Bazza brings calm to class
Calm classrooms have been a feature of Neerim South Primary School since the arrival of Bazza.
Bazza, an 11-month-old black Labrador, is a wellbeing dog bringing a special connection for students at the school.
Owned by office manager Darren Freeman, Bazza was introduced to the school late last year but his activities were interrupted by COVID lockdowns.
This year, a few months older and wiser, he has been a welcome addition to many classes for the students.
Bazza works as a well being dog in classrooms providing a calming environment for the students.
Darren is training Bazza under the Dogs Connect program.
Well being dogs have been used for some time in schools to offer a connection to assist with stress and anxiety, but they also assist with leadership, resilience and emotional literacy.
Education support worker Linda Doyle said Bazza dressed in his harness and bandanna knows how to “work the room.”
He has a calming effect on students who might be tense or struggling with the classroom environment.
He is not at the school every day. His program involves morning and afternoon classes, but at lunch and recess his harness is removed and he gets to play fetch the ball and other activities with students.
He clearly understands the difference between his classroom “work “and his out of the classroom play.
Grade six student Laura Freeman said he is “amazing with kids.”
“Baz just helps students remain calm. Even children who are more keen on cats than dogs love to give him a pat,” she said.
Laura is a “dog expert” having five of her own at home.
But she has a special bond with Bazza. “He is a really good dog and just seems to know when someone needs some special calming time,” she said.
“When he is in the classroom there is a calmness. When the classroom gets quite noisy Baz starts barking and that brings us all back to what we should be doing,” Laura said.
Linda said Bazza’s connection wasn’t just with the students.
“Bazza has given us a greater connection with the community. He connects us with parents and teachers. He is good for us all,” she said.
Following the success of the program in school, Dog Connect has been extended to aged care, hospitals and justice centres.