Robotics Report and Therapy Dogs

Jessica Berman, a senior at Tehachapi High School and president of the THS Robotics team appeared before the Tehachapi School Board along with junior Anjelica Romero at their May 10 meeting. Jessica told the board that the Robotics Team recently returned from St Louis, Missouri and the robotics finals. Although the team didn't take major awards, it did receive the Dean's List Award. Ms. Berman has recently received the 2016 Young Philanthropist of Kern County Award and she and Ms. Romero both received awards from the National Center for Women in Informational Technology (NCWIT). Each girl was given an award for herself and one to present to the school board.

Also brought before the School Board was a presentation on facility dogs, a topic that had been requested for the last year by many including Trustee Joe Wallek. Kathryn Mackie from Marley's Miracle Mutts and her therapy dog Maggie gave a power point presentation and handed printed material to each of the trustees. Her organization sponsores the very successful Barks for Books program at the public library and has had a great response to the same program being used at Tompkins Elementary in a pilot program this year.

Ms. Mackie's presentation outlined the difference between Facility dogs, Therapy dogs and Visiting dogs. Facility dogs, she explained are trained and registered as service dogs but the wait for one of these dogs is around two years. Facility dogs are generally trained to work with only one person. Therapy dogs like Maggie are also equally well trained, are very intuitive, and can work with many of the handicapped population. The

dogs are used to alleviate anxiety and depression, especially in children.

Trustees Wallek and Kermode both expressed support for a program and the THS Interact group has offered to raise funds for the project. It is now up to the district to devise a program and bring it back to the board.