FROM JENNI OUR PCW
Welcome to 2024! For those new to the school community, my name is Jenni Forder and I am the Pastoral Care Worker (PCW) at Coromandel Valley PS. This is my ninth year at Coro and this year I am in the school on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and can be contacted via the front office or email: jenni.forder365@schools.sa.edu.au.
My role is to support and care for the whole school community, as well as be an additional resource for the school, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with a question, or if you just need to chat about something. There is also a brochure about me and the role of the PCW in the front office which you can pick up from Karen.
You may also see me around with our wonderful school therapy dog Murphy. If you do, please come and say hello and give Murphy a pat – she’s very friendly!
If your child has just begun in Reception, you may also hear about my friend Archie, who we will be learning about in the social skills program called What’s the Buzz.
I look forward to meeting you, or for those not new, to seeing you again soon!
Jenni Forder
Pastoral Care Worker
Get to know Murphy!
As you may be aware, we are fortunate to have our own Therapy dog here at Coromandel Valley PS. But why do we have a dog in the school?
Studies show that being around a pet is scientifically proven to have both physical and mental health benefits across the board. Everything from improved sleep, to a reduction in anxiety and depression, improved motivation and mood, and bringing families and communities closer together. She is also a very calming and soothing presence for anyone who is feeling anxious or upset. And she brings lots of joy when she plays “Doggy Doggy who’s got your bone?” in the classroom!
Since we have many new families to our school community this year, we thought it was time to once again introduce Murphy, and answer some common questions that we get about her!
How old is Murphy?
Murphy turned 3 in November last year
What type of dog is she?
Murphy is a Labrador cross Golden Retriever
Can I pat Murphy when she has her coat on?
Yes, absolutely. Murphy is not a one-on-one assistance dog and when she is working, her job is to bring comfort and support, so patting her with her coat on is encouraged. However, if you do see her on the oval or around the school without her coat on, she is having a break and this is the time to leave her alone – this means not patting her, calling her name, or running up to her. It’s very important for her wellbeing for her to be allowed to have some play time and be a normal dog.
Are there rules about Murphy when she is in the school?
Yes, we have Murphy’s Law and these are important to make sure that Murphy feels happy and relaxed to come to school and do her job well:
- Please say hello to the adult with Murphy before greeting Murphy
- Never feed Murphy anything
- Be gentle when patting Murphy
- Only 2 people patting Murphy at a time
- Don’t crowd around Murphy
- No screaming or shouting when you see Murphy, and don’t run up to her, just approach her calmly