It was a different type of relaxation offered at Shawnee High School.
Students entered their school's art room, where drinks and snacks were set up for them to enjoy and to take a step back and relax. For many years, this was a common thing that occurs at the end of the school year.
Only this time, cats were there to relax as well.
A special Cat Café was held at Shawnee High School in order to offer a different type of stress relief to students. Cats were provided by the Ohio SPCA and the Allen County Humane Society.
"It's been a stressful year, it's been a stressful last several years," said Brian Krawetzke, an Art Teacher at Shawnee High School. "To help celebrate this as we are nearing the end of the school year, to just help the kids calm down a bit, to help the kids relax, and provide something that we never get a chance to do during school."
With a drink in hand, students were able to use their other hand to pet their little friends, who often came up to students to just relax. Staff were able to participate in the event as well.
"With COVID and everything, it really impacted the kids, both social and emotional," said Abby Wood, a guidance counselor at the school. "We wanted to be able to give them something they look forward to, but also learn that they are not alone, our teachers have stressful lives as well, and these are just different activities or things that they do to cope and relieve stress after a long day.
