but none of them opted out.<\/p>\n

When Kevin walks the hallways, students give him a quick pat or hug, saying things like \u201cYou\u2019re my sweet puppy,\u201d and \u201cHello, my friend.\u201d Kevin participated in spirit week and dressed up as an M&M for Halloween.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/a>He has his own mailbox in the school cafeteria, where students drop off notes. One recent letter said, \u201cKevin, you listen so well. \u2026 You made my life change. I love you so much. See you at school!\u201d<\/p>\n

Students can also message Kevin through Schoology. Baugher helps Kevin respond with words of understanding and encouragement.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing new here, Kevin has really helped me get to know students on a special level,\u201d said Baugher.<\/p>\n

Kevin greets students when they arrive for breakfast and sometimes returns to the cafeteria during lunchtime. He helps Baugher talk to students about how to manage anxiety and express their feelings.<\/p>\n

Several students are dealing with the loss of a parent. And Kevin has been there to help them through it.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/a>
First-grader Dot D. with Kevin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cKevin has a magic power,\u201d said first-grader Dot D., whose father recently passed away. \u201cI pet him and all the sadness goes away \u2013 and all the happiness comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin\u2019s training, certification and therapy couldn\u2019t have come at a better time, as the pandemic affects schools and nearly everyone\u2019s way of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a society we\u2019re becoming much more emotionally aware,\u201d Baugher observed. \u201cI hope other schools look into bringing in therapy dogs. It\u2019s had an amazing impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Alveta Green, executive director of Student Support Services, commends Baugher and the staff of North Landing for providing a special resource during a difficult time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith all the mental health needs we have in this day and age, anything that can provide comfort is a good thing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/a>
Fourth-grader Jason M. with Kevin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kevin is definitely keeping spirits high at North Landing, according to fourth-grader Jason M.<\/p>\n

\u201cKevin helps me feel better whenever I feel sad,\u201d Jason said. \u201cWhen I feel super-down, I can pet Kevin and it makes me feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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When second-grader Corey B. was feeling frustrated one day at North Landing Elementary, the school counselor asked him what might help. Corey said, \u201cI just need to talk with Kevin.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":10017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10003"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10019,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10003\/revisions\/10019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}