"Watch Dogs" Dads of Great Students
WATCH D.O.G.S. is one of the nation’s largest and most respected school-based, family, and community engagement, organizations in the country. Since the program’s creation in 1998, more than 6,450 schools across the country have launched a WATCH D.O.G.S. program of their own. Each school year hundreds of thousands of fathers and father-figures make a positive impact on millions of children by volunteering millions of hours in their local schools through this amazing one-of-a-kind program. Who are WatchDOGS? Fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day a year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or other administrator.
WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the safe schools initiative of the National Center for Fathering that involves fathers and father figures in schools to serve as an unobtrusive, natural security presence and as positive male role models for children at school. To date, WATCH D.O.G.S has been initiated in more than 1,150 schools in 36 states. This school year, more than 70,000 dads will serve at least one day as a WatchDOG. WHO ARE WatchDOGS? Fathers (grandfathers, uncles, and other male adults) who volunteer at their child’s school for one (or more) days each year to assist in a variety of school activities, as assigned by the principal or school coordinator. Activities include:
Monitoring the school entrance
Unloading and loading buses
Reading to classes
Doing flash cards
Playing at recess
Eating lunch with students
Any additional activities assigned
Here is an actual testimonial by one of our own Hunter families. " I think that Watch D.O.G.S.(Dads Of Great Students)is a great program for our school(Hunter Elementary). It inspires to learn more when the dads are at my school and its fun. I think that every school should have Watch Dogs." - 2nd grade Mrs.Woehkle.