Welcome
2012

Welcome to The Seeing Eye, we are delighted that you are here and hope your stay will be everything you want it to be.  We are here to help make that happen. We have made this message to provide you with some basic information about this adventure that you are beginning.  Please spend some time listening to it and let us know if you have any questions.

Each class consists of students from all over the United States and Canada.  Some students are here for the first time and others are returning for their successor dog.   There are typically 18 to 24 students per class with 4 to 6 instructors and a Senior Manager.

When you arrive at TSE you will be met by your instructor and will become part of a small class of 3 to 5 students.  You will be shown to your room and be given general orientation and then given time to unpack and relax a bit.  A list of phone extensions for people you may need to speak with throughout your stay will be available by dialing 1942.  At some point during the day, your instructor will invite you for a “Juno walk” to further orient you to the building and to begin gathering information to assist in determining the best match for you from the dogs ready for class.  The nurse will stop by to assist in the check in process at some point during the day as well.

The main focus while in class is on building the relationship between you and your new dog.  This “bond” is crucial to your success as a team.  Your dog will need to work for you because he/she has a connection with you and wants to please you not just because he/she knows his/her job.  We want you to be able to give this relationship your full attention while in class, so we attempt to create an environment where that is all you have to worry about.  While we encourage you to keep focus on your new dog, we do understand that there are many new human relationships forming in class as well.  Lasting friendships are formed here every month, but we do encourage you to remember that your immediate relationship is with your dog.  We do not allow dating; in fact it can be means for dismissal.  There is plenty of time after class to pursue and maintain the friendships formed in class.  During class, your dog must be your priority.

We understand that there are challenges inherent with being away from home and work for three to four weeks.  Some of you will need to maintain work or family connections while you are here.  We ask that you work around the class schedule as much as possible and remember to plan some “down” time with your dog so he/she doesn’t feel ignored.  If you have special needs as far as work demands (e.g. a conference call at a particular time), please speak to your instructor in advance and we will try to accommodate you.
Cell phones are welcome but please turn them off during meals, trips, at park and during meetings.  Cell phone etiquette is extremely important ~ please be considerate.

The Household and Dietary staff is devoted to taking care of your needs, both in the dorm and in the dining room.  If you have special needs in either area and have not made Admissions aware prior to your arrival, please do so early in class.  There is a nurse on duty 24 hours a day during class to take care of existing medical needs, as well as those that might arise during your stay.  Your instructor should point out the nurse’s office during orientation.  There is also a special call button in your room that goes directly to the nurse, for emergency use only.

People in class come from varying backgrounds and levels of experience.  Though private rooms are provided, the dorm lifestyle is an adjustment for most people and requires a certain level of cooperation and courtesy to remain harmonious during your stay.  We hope that, as adults, we can all work together to enjoy this very special and unique experience.  The time will pass amazingly quickly and with a little compromise and courtesy most situations can be resolved.  Because of this dorm environment we do have a set of rules that need to be followed in order to insure the comfort of all.

The drinking age in NJ is 21.  We will adhere to this law.  Please wait until after the work day is over, which is after 8 pm park, to have beer or a glass of wine.  You may purchase beer or wine while in class but no hard liquor please.  Grocery orders will be taken twice a week during the first half of class so you can purchase things to make your stay more enjoyable.  A bill will be submitted when you check out at the end of class.  During the second half of class arrangements can be made with your instructor to include shopping trips in your work schedule. The refrigerators in the three lounges are at your disposal throughout your stay.

If you smoke, there is an outside patio located at the end of the South wing.  Ashtrays are provided so that dogs do not eat cigarette butts and become ill. There are also benches and ashtrays outside the North wing of the building.

Rooms are equipped with phones that have programmable voice mail.  To set up your voice mail simply press 1880, enter 1 and the last three digits of the phone number, then the default password 2468, and follow the instructions.  Other useful extensions are 1811 for technical support, 1942 for a staff directory and 6368, or M-E-N-U, to get the daily menu.  To access an outside line you need to first dial 9.  We ask that you let family and friends know not to call after 10 p.m. as the dorm does have an echo effect and late calls can awaken those already in bed.
NJ has a mandatory recycling law so you will find plastic containers in each of the three lounges for the disposal of any cans or bottles.

Visiting hours are on Saturday and Sunday from 2-4 p.m.  Time extensions can be made for visitors traveling long distances, please speak with your instructor to set this up.

The Seeing Eye has a security service on duty during evening hours and weekends.  We do suggest that you lock your valuables either in your closet or in our safe.

Your room is equipped with a smoke detector and sprinkler system.  The smoke detectors are very sensitive to steam and temperature change, so we ask that when you take a shower, you close your bathroom door and turn the fan on.
We will have one fire drill early in class, if you do not know where your fire exits are, please ask your instructor today.
 The schedule for the next two days is as follows.  We will wake you up at 6 o’clock in the morning on Tuesday.  (We’ll knock on your door to make sure that you are awake).  Breakfast will be at 7 o’clock   After breakfast, you will have a Juno walk in Morristown as well as a group meeting with the class manager.  Lunch will be served just after noon.
There will be an additional juno walk in town in the afternoon followed by a meeting with your own class and a group meeting to go over some additional information.  Please make sure that by this time you have discussed your needs in a dog with your instructor so that he/she has all pertinent information for making the best dog match for you.  We ask that you keep an open mind as to the breed and gender of your dog.  This allows us to make the best possible match.  Having said that, if anyone has strong concerns in this regard, we would like to know.
Dinner will be at 5:15pm and finally, there will be a social gathering in the Common Lounge to enable you to meet your fellow students.
On Wednesday you will be awakened at 6 a.m. and breakfast will be at 7 followed by a group meeting in the common lounge.  Once you have returned to your rooms, your instructors will go over to the kennels to get your dogs. Once all the dogs have been delivered, your instructor will take you out on the school grounds for your first trip with your dog.  After your first trip you and your dog will return to your room to spend time together until park time.  After park, lunch is scheduled at 12:10.  Starting around noon, you will be escorted sighted guide from your room to the dining room with your dog at heel.  After lunch, your instructor will take you to the downtown training center in Morristown for your first trip in town with your dog.  Upon your return, there will be feed and park time.  Your instructor will explain this process to you prior to park time.
Dinner is at 5:15 and afterwards there will be a short meeting. The final official activity of the day is the 8pm park time.

Class is a very emotional time, there are ups and downs but it is important to remember that the dogs do not understand all of this.  Every attempt needs to be made to be consistent with and fair to your dog. These dogs have an amazing ability to adapt and, because they will be with you 24 hours a day and you will be feeding, grooming and working with them, they will begin to bond with you.  To help cement this bond you will be required to give of yourself to your dog, you will need to be supportive, encouraging, loving and a good disciplinarian.  It is because of love, trust and the desire to please that this whole process works.
We do understand the stress that is inherent with class and strongly encourage you to seek help when needed from your Instructor, Manager, or other professional staff.  .  Our goal is the same as yours; we really want you to be successful and will do everything we can to make that happen.

We hope this provides you with some answers about what you can expect.  We really want you to enjoy this experience and to remember we are here to answer your questions and help you succeed in this important venture.
Good luck, relax and have fun.

DHJ/September 2012