Students make toys and blankets for pets

WASHOUGAL — First-graders at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary recently made toys and blankets for dogs and cats at the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society. Cathi Parent, community engagement manager with the animal shelter, came to the school to collect the gifts and talk with students about the shelter and its animals. She discussed ways that cats and dogs end up there, the foster program, success stories for animal, and volunteer activities. She also brought Purrgie, a 3-year-old tabby — a big hit with students. Students also learned about the importance of microchipping pets in case they get lost, spaying and neutering to control the pet population, and the process shelter volunteers go through to help pets get adopted. The activity also helped to meet a state standard in social and emotional learning, a process through which students build awareness and skills in managing emotions, setting goals, establishing relationships and making responsible decisions that support success in school and life. “This experience was about empathy, caring for those less fortunate, in this case, animals,” first-grade teacher Darcy Hickey said in a news release. “The students have been so excited for this project. It has become a first-grade tradition at CH-S.” Students in Taryn Tedford and Nichol Yung’s first-grade classes also participated.