Dear Parents/Carers

I wanted to let you know that West Park Academy has a new addition to its family! Her name is Luna and she is going to be trained as a Therapy Dog to support and work with children across school. She will live at my house but will come to work with me most days.  She is a Labradoodle, chosen because it is an intelligent breed that will respond well to training and which is known to be good with children and is very sociable and friendly, as well as this they usually inherit the low-shedding quality of a poodle's coat.

We wanted to share a little update about our school dog, Luna. She has been settling in really well and continues to work calmly around the school. Luna is very relaxed around the children and enjoys being part of the school day.

Her favourite things include playing fetch, chasing birds, enjoying plenty of cuddles and, of course, treats! She especially loves spending playtimes and lunchtimes outside running around, often stopping along the way so that children can gently stroke her as she passes.

One thing Luna isn’t so keen on is bath time!

Luna has not yet started her therapy dog certification, as dogs usually need to be between 18–24 months old before beginning the process. In the meantime, she is continuing to get used to the school environment and the children, which she is doing brilliantly.

Thank you for supporting Luna as she becomes a lovely part of our school community.

Jenna Parker

Deputy Principal