WATCH D.O.G.S.®  (Dads Of Great Students) is a family and community engagement educational initiative.  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.

WATCH D.O.G.S. began in 1998 in a single school in Springdale, Arkansas and has since grown into a nationally recognized program that has brought hundreds of thousands of fathers and father figures into the school classrooms