Dear Students and Families,
My name is Marie Anderson-Smolinski and I am a teacher at Somerset High School. I have worked in Special Education for over twenty years, and I have utilized my Chocolate Labrador Retriever Mabel during the school day to help support the social and emotional needs of students and staff. If you are receiving this email, that means that your student will be in a class that I will be teaching in special education or in my general education Advisory and your student will have the opportunity to interact with Mabel during their school day.
About Mabel: Mabel is a petite female chocolate labrador retriever (~50 lbs) who is approximately 8-9 years old. Mabel was adopted into our family six years ago from Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue. Due to Mabel’s incredibly calm personality, students and staff have been able to utilize Mabel to help them regulate their own emotions during times of emotional stress and dysregulation. Mabel has provided this type of emotional support in a school setting since the 2020-21 school year.
Mabel is regularly seen at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in New Richmond, WI, and is in good health and up-to-date on all her vaccines. Mabel has also completed Canine Good Citizenship training through Pawsitive Dog Training (https://www.pawsitivedog.info/).
Sincerely,
Marie Anderson-Smolinski
Special Education Teacher
Somerset High School