I wrote earlier about the poignant encounter between a painfully shy student at Bishop Maginn High School, and my new therapy-dog-in-training, a yellow Lab named Zinnia who seems to be pure love and connection.

She has certainly grabbed my heart, and Maria’s, and Sue Silverstein’s, and today, Jayla (not her real name) a student so shy she could not look me in the eye and tell me her name. Hopefully, I can use it next week with her permission when she gets to be with Zinnia again.

I was fortunate enough to see the moment when the dog and the shy child looked into one another’s eyes and simply connected. For Zinnia, it was a seminal moment on her journey to be a therapy dog.

Her day reaffirmed the continuous calming and socializing work we have done together. For me, obedience is not about how sharply a dog obeys, but how well they learn to navigate our sometimes cruel and chaotic world.

Zinnia could not have been more at home than she was today, and Jayla could not have been more confused and reluctant to meet her. She has never had a dog or knows one to be friendly. Zinna opened up Jayla’s heart like a can of beans.

In a few minutes, Jayla was walking her around the school, getting her to sit and lie down. Zinnia can’t be trained for this, it has to be in her heart and genes. It’s there.

I could see her confidence growing right in front of me. Sue Silverstein said the change in her was remarkable. Zinnia was right at home, strutting her stuff.

In the morning, I’ll post a video showing the new Bishop Maginn High School Choir, Conductor Judi Merriam has done a brilliant job of getting her choir ready for a concert in February.

The choir’s progress has been amazing.

The choir – chairs, stands, a conductor – was our first project at the school. I love the choir, it’s close to my heart. Come and see the video in the morning.

And please check out the new Bishop Maginn High School Regents Review Book Wish List. It’s important.