Story Dogs Newsletter # 23 Term

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1 Story Dogs Newsletter # 23 Term What a jammed packed Term this one has been! Story Dog volunteers have been out and about promoting our wonderful dogs and the great work they do. We have appeared at many schools who have had a special Story Dogs Day event. We have had over 16 volunteers give time on their weekend to be part of the Melbourne Dog Lovers Show and even in our most far flung area, Tasmania, we have had volunteers driving across the State to be at the National Lions Conference to promote Story Dogs. Amazing commitment and dedication! A huge cake presented at Coolangatta State School to celebrate Story Dogs Day! Story Dogs Day was a great success with over 32 schools participating nationally to lift the profile of Story Dogs and help raise funds. Thank you to all who donned orange shirts, doggie ears or painted their face with whiskers in the spirit of having fun and helping children learn to read the FUN way.

2 Thanks to each and every one of our amazing Dog Team volunteers who are there at the school every week helping young children become confident readers. They not only help with children s reading but also improve confidence in many small ways; like cleaning their glasses, letting them go at their own pace, not putting any pressure on them and being dependable. Sharing the love their dog brings to everyone they meet is such a wonderful thing. One volunteer recently said: it s a shame I have to work as I would love to do Story Dogs every day Well done to Fran Hunting pictured here with MP Glen Elms receiving her Queensland Day Award for her volunteering role with Story Dogs. Fran and her wonderful dog Prince help children at St Thomas More College in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

3 Story Dogs had a huge presence at the Melbourne Dog Lovers Show. It was a truly amazing effort by over 16 volunteers, including our tireless coordinators, one of our dog assessors and some new volunteers who had not even begun in a school. Feedback from visitors to the show and other stall holders nearby to the Story Dogs stall was glowing, saying our dogs were so well behaved and our volunteers friendly and helpful. Congratulations to you all! On top of all that, the gigantic effort of making items to sell raised over $1000. There were home made dog treats, mobile phone covers, pottery dogs, cat treats, hand knitted animals, hand printed dog cards, glasses cases, walkies wallets, friendship bands, and a huge knitted dog. Such talents!

4 Surfers Paradise State School on the Gold Coast was lucky to have Humphrey B Bear visit to help with Story Dogs Day celebrations. Jan, (pictured with Humphrey) her dog Buddy and one of her boys in the reading program entertained the whole of the year 3 s with Mr McGee and the Biting Flea! A fantastic scene to see so many children excited about a rollicking tale of fun. An amazing testament to our program as the boy who became part of the program because he struggled with his reading was now able to read proudly and loudly in public due to the confidence he has gained from Story Dogs. A Celebration of the amazing work our volunteers do every week National Volunteers Week was in May and each Dog Team was given a Thank You card and a treat for their dog. We were very lucky to have three schools decorate the Thank You cards: Benowa State School, Pottsville Beach Public School and St Kevin s Primary School. The year 2 classes from these schools did a wonderful job of drawing dogs and giving big thank you s to our volunteers. A working bee happened to put together the cards and treats, including the ever hopeful dogs who thought they may be lucky enough to get a treat or two themselves. Thanks to all involved in making our Dog Teams feel special

5 Welcome and thanks to all of our new Dog Sponsors Sponsorship is how we make it all work and can keep expanding. New sponsors as at the end of June 2017 THANK

6 A HUGE thank you to all those sponsors who have renewed. This keeps the wheels turning and ensures we can continue to expand and help even more children learn to read the FUN way. New sponsors as at the end of June 2017 THANK

7 The Boy on the Page by Peter Carnavas A small boy lands on the page, at the beginning of this delightful book. Why am I here? the boy wonders, as a world starts to appear before him. Then he experiences many amazing things like playing music and planting a tree and saving an animal. There is humour and peacefulness in the telling of this gentle tale, but also profound wisdom. The boy grows up and comes to understand why we are here. There are so many so-what books out there that are trite and banal and easily forgotten. Then there are books like this one, which resonate long after you have read them. The beauty of Peter Carnavas tale is how he manages to bring the deepest philosophical question of the human condition, Why are we here, into an engaging and charming story. As tempting as it might be to open a discussion about life after finishing the story, I think it is best left to settle into the child s consciousness. I would view it as a gift that you are planting like a seed the understanding of which will grow and grow as the child does. Review by Serena Poncia 2017

8 THANKS! Story Dogs is very fortunate to have the support of many individuals, organisations and philanthropic funds. Here is a rundown of those who have given (aside from Dog Sponsorship) since the last newsletter. Wendy Coombes donation for books Devonport City Council Rockingham City Council Emorgo Foundation Story Dogs is now partnered with Benojo, an online platform for streamlining donations and online giving. We now have Workplace Giving. If you are an employee ask about the opportunity to give part of your before tax dollars to a charity of your choice Story Dogs. Many organisations have this facility in place and are happy to add new charities to the list on offer. Look out for this button on our web site for easy donations.

9 We have two new regions joining the Story Dogs Team. Cairns Christine Hofman and her Story Dog Frankie have started in the Cairns area in northern Queensland. The first Cairns School to come on board is St Gerard Majella School and Frankie also has a sponsor, Southside Vet Surgery. Sunshine Coast South The Sunshine Coast has now expanded and we have a southern coordinator, Glen Mahoney. He and his wonderful dog Dooley will be looking after the volunteers in the Buderim, Caloundra and Mooloolaba areas. Look out for Canberra ACT, Adelaide and Whyalla SA coming on board soon.

10 Buy a book for a friend or family member and one dollar will be donated back to Story Dogs. Look! There s a Dog at School. Written by Annette Van Zetten (Story Dogs volunteer) An early learning picture book for children ages A fun rhyming story about a dog named Summer. She would like us all to be kind to each other. Meet her friends and see them play, It s a happy life being Summer dog, especially on a school day. $17.95 per copy or Two copies for $35.00 Includes $1 donation to Story Dogs & free post within Australia When purchased from my website