Being a Good Friend

Mrs. Ruff

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Ruff Pups Pawcast! I’m Mrs. Ruff, and as always, I’m here with my friend and co-host, Rusty Ruff. This week’s theme is—drumroll please—being a good friend.

Rusty Ruff

Awooo! Can't wait, Mrs. Ruff! And hey, wanna start everyone off with a ‘Howler’? What kind of dog makes the best scientist?—A labrador! Get it? Lab?—okay, okay, that cracked me up. Ruff, ruff! Anyway, let’s fetch the good stuff!

Mrs. Ruff

I should’ve seen that one coming! Alright, let’s celebrate our Top Dog of the Week—Grace! I just have to say, Grace has totally wowed me with her responsibility and note-taking. I mean, she takes detailed notes even when it’s not required, and she uses them to answer all sorts of questions. That’s some solid dedication right there.

Rusty Ruff

A-woah! That deserves a tail wag or two! But seriously, Grace has also been such a huge help to her classmates. I noticed she’s been tracking down missing assignments all week and reminding friends what they still need to turn in. That's, like, the ultimate teamwork move. She’s saving grades and saving you, Mrs. Ruff, a bundle of time, right?

Mrs. Ruff

Oh, absolutely, Rusty! Her kindness—and, honestly, perseverance—just make the classroom such a better place. And you know, it’s not just about the schoolwork. Grace sets an example of what it means to be a leader with empathy. We are really proud of you, Grace!

Rusty Ruff

Way to go, Grace—you’re leading the pack! And hey, time for some quick Paw-sitive Shout-Outs! First up—Greyson and Michael, you two spotted Jada being awesome. Jada’s always following directions, especially in line. Ruff, that’s responsibility and respect in action! And Michael, you noticed Juan making loads of new friends at Pleasant Ridge by just being kind and, honestly, pretty awesome.

Mrs. Ruff

I love when our students notice each other’s kindness. And you know, Rusty, that reminds me a lot of your stories about your trivia team days at Barkington Academy. Cheering on others, helping your teammates—that’s a big part of what makes a team, whether it’s in the classroom or chasing frisbees on the field.

Rusty Ruff

You read my mind, Mrs. Ruff! I’ll never forget that championship—we only won because we lifted each other up, even when someone gave the wrong answer. That’s PAW-some teamwork, right there! Okay, I’ll stop before I start chasing another tangent, but—be like Grace, like Jada, like Juan... let’s keep fetching those good vibes!

Mrs. Ruff

Speaking of good vibes, I’ve heard from so many of you that one of your favorite new traditions is our end-of-the-day meetings. Honestly, it’s become such a wonderful way to wrap up the day—reflecting, sharing what went well, and sometimes learning new games together. It just ties everything up so nicely before everyone heads home.

Rusty Ruff

Totally agree, Mrs. Ruff! There’s something special about hearing everyone’s stories—sometimes you get a surprise out of nowhere, like when I found that old tennis ball in my backpack last week. Wait, that’s not what we’re talking about... Where was I going with this? Oh right—the Nez Perce storyteller video! That was a winner.

Mrs. Ruff

One of the best parts of our week came when we watched a video of a Nez Perce storyteller sharing the creation story of the Nez Perce people. Before he even began the story, he sang an old traditional song to set the mood.

Rusty Ruff

Ohhh, I love a good song. Was it a tail-wagging tune?

Mrs. Ruff

Well, Rusty… it started out traditional, but then the storyteller decided to have a little fun. Suddenly, he switched the words and began singing—get this—“I like Oreos!

Rusty Ruff

WHAT?! Did you say Oreos? That’s my kind of song.

Mrs. Ruff

The kids thought so too! As soon as he started, the whole class jumped right in and sang along—loud, proud, and totally silly.

Rusty Ruff

Let me guess… once it hit the playground, it spread faster than a runaway tennis ball?