Acushnet Elementary School Celebrates Successful First Year of ‘Sunny School’ Second-Grade Reading Initiative

Superintendent Dr. Paula Bailey and Principal Leah Chesney are pleased to share that a new second-grade reading initiative at Acushnet Elementary School called “Sunny School,” where students read books to the Acushnet Police Department’s comfort dog named Sunny, has just successfully wrapped up its first year.

Sunny School was a new initiative for the 2023-2024 school year, allowing all second-grade students to read a self-selected book to Sunny.

The program was created by Principal Chesney, who learned of research showing that reading to dogs can improve young children’s reading fluency, social-emotional skills, and confidence.

During Sunny School, typically held twice weekly, scheduled second-grade classes visited Sunny and School Resource Officer Derek Cathcart in the school’s social-emotional learning room. Students sat with Sunny and read a portion of their selected book. Each second-grade student was able to read to Sunny twice over the school year. 

Recently, second-grade students who participated in Sunny School received bookmarks designed by art teacher Jill Macolini and a certificate from School Resource Officer Cathcart recognizing their successful program completion. 

“Not only did Sunny School help our students practice their reading skills, but it also helped them develop important social-emotional competencies,” Principal Chesney said. “Our students always looked forward to visiting with Sunny, and the initiative has been a fun way to incorporate her into our school day.”