Enrichment Activities: Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students)
WATCH D.O.G.S. ® (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative father involvement, educational initiative of the National Center For Fathering. There are 2 primary goals of the WATCH D.O.G.S. ® program.
1) To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.
2) To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.
Program Benefits
• Students gain a positive male role model. Many students do not have a father-figure present in their home and these students benefit when a positive male role model is present.
• Schools gain an extra set of eyes and ears. The presence of a father or father-figure enhances a sense of security at the building for students and staff and helps create an environment conducive to learning.
• Fathers get a glimpse of their students’ everyday world and learn about the increasingly complex challenges and decisions today’s youth are facing. As a result, they can learn to relate better to their student and
hopefully connect with them.
• Fathers gain a greater awareness of the positive impact they can have on their student’s life in three critical areas including: academic performance, self esteem, social behavior.
Who are WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students)?
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. During the day, WatchDOGS may play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow, attend PE and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well. Many
school principals have reported that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dramatically reduces reports of bullying. Before and on the day of their participation, WatchDOGS are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official disposable ‘Dog Tag’ aka a name tag identifying them as a WatchDOGS.
