Tamaqua Elementary students got a treat today when they saw the results of a weekslong social studies lesson about voting and the election process.

Fifth graders were busy as bees with their school-wide campaigns, but they weren’t electing class officers or voting for a favorite cafeteria treat.

Instead, they were deciding what a special staffer, Miss Honey, would wear in the school’s Halloween Parade.

Miss Honey isn’t a teacher or even a person — but a super-friendly, bright-eyed puppy that serves as the elementary’s emotional support dog, helping students who may be struggling with emotions, grief or crisis.

It’s a big job for the 13-pound mini-Aussiedoodle that joined the school in March, but one that the scruffy, energetic little dog takes on each day as readily as a dog toy with a squeaker.

Miss Honey is one of three emotional support dogs in the district, said Samantha Melusky, the elementary reading specialist who co-owns and handles Miss Honey.

“Each one helps create a calmer, more connected learning environment,” she said. “Together, they remind us that emotional well-being and academic success truly go hand in hand.

“There are now several districts across the county incorporating emotional support dogs as part of their student wellness initiatives,” Melusky said.

Tamaqua Area Assistant Superintendent Dr. Stephen Toth secured a grant to acquire and train two emotional support dogs, Miss Honey for the elementary and Odie for the middle school.

“Both Odie and Miss Honey have become beloved fixtures in our buildings, helping students develop coping skills and supporting de-escalation efforts,’ he said.

At Tamaqua elementary, Miss Honey helps students who may be feeling overwhelmed or struggling emotionally, Melusky said.

“She spends time with them to help them calm down and reset in a safe, supportive way,” Melusky said. “Many students find comfort in petting her, playing with her or having her sit quietly beside them in the classroom.”

This gentle support often helps them get back on track, focused and ready to learn in the classroom again, she explained.

Teachers can also sign up for time slots to have Miss Honey visit their classrooms, often as a reward for achievements or positive behavior, Melusky said.

“Her visits are highly motivating — students love spending time with her, reading to her or simply playing with her,” she said.

Miss Honey really belongs to everyone in the school community and her popularity is evident as student after student greet her or stop to pet her as trots down the hallway with Melusky.

That’s what made her a good subject for a school-wide, Halloween-centric lesson on voting and the election process.

Melusky collaborated with fifth-grade teacher Calyn Makovec, who did a mini-lesson on voting last year with fourth-grade students taking on campaign roles in a candy election.

“They enjoyed it so much that they’ve been asking to run the same campaign again this year,” said Makovec, who has the same students this year in fifth grade.

This year, the students created campaigns for each of Miss Honey’s potential costumes — spider, cowboy, honey bee, taco and superhero (Wonder Woman) — and created posters that were hung through the school and created a Google form for the school-wide vote.

“The students did an amazing job,” Makovec said. “I had many students volunteer to work on posters at home or even give up their recess to collaborate with students from all five classes.”

Students not only enhanced their digital literacy skills but learned the value and importance of voting in a relatable context — selection of a Halloween costume for Miss Honey, she said.

“Everyone knows Miss Honey,” Makovec said. “Everybody looks forward to seeing her.”

Fifth-grader Gavin Wagner worked on a digital poster to swing votes toward the superhero costume choice, learning new skills, he said.

“I voted for the superhero,” he said before the big reveal, going with his work group. “I can’t wait to see what her costume is. She’s the cutest dog.”

The project created buzz through the school, as students saw posters in the halls and got to vote for what they wanted to see Miss Honey as for Halloween.

“This particular civics assignment bridges social-emotional learning with lessons on elections,” Toth said, “And represents exactly the kind of meaningful integration we hoped to see with the inclusion of service animals in our school district.”

Melusky and Makovec knew the results of the election, because they had to order the costume in time for the big reveal.

And the winner was a Honey Bee!