WatchDOGS
Dads of Great Students
ABOUT WATCH D.O.G.S.
Hello. I’m Jim Fairchild and I am the WATCH D.O.G.S. Coordinator for Glenwood Primary School. 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 1,659 schools in 38 states and New Zealand. Please contact me at jimfairchild@mac.com if you are interested in this program.
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
RECRUITING
WatchDOGS asks for one day a year to be involved in your child’s school day. To get started Fathers, father figures, and students are invited to attend a pizza night where you’ll learn about the program, hear from others who have participated in the program and see what your volunteer day consists of. This is not only a night for free pizza but also a challenge for fathers and father figures to become more involved in their child’s education. This is your night to pick a date on the calendar, fill out appropriate paper work and sign up for your WatchDOGS day. WatchDOGS are given a brief review of the program, school policy and procedures, and are assigned their duties for the day. All WatchDOGS are required to wear a logo nametag and/or logo shirt that identifies them as a WatchDOG.
RESULTS
A survey of principals and dads revealed the following:
• 79 % believe that WATCH D.O.G.S made a significant contribution to school safety.
• 89% agree/strongly agree that WATCH D.O.G.S is a valuable component of the schools effort to promote a safe and positive learning environment.
• 79% believe that since implementing WATCH D.O.G.S, father involvement in the school has increased in areas outside of WATCH D.O.G.S including parent teacher conferences, volunteering, and PTA/PTO.
• 52% agree/strongly agree that WATCH D.O.G.S contributed to a decrease in students’ behavioral problems.
• 50 % believe that WATCH D.O.G.S contributed to an increase in student achievement.
• 96% of dads completing our End-of-Day Survey strongly agree that their “experience as a WatchDOGS volunteer was rewarding” and they would “want to do something like this again.”
RECOGNITION
WATCH D.O.G.S has been recognized by:
• The White House Summit on School Safety
• The U.S. Department of Education’s P.F.I.E. (Partnership for Family Involvement in Education)
• The National PTA
HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Find out more about WATCH D.O.G.S. at Glenwood Primary by contacting Jim Fairchild at jimfairchild@mac.com
WATCHDOGS VOLUNTEER CALENDAR
See what day you’re signed up for or pick a date you’d like to volunteer. Contact Jim Fairchild if you would like to sign up: jimfairchild@mac.com