Kona: Our Educational Assistance Dog
Every great school community has a heartbeat and at NLCS (Singapore), that heartbeat has four paws. Kona joined our campus as our first-ever school dog, making NLCS (Singapore) the first international school in Singapore to have a resident, professionally trained Educational Assistance Dog.
Kona is more than a school dog, she is a professionally trained Educational Assistance Dog and a carefully managed, purposeful member of our pastoral care programme, present in corridors, common rooms, and quiet corners wherever she is needed most. Research consistently shows that interactions with dogs lower cortisol levels, reduce anxiety, and improve social connection in children of all ages.
Kona is an apricot and white Cavapoochon, a breed well known for its affectionate temperament, intelligence, and calm, friendly nature, making it particularly suited to working with children.
Year Joined
Certified qualifications & licences
Books Read Together
Tail Wags per Day
Why Kona Works
Numerous research studies have shown the benefits of therapy dogs in schools which have been increasingly commonplace in the UK, Australia and the USA for many years now.
Cognitive
Stimulates memory, problem-solving and game-playing.
Social
Encourages responsibility, well-being and focussed interaction with others.
Emotional
Improves self-esteem, lifts mood, teaches compassion and relives anxiety.
Physical
Reduces blood pressure, provides tactile stimulation and motivates movement.
Environmental
Increases the sense of a family environment, with benefits continuing long after the school day.
Stress & Calm
Just a few minutes with Kona can help students reset. Research suggests that petting a dog lowers stress hormones and increases feelings of connection, so Kona’s calm presence isn’t just lovely, it’s genuinely good for learning.
Reading & Confidence
Kona never interrupts, never corrects, and never judges. Students who read aloud to her build fluency and confidence in a completely pressure-free environment, sometimes the best listener says nothing at all.
Social Connection
Kona has a unique ability to help students feel at ease with one another. For new students especially, she acts as a natural social bridge, belonging often begins in the smallest moments.
What Kona Does
Kona’s timetable is as full as any teacher’s, and her presence is always met with great excitement. From therapeutic reading sessions to community dog walks open to the whole school family, here is what she gets up to across our community every week.
Storytime with Kon
An open library session for younger children and their parents. A story is read aloud while Kona settles nearby. Afterwards, children have a few quiet minutes with her. It is the simplest thing we do. It is also one of the most loved.
Walk and Talk
An informal check-in where students can walk with Kona and connect with a trusted adult. No agenda, no pressure, just a moment to talk, move and feel supported.
Morning Greeting
Whenever she’s in school, Kona can often be found in the lobby, offering students a warm and friendly start to the day.
New Student Welcome
Joining a new school is daunting at any age. Kona meets every new student, breaking the ice in the most effective way possible.
School Tours
Prospective families receive the true NLCS experience: a guided tour with Kona as co-host.
Events & Assemblies
From sports days to celebration assemblies, Kona attends as the community’s most enthusiastic supporter.
All interactions with Kona are optional and take place with parental consent. We are mindful of individual comfort levels, allergies and cultural preferences, and Kona’s schedule is carefully managed to keep her happy and healthy.
Qualifications & Certifications
Kona is a fully trained, rigorously certified school wellbeing professional. Every qualification she holds has been earned with purpose, and underpins the safe, high-quality interactions she brings to our school community every day.
The Dog Mentor Programme
Early Foundation Training
Puppy University Licensed
School-Specific Certification
Singapore AVS Regulatory Compliance
Events with Kona
From open mornings to special community days, Kona features across a range of events throughout the school year. Register your place below, limited slots available.
Book a School Tour with Kona
Our school tours with Kona are something families talk about long after their visit. Tour our world-class campus with Kona as co-host, meet our admissions team, and see NLCS (Singapore) through fresh eyes.
What to expect
A guided experience across our world-class campus, from our purpose-built Performing Arts Centre to our sports facilities, Junior School classrooms, and Sixth Form spaces.
- Kona meets you at the gate
- Guided by our admissions team
- Q&A session included, ask us anything
🐕🦺
Kona-accompanied tours subject to her schedule.
Kona Stickers
Kona stickers are not for sale, they are earned. Each sticker is awarded to members of our school community who volunteer their time and energy to support Kona’s programmes. The more you give, the more you receive.
Kona Stickers
The most coveted badge in the community, earned, never bought, and worn with pride.
Read Kona’s Latest Story
School life, as observed from the best possible height. Written in Kona’s own words.
Have Questions about Kona?
Cavapoochons are known for their non-shedding coats, meaning it is highly unlikely, even for those with pet allergies, to develop a reaction to them. Even so, Kona will have a thorough cleanliness and grooming regime, and will only be in situations with students whose parents have given permission in advance.
Kona will only be in contact with children whose parents have given permission. Cavapoochons are known for their loving, gentle nature and are considered emotionally intelligent as they are able to sense when a child is scared and act accordingly. Experience and research have shown that, with proper guidance, children can learn to overcome fear of animals. Over the past eight years, Kona has even managed to convert several children from being initially terrified to voluntarily working with her.
Absolutely! Kona is in school two to three days each week, with time away to ensure she remains happy, healthy and well rested. She is always accompanied by an adult and leashed at all times in class. She is assessed at regular intervals by a qualified assessor and continues to receive ongoing training from a qualified animal behaviourist. She visits the vet regularly for injections and check-ups and if she is ever unwell, she stays home.
