Nevada-Utah Conference
PHOTO: WANDA BRIMMER
Classrooms, Canines, and Honey Bees By Moriah Ward
F
allon Adventist Christian School (FACS) is a multi-grade, one-room school. Although teaching multiple grades can present difficulties not found in other classroom settings, FACS’s teachers, Diana Pleitez and Wanda Brimmer, have tackled the mission with a passion. Both teachers love project-based learning, have unique second jobs, and have introduced the students to them: training service dogs and beekeeping. PHOTO: DIANA PLEITEZ
Mrs. Pleitez and her husband, Salvador, train service dogs for veterans in honor of their son, Spc. Benjamin Pleitez, who was killed while on deployment in Afghanistan in 2012. While the process of training service dogs is costly and time consuming, the end result of teaming a veteran with a perfectly matched companion is very rewarding. Before the Pleitez’s moved their business to Fallon, the service dogs began their training at a prison. Not only was this beneficial for the rescue dogs, it also helped teach the inmates healthy coping mechanisms and how to interact with others. Now the Pleitez’s do all the training themselves. Whenever Mrs. Pleitez is in the classroom, Chester, one of the dogs in training, is with her. Part of
a dog’s training involves learning to go out in public and doing everyday things like taking elevators, standing in line, and being around large groups of people without panicking. Being around the students helps Chester learn to stay focused on his job and ignore the distractions surrounding him. When Mrs. Pleitez gives Chester permission, the students can pet and play with him. According to Mrs. Pleitez, “Research shows that kids perform better and have less anxiety in the classroom when they can interact with dogs at school.” Not only is Chester’s presence helpful for the students in the classroom setting, they also are learning how to interact with all service dogs they come in contact
(Left) Fallon Adventist Christian School students with Chester, a service dog in training. (Top) Students learned to easily recognize and find the queen.
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PA C I F I C U N I O N R E CO R D E R
