Courtesy of the Hollister School District:
The Hollister School District is pleased to announce that the Wonder Woofs Program is making a real difference at Rancho San Justo Middle School and Maze Middle School. The program, which had been in place several years ago, was reinstated at the request of staff and administration for both schools.
Principal Diana Herbst said: “I was very thankful that the district was able to work out an agreement with Wonder Woofs because having the program in place makes our whole campus safer.” The district established an agreement to ensure monthly visits at each of the two middle schools. Wonder Woofs also agreed to have the dogs work with students in the district’s moderate/severe special education classrooms.
The program makes sure that visits are random but regular. The visits are organized so that administrators are present while the Wonder Woofs staff conduct the campus search. They ensure that lockers, bathrooms, classrooms, and parking lots are searched. They also ensure that people and students are not searched.
The school district determined that reinstating the program was important because there was an increase of middle school drug offenses, particularly marijuana in recent years. In the months since the program’s return, there has already been a reduction in the frequency of drug activity.
The program has also brought a very positive change for children in the moderate/severe special education classrooms. Assistant Principal Michelle McCoun said, “Sean Hagget brings Yugi (the dog) to work with our special needs classrooms and the kids just love it. I see it as a form of positive emotional support.”
For more information, contact Superintendent Diego Ochoa at [email protected].
