Dogs Visit Clear Creek Elementary for Ruff Ruff Read

A group of four-legged friends roamed the halls of Clear Creek Elementary, popping into classrooms for head pats and belly rubs from excited students.

The special visit from local working dogs was a reward for the students’ participation in a school-wide reading project initiated by Carson LeMaster, Clear Creek’s school library media specialist.

Pointing to the rainbow paper chain hanging from the ceiling lining the halls, LeMaster explained that students have been turning in paper links with their names for each book they’ve read, and the goal is to have the chain reach the front of the school and double back to the library.

Teachers have also been adding to the chain throughout the school year, LeMaster said.

“That’s what we want the kids to realize – everybody reads and not just because it’s homework,” she said.

As the chain grows and reaches different reward levels posted along the walls of the school, the students are treated to special activities – including “Buddy Classes” or reading with a friend from a different grade level, watching a movie based on a book, or Friday’s “Ruff Ruff Read” with the working dogs.

Broad River Fire Rescue from Black Mountain brought a few of their search and rescue and man-trailing dogs – including Snoop, a 9-month-old still in training.

To the children’s delight, Chief Brent Hayner gave a man-trailing demonstration in the library, instructing Snoop to find 3rd-grader Michelle Lozano, who was hiding in a tent.

A chance for Snoop to hone his skills, Hayner said, “I knew he’d have trouble in here,” since Lozano had spent so much time throughout the school year in various places in the library.

“How many books in here has she touched, and how many places has she been?” Hayner said.

Specializing in police, search and rescue, autism, epilepsy and mobility therapy training, Highland Canine Training also brought Echo and Max to interact with the students – who lavished attention on them and even read sentences out loud to the dogs.

Still in training, 3-month-old Max also benefited from the extended exposure to excitable children and the loud noises associated with them, said dog trainer Sarah Gill.

“It’s good being here with the kids,” she said.

Clear Creek students continue to read books and turn in links for the paper chain, working toward an author visit and a teacher talent show.

(Article written by Molly McGowan Gorsuch, HCPS Public Information Officer.)