DHS Newsletter
A Note From Principal Jeff Brandt
Hello DHS Families,
With the month of October beginning, we are over a month into the school year. Staff members are working hard, students are settling into routines, and temperatures...well, let’s just say we haven’t seen fall weather yet!
Here are some things that we are focusing on as a school:
- School safety procedures
- Student assessment and planning
- Student behavior, standards, and expectations
I want to thank the parents and community for their continued support of Dickinson High School. It has been a great start to the school year!
Jeff Brandt,
Dickinson High School Principal
This school year, we are excited to announce that we will include student-written articles in our monthly newsletters! Nareen Trent is a sophomore at Dickinson High School. She enthusiastically came to Principal Brandt with the idea of writing articles for the newsletter, and he was delighted to include her. Nareen is planning on making Journalism her future career, and DHS is happy to have her!
Keep an eye out for her articles throughout the school year!
On Tuesday, October 1st, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview one of our school counselors, Mrs. Manning, and our therapy dog, Millie. It was at once clear to me, standing in the threshold to her office, crowded by other children, that Millie is a very beloved asset. I got the privilege to learn more about the both of them, via interview.
Participants:
Interviewer: [Nareen]
Interviewee: [Mrs. Manning]
[Nareen]: What's the process of being paired with a service dog? How does that work?
[Mrs. Manning]: So, there's kind of a two-fold to that question. Millie is a therapy dog, and so therapy dogs are trained to work with large groups of people of all ages and styles.
[Nareen]: Just not, like, specifically suited to one person.
[Mrs. Manning]: Correct. And so, where an emotional support dog is very similar to Millie, but they are paired with a specific person or family, and they often live with that person. And then their certification is just that they get a prescription for that dog to allow it to live with them in places that a typical dog might not be allowed. Millie does not have any protections, so I have to ask permission for her to go in anywhere. She doesn't just get automatic entrance. An emotional support dog gets prescription entrance into certain buildings for living arrangements.
And then you have a service dog. A service dog is a dog that is specifically trained to alert or assist a person in a specific task or medical situation. So that's where you have your seeing eye dogs, your PTSD dogs, your glucose monitoring, or your seizure alert dogs, etc. And those dogs have laws, ADA laws, that protect them. And so those dogs can go with their owner that they alert to in pretty much anywhere, including airplanes, restaurants, grocery stores, etc., even if typical dogs aren't allowed. They are all under the working class dog, but that also includes your canine handlers at the sheriff's office and stuff. So Millie's a therapy dog, so she's trained and designated to work with large groups of people.
[Mrs. Manning]: What was the other part of that question?
[Nareen]: Oh, it's just what's the process?
[Mrs. Manning]: Okay, so the process for a therapy dog is very different, well not very, but it's different depending on what program you go through. There isn't one single entity that certifies therapy dogs, and so it can kind of be complex. But for Millie's process, we trained her to meet the standards of the AKC, American Kennel Club, obedience standards. And that's what I trained her to be able to accomplish. And then from there, you find a therapy dog certification. So there's Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Pet Partners. The AKC now has their own program as well that you can certify through. I came from the east side of the state, Fargo area, where Pet Partners is very prevalent. So we certified through Pet Partners.
What that took is Millie had to be one year old or older, and then I had to take online exams to prove that I knew dog behavior. I could read her. I knew what her triggers were. I knew what she does when she's triggered. So for example, she doesn't like tornado sirens. Her go-to is to put her body up against my leg and look at me and say, I don't like this, can we go somewhere else? Other dogs, it might be reactive, where they start barking, howling, they run away, etc. So I had to prove and learn how to read Millie, as well as lots of other things that are beneficial to the animal-human bond. So you take trainings on that.
And then once you complete those, Millie had to go through a vet check that we had to turn in, saying that she's healthy and capable of doing the job. And safe as well, and didn't have any reactivity to the vet or that care. And then from there we went and we took an in-person evaluation, where we went through a full exam in person as a team. And we had to meet certain criteria. And it was graded kind of on a proficiency scale, kind of like students are now, 1, 2, 3, 4. And depending on what you scored, you got designated different levels of therapy team as well. So we qualified at the highest level, so we could go into all areas, loud noises, etc. Some dogs will be designated as quiet spaces, so like more of your nursing homes or your libraries. But probably not a crowded school with mascots and dress-up days. So there's different designations within that. But had I gone through reliance therapy, that process might have looked a little bit different. So each one is kind of unique, but they're all, for the most part, looking at the behavior of the dog, the knowledge of the handler, and then how they work as a team. And then what populations they would like to work with. Because therapy dogs can be found in libraries, law enforcement departments, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, some work areas. Some offices have therapy dogs just for their office, etc.
