{"id":8772,"date":"2023-10-24T11:28:49","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T00:58:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackfriars.sa.edu.au\/?p=8772"},"modified":"2024-02-27T20:34:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T10:04:42","slug":"wellbeing-dog-albi-welcomed-to-blackfriars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackfriars.sa.edu.au\/wellbeing-dog-albi-welcomed-to-blackfriars\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellbeing dog Albi welcomed to Blackfriars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Hound has long been the mascot of Blackfriars \u2013 and now we now have a real-life hound as part of our school community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackfriars has worked with Dogs Connect to introduce our inaugural wellbeing dog, Albi. When fully integrated into the school environment, Albi will provide emotional support, give people an opportunity for connection and assist children with emotional regulation and communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director of Wellbeing Anthea Osborne, with whom Albi lives while not at school, said the program would provide significant benefits across the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntroducing a wellbeing dog to Blackfriars is an exciting initiative,\u201d Ms Osborne said. \u201cWellbeing dogs are so vital in assisting with health and wellness for both students and staff in our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlbi is an Australian Cobberdog. The name Cobberdog honours the enormous task that the breed was designed for: to perform therapy and assistance tasks. Cobber is a slang term in Australia used to refer to a friend, which is indeed what the Australian Cobberdog is \u2013 a friend that you can always count on.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The dog\u2019s name was chosen by Year 8 student Henry Kemp as part of a school-wide competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlbi\u2019s name was chosen as it has a strong connection to our Patron Saint, St Albert the Great,\u201d Ms Osborne said. \u201cAs an interesting addition, in Arabic, Albi means \u2018my heart\u2019 and  I\u2019m sure that she is quickly forming a place in all of our hearts!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Osborne, who has long championed the introduction of a school wellbeing dog, said Albi was specifically selected to best suit the Blackfriars\u2019 environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlbi is a gorgeous little girl who is quietly confident and loves a snuggle,\u201d she said. \u201cShe is excited to be part of our community.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n

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Paws for thought as Blackfriars focuses on wellbeing<\/h3>\r\n <\/a>\r\n

Some very special, four-legged visitors have help launched Blackfriars\u2019 2023 Wellbeing program.<\/p>\r\n

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A group of staff members are undertaking a six-month course to learn how to train and manage Albi, complete social and emotional learning to help the community learn how to benefit from the connection and prepare the Blackfriars community for her full introduction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once fully incorporated into the school environment, Albi will visit classrooms, spend time with individual students, attend staff meetings and enjoy quiet time in the school environment.<\/p>\n\n\n