Hi my name is Bertie,

I am the new Groodle Therapy Dog here at St Joseph’s Primary School. My owner is Ms Weaver, a new Year 5 teacher; and she will bring me to school to work ‘on duty’ three days a week. 

Bertie’s Limitations:

I am looking forward to helping calm students in 2025 as best I can. I unfortunately can’t interact with everyone I meet because I need to have the energy to be attentive and calm throughout sessions. If you see me walking around the school, please leave me alone. If you see me sitting, you may pat me with one hand only. Only two students can pat me at a time. 

Rules for everyone to remember:  

You may only pat me when I am sitting or lying down but please ask Ms Weaver first.

• Please always be quiet and calm around me.
• Please don’t feed me human food. You can only feed me the food that Ms Weaver provides.
• I must always be with Ms Weaver on a lead.
• When I need to rest, it will be be in my own space in the back of the Year 5 classrooms.
• Please DON’T squeeze me, or pull my tail or ears. 
• Don’t put fingers in my mouth.
• Don’t yell or shout around me. 

My role at Joeys:

When I am at school, I will be working with students to help them in a number of ways: 

• Calming and Emotional Regulation
• Individual sessions 
• Classroom support, depending on student 
  
  
• Social Skills Groups
• Classroom support, depending on students
• Small group sessions

• Literacy and Numeracy Skills 
• Individual or small group session
• Reading, writing or EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) style sessions
• In Classroom or breakout spaces

• Behaviour Management 
• Positive reinforcement  

‘If I escape’ 

• Please DO NOT chase me 
• Call my name (Bertie). If I come to you please hold my leash, stand quietly. 
• If my owner Ms Weaver is around, seeing me - I will come to you, but if she is not around please walk me to Mr Baker or Mrs Kelly.