The Early Childhood program at ACS Athens welcomes our four-legged friends into the learning environment on a weekly basis. Enzo, our calm labrador, Iris, our joyful poodle, our youngest member Melii, a gentle dachshund, bring forth significant benefits for our students from pre-junior kindergarten through second grade.  Through weekly social emotional lessons our fur-friends provide both physical and emotional health benefits for students. As stated in the National Institute of Health (NIH) “having a dog present promotes a positive mood and notable anti-stress effects on the body.”

Our loving and lovable Dogs in Learning companions not only help our students feel good, they are role models for good listeners. Our students bond easily with these gentle creatures and in turn feel more connected and confident throughout their day.