When his daughter started school at Wagga Christian College, Nick Georgiou signed up to be a parent reader, but it was his furry, four-legged companion Louis that was put on the staff rotation list.
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"I volunteered to listen to the kids read and to read with the kids," Mr Georgiou said.
"About a week before, [my daughter] Elizabeth brought Louis in for news, and the students and teachers fell in love with him. They invited him back for reading, and I'm just his handler."
Every Friday morning for the past four weeks, the nine-year-old cavalier-cross-shitzu trots up the kindy classrooms and spends an hour to do his duty.
"He sits and listens, he's non-judgmental. I say to the kids, 'Louis loves listening to stories', and they'll read to him while I just blend into the couch. It's between them and Louis," Mr Georgious said.
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Since bringing his pup along, Mr Georgiou has noticed the children's confidence drastically improving.
"I've noticed a big change in their reading, it's improved out-of-sight," he said. "Maybe it's because they're more comfortable with me, maybe it's because of Louis."
Louis has proven to be such a devoted reading partner for the students, the school has even taken the step to induct him as an honourary staff member.
In the coming weeks, he will even receive a staff jacket, embroidered with the school's emblem.
"For the kids that don't have dogs at home, he's a good introduction to that kind of friendship, and for the ones that do have a dog at home, they're comfortable with him," Mr Georgiou said.
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