[Nareen]: How do students react to, like, just Millie's presence. I know you mentioned that she has a calming effect, but in the doorway just now, they seem very excited to see her.
[Mrs. Manning]: Yes. She always has a group around her. Sometimes it's the same students who definitely benefit from her presence, and sometimes it's new ones like, 'Oh, I haven't said hi to you yet!' So, and you'll hear throughout the hallways conversations about, 'Have you seen the therapy dog yet?' or 'I got to pet Millie. Have you pet her?' You know, so it's opening up those social skills, too, of now there's conversations about her or, you know, those connections as well between peers and just the excitement. I've had students say, like, 'Oh, it made it so much better to come to school knowing that Millie was going to be here today and that she'd be excited to see me when I got here.' And, you know, so it's giving them that reason to come to school, which has been a lot of helping attention. Thank you.
[Nareen]: How does Millie’s presence affect work, just like your co-workers, how do they feel about Millie?
[Mrs. Manning]: Yeah, um, just very similar to the kids. We as adults are human, and we have some of the same struggles that the kids are going through in different ways. And so Millie has offered that same calming presence or mental break to our staff, from admin all the way down, um, to, like, basically any of the staff.
[Nareen]: What do you think the most beneficial or rewarding parts of bringing Millie into school is?
[Mrs. Manning]: That's a loaded question. It all depends on the student. Each student is very unique, and what Millie does for them is unique to their situation. So, in broad terms, some of the things that Millie provides is emotional support and stress reduction. So, through her comforting and calming presence, she can help soothe students, reduce anxiety and stress. She can be their companion, a listening ear, help them through high-pressure situations. And dogs are also, there's research that you can just talk about for hours, so I'll be brief, but out there that talks about how dogs, and petting dogs, and touching them, and the tactile stuff, will actually reduce and alter, not alter, but level out, what's the word? I had it a minute ago.
[Nareen]: Brain chemical stuff.*
(*I now believe that said brain chemical stuff was either serotonin or pheromones. Which pheromones? I have no clue.)
[Mrs. Manning]: Yeah, whatever the word is for those chemicals.
And so if you look that word up, I'm trying to stay there, like cortisol levels and stuff like that. And so then taking that, and that has a direct response to an anxiety attack, or someone who's overwhelmed, or different stuff like that. So dogs are naturally working on that chemical balance within. I think I heard something about that. Yeah, and so that's one area. And then enhanced counseling experience. So sometimes, you know, counseling offices have so much in them. And we have a basket of fidgets. We might have a rice table. We might have, you know, things because it's easier to talk or process something when your hands are busy. Because otherwise we're fidgeting, or we don't know what to do with our hands because it's awkward. And so having Millie in the office, all of a sudden the student is messing and petting her, and then they're able to talk because that's their fidget. Yeah. Or it brings them into the office in the first place. So a student who might not normally talk with me comes in and visits with Millie, and then I ask them how their day is going. And they're like, you know what? It's actually not going very well. Oh, tell me more about that. And it gets the conversation going. Where without Millie, they probably wouldn't have come to my office.
[Nareen]: It's almost like a gimmick.
[Mrs. Manning]: Kind of, yeah. But it has that positive experience of bringing that relationship together. And then that's that comforting presence. Now that they're talking, they're distracted by Millie, or they're telling Millie, and sometimes I just sit here. Because they're talking to Millie, and it's easier to tell someone who's nonjudgmental and not human some of the hard stuff. And Millie can handle it because they know they're not waiting for done with it. Because sometimes students have some really big things that they need to talk about, and it can be intimidating even or overwhelming to tell me. And so they'll just go and visit with Millie over there on the rug spot or whatever. And Millie knows a lot more than I probably even know she knows. But that can be helpful for that student.
Navigating a new school environment surrounded by peers that are just as clueless as you are is no easy feat. It’s quite disorienting to wander brand new halls with hardly any sense of direction like a blindfolded pigeon with a magnet taped to its forehead. Luckily, you’re not the first, and you certainly won’t be the last – so here are 24 tips for you to employ at DHS… that is, if you read the school newsletter. It’s on you if you don’t.
Possibly the most important tip within the entire list, (hence why it’s number one) do NOT procrastinate. EVER. Look out for your future self! It is a very slippery slope from one late assignment to suddenly being stuck in a complete academic ditch with no way out.
There is a traffic flow in the hallway – adhere to it! The halls in DHS get busy, and it’s easy to get stuck in the crowd and be late to class. If you see that the people moving in the same direction as you are sticking to a certain side of the hallway, stick to that side as well.
Be very wary of the student parking lot. There are plenty of irresponsible drivers who will rear-end you and dent your car! Be mindful, keep an eye out, and if you see something, report it!
Nobody cares about you as much as you think they do. Now, don’t get it twisted, I don’t mean this in the sense that you’re not important. Rather, no one is judging you in the hallway because your socks are mismatched or your backpack is open. Don’t worry too much about what other people think, because in ten years nobody will remember your embarrassing moments but yourself.
Be decent to other people, both teachers and students. This one seems like a no-brainer, but really, just do it. There are plenty of people within DHS that aren’t treated particularly well, typically because they don’t adhere to the social norms. You don’t necessarily have to go out of your own way to be excessively kind, but please. Have compassion for your peers – you never know what they might be experiencing.
Start forming good study habits. This is a crucial step to becoming successful in the future. Remember to be punctual with your assignments, and put in more than the bare minimum when it comes to effort. Take breaks, take notes, set goals.
Ask for help when you need it. Seriously. The job for every staff member is to help you. Nobody is going to be upset with you for asking about your assignments.
Build a good rapport with your teachers. It’s extremely easy to get on a teacher’s good side. If you don’t talk during inappropriate times, put in effort with your work, participate in class, and have a good attitude, you have a surefire way of getting into your teacher’s good graces. This is beneficial for a multitude of reasons, such as making them want to go out of their way to help you succeed in class, and it’s also good when you require teacher recommendations for things such as signing up for new classes.
Develop good sleeping habits. Seriously! Sleep is a game with a net zero score, even with the assistance of caffeine. Staying up late one night will only mean that you’ll have to catch up on it later. Falling asleep in class poses the risk of missing out on crucial information, and you just end up feeling crummy in general.
Don’t leave loose papers in your backpack. Invest in a multi-purpose folder or a binder instead. There is no fear like searching for an assignment and not being able to find it, and staying organized is the easiest solution there is.
Do not worry about making people like you. I’m sure you’ve heard ‘be yourself’ a hundred gazillion times, but there’s a reason for that. You will attract your own friends organically. There will always be people who don’t like you, and that’s just how life is. Don’t think about them.
Learn how to learn. This one sounds cryptic, but it really isn’t. No matter who you are or what you plan to do in the future, college or not, you will always need to learn. Understanding how to accept, memorize, and apply information in different contexts is a crucial part of life that is often overlooked!
Indifference is better than hatred. There’s always going to be somebody that gets on your nerves no matter what. Don’t let them waste your time or mental energy. Hatred means you care and think about them, but indifference means you have better things to do.
Join an extracurricular or two! Be it sports or clubs, DHS has a multitude of activities to offer. Not only does it improve the high school experience by simply being fun, but it’ll help you develop better relationships with your peers and better cooperation skills. And it looks good on college applications.
No shame in being shy. Everyone around you is just as hesitant to interact with strangers. If you feel the burning desire to strike up a conversation with someone you find interesting, do it! Compliment their shirt, say they have good taste. Take note of the pins on their backpack. Nine times out of ten, they’ll respond with an enthusiastic “thank you!” Compliments work wonders.
Hold off on the PDA. It’s against the rules for a good reason. Nobody wants to see you canoodling with your partner in the middle of the hallway at eight in the morning. Be considerate, on behalf of DHS we implore you.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Maybe don’t scream laugh in the middle of a silent library. Don’t sing loudly in the hallways. Just don’t. If you’re the only person behaving this way, it’s probably better if you didn’t.
Treat the staff like they’re human beings, please. Education is an extremely taxing, difficult field. What you say does affect them, whether or not they show it. Don’t make life worse for other people.
Quips and wisecracks while the teacher is lecturing don’t make you look funny. Nobody is laughing with you. Half of comedy is timing – so save it for later.
Participate in group projects, goodness gracious! Everyone has experienced the low level anxiety of an incompetent or indifferent partner on a formative (or even summative, God forbid) assignment. Pull your own weight!
When in doubt, rule one out. During multiple choice questions on tests, one of the best methods you can employ is the process of elimination. By narrowing down the list of possible answers by taking out the ones that are obviously wrong, you increase the probability of getting the correct answer, even if you don’t know for sure.
Bundle up. Having classes in the Yellow Building or the North campus in winter is no picnic when you’re dressed in nothing but a T-shirt.
Watch out for the frisbee.
Be kind to yourself. Everyone cringes at memories of who they were in their freshman year of high school. Everyone. Just be gracious, everyone makes mistakes.
