Chaffee is the new school mascot at l’école bilingue Notre-Dame de Sion, but it’s mainly a Mira guide dog in training.
(Photo: Jacques Pharand)
The eyes’ best friend
At l’école bilingue Notre-Dame de Sion
Some schools have a mascot; often it’s a hamster, a turtle or simply a costume someone puts on special occasions. At l’école bilingue Notre-Dame de Sion, a Mira guide dog is the school’s mascot and it makes everybody’s eyes light up a little more.
Since September 10, Catherine Martel is constantly accompanied by Chaffee, a four-month old cross between a Golden Retriever and a Bernese mountain dog. Whether it’s at the groceries store, at home with her family or in her first grade class, her guide dog in training is never too far from her. “The kids really benefit from Chaffee’s presence, said Mrs. Martel. Now they know what Mira does and she has a sort of zootherapy effect on them.”
Contrary to what we may think, a young dog in classroom doesn’t distract the students. When they arrive in the morning or after recess, each child goes around the playful doggy to pet it, but as soon as the bell rings, everyone is sitting at its desk ready to learn. At the same time, Chaffee calmly lays down near the teacher’s desk. “Everybody got used to her so quickly. After a day or two the kids and Chaffee were used to each others,” explained Mrs. Martel.
Let’s do it again
For the first grade students, having a Mira guide dog in the class is a totally new experience, but it’s actually the second time Mrs. Martel and incidentally l’école bilingue Notre-Dame de Sion participate in Mira’s foster families program.
During the 2004-2005 school year, Goum was the everyday companion of the first grade teacher. At first, the school’s administration had some uncertainty towards the project, but the principal finally agreed rather quickly. “We’re really fortunate here, because most schools refuse to participate in the program,” said Mrs. Martel.
In order to better prepare the students and the school’s staff, Goum was first presented to everyone during a school’s assembly in the gym. “We explained why there will be a dog in the school from now on, recalled Mrs. Martel. We also told the kids that it was important not to shout around dog and not to wake him up. They understood very quickly.”
One year later, Goum was ready to be a guide dog and it was time to say goodbye. “The students made a huge poster and some of them even gave their pocket money to Mira,” she remembered. A few months later, the lady who received the dog visited the school and thanked everyone.
“So gratifying”
Every morning when she walks to school with Chaffee, Catherine Martel feels privileged to be helping people in such a pleasant way. “I feel it’s important to give back to others and I think the kids understood the meaning of it immediately. In a way, each student helps another person get a new pair of eyes.”
“The school dog” was without a doubt adopted by everyone. Some students even take it for the weekend or for the evening in order to give some free time to Mrs. Martel, but also to feel the joy of taking care of a Mira guide dog.
(Photo: Jacques Pharand)
What’s Mira?
Mira pursues this objective: to bring greater autonomy to handicapped people and to facilitate their social integration by providing them with dogs that have been fully trained to accommodate each individual's needs of adaptation and rehabilitation.
by Pascal LeBlanc 
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Richard Cléroux - National Columnist
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