Jonathan Elementary School has launched a new program at their school to get fathers involved.
The Watch Dogs Program (Dads. Of. Great. Students) is a program whose 2 primary purposes are to provide positive male role models for students while demonstrating by their presence that education is important. It also to provides an extra set of eyes and ears to enhance school security, and to be a deterrent for bullying. WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. school.
The process of getting a dad involved starts with the Family Resource Center coordinator, Melanie Pratt, who assists them in getting all of the necessary paperwork and background check completed. After the state approved background check is complete, volunteers are given a Watch DOGS shirt and are put on the schedule to volunteer.
Watch DOGS spend time in the classrooms working with individual students or small groups, however the teacher needs them. Sometimes they read with with students, play math games, participate in hands on activities or have conversations about books the class is reading. They always visit with students during lunch and recess and often help with car rider and bus arrival and dismissal.
The school asks for Watch DOGS to volunteer one full day per school year, but several volunteer more often, some even once or twice per month.
There are many benefits to the Watch Dogs Program for students. This program allows students to gain several positive male role models in their life. This is especially important to those who may be lacking this at home. These fathers and male role models gain a greater awareness of the positive impact that they have on their own student’s life as well as the impact they are having on the lives of many students who may not have a positive role model in their life. They impact the lives of these children in critical areas such as academic performance, self-esteem and social behavior.
Many school principals with Watch DOGS programs have reported that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dad dramatically reduces reports of bullying.
