Blair Mill Elementary Students Learn How Animals Help Humans

HATBORO, PA —They focused on how humans help animals, but also on how animals help humans.

Blair Mill Elementary School recently held its day of service in which the day’s theme, “Take a Paws and Bee Kind,” fostered community, and gave students an opportunity to practice empathy and civic responsibility.

Each grade level rotated through presentations from local non-profit organizations, including Comfort Caring Canines Therapy Dogs Inc., WAGS Rescue, Stray Cat Blues Inc., Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Journeywork, and College Settlement.

Presenters discussed how the community supports animals in their organizations or how animals, such as therapy pets and police dogs, give back to the community.

Each grade level also watched a demonstration by service dog Gracie with the Reading Fire Department, who is trained to detect arson.

In the afternoon, students completed service projects, including making dog and cat blankets, dog toys, birdseed balls, and pet adoption bags.

Items were donated to some of the organizations featured in the morning presentations.

To conclude the service day, students sat in on an assembly from Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. Animal ambassadors taught educational programming about Aark and Pennsylvania wildlife.

“By participating in Blair Mill’s annual Day of Service, our students learned the skills necessary
for becoming engaged citizens in society, such as empathy, social responsibility, and critical
thinking,” said Rachel Hockfield, school psychologist at Blair Mill Elementary School. “Moreover,
the impact of their efforts is stretching beyond our school community, giving them a sense of
connection to the broader community and civic purpose.”