Glenforest School accepts four-legged furry student

Glenforest admissions director Edith Bailey (l) and Dr. Gillian Barclay-Smith congratulate the four month old St. Bernard on completing her first day of school.

A four-month-old Saint Bernard puppy named Claire arrived for her first day at Glenforest School on August 21. Sporting a brand new, bright blue backpack, she fit right in among the students at the school in West Columbia. And, of course, the students made her feel welcome right away with hugs and giggles of excitement.

Edith Bailey, admissions director of Glenforest School, found Claire through a Saint Bernard rescue group. Adopted jointly by Glenforest School and Bailey, Claire went through special training to become a therapy dog before arriving at the school, and she was spayed and micro-chipped. The puppy will attend school daily with her student friends and will be cared for nightly by Bailey.

Therapy dogs are proven to lower anxiety and blood pressure in humans, Bailey explained. In just her first week of school, Claire is already encouraging children to express their thoughts and describe experiences.

After a long day at school, Claire (the four legged furry student) decides its time for a nap. Fellow students are Daniel Semonis, Brad McGuffin, and Jordan Adams. Glenforest School is designed for students of average and above average intelligence who have learning disabilities like dyslexia, or attention deficit disorders, or who have not achieved their academic potential in the traditional classroom.

The school is planning to implement programs that will give students many opportunities to interact with Claire. They will be able to read to her, write letters to her, and best of all, PLAY with her.

Glenforest School Head, Dr. Gillian Barclay Smith, explained that many students who attend the school have experienced difficult situations, and Claire will help offer them the kind of emotional therapy that sometimes even humans can't provide.

The students of Glenforest are now in the process of selecting the perfect middle name for their fellow canine student. Stay tuned to their website www.glenforest.org to find out what name they pick!