A Bright Spot for Baldwin High: Comfort and Calm in the Library

Special Blog Post by BHS Media Specialist Pamela Longino

On Tuesday, November 18th, and again on December 1st, our Baldwin High School library became something more than a place for books and research. It became a space for healing.

Over the past several weeks, our school family has experienced tremendous loss. We are grieving the passing of BHS student Jeffrey Epps, whose kindness, spirit, and presence are deeply missed by classmates, teachers, and staff. We are also mourning the losses of BHS Math Teacher Michael Blom as well as Dr. Jason Wright.

As our school community continued to mourn, we have all been looking for moments of comfort and connection. Thanks to the K9 Angels Therapy Dog Organization from Milledgeville, GA, we were able to offer just that, a quiet, gentle reminder that it’s okay to pause, breathe, and lean on one another.

Turning the Library into a Haven

With the help of K9 Angels and the coordination of Judith Kemp, the library was transformed into a welcoming haven for our students and staff. Soft voices, wagging tails, and the calm presence of the therapy dogs filled the space in a way that words alone could not.

Students from our PEC classes, as well as students from other departments, and faculty members stopped by throughout the day. Some came in smiling, eager to meet the dogs. Others arrived quietly, carrying the weight of the past few weeks. No matter how they entered, the goal was the same: to give them a safe place to rest and reset.

The Power of a Gentle Moment

Grief doesn’t follow a schedule. It shows up in the middle of math class, during lunch, or while walking down the hallway. Offering therapy dogs in the library gave our school a structured, supportive way to process some of those emotions.

For many, simply sitting on the floor beside a calm dog, feeling soft fur under their hands, or watching a tail thump happily against the carpet brought a sense of peace. The library, which is usually a place for focus and study, became a space where no one had to be “on.” They could just be.

This visit didn’t erase the sadness we feel, but it did give us a bright spot, a reminder that even in hard times, there are small, meaningful ways to care for one another.

A Community Wrapped in Care

We are deeply grateful to the K9 Angels Therapy Dog Organization for their kindness, professionalism, and compassion. Their willingness to come into our school, meet our students where they are, and offer comfort through their dogs made a real difference.

I am also thankful for the collaboration and support from our staff for helping turn this idea into a reality. It took coordination, flexibility, and a shared belief that emotional well-being is just as important as academic success.

Moving Forward, Together

As we continue to honor the memories of those we have lost, and support one another through this season of grief, we will keep looking for ways to bring light into our school community; whether through quiet moments in the library, thoughtful conversations, or simple acts of kindness.

For a brief time, the library wasn’t just a room full of books, it was a reminder that Baldwin High is a family. And in families, we show up for each other, especially when it matters most.

To the K9 Angels, our students, and our staff: thank you for helping create a bright spot in a difficult time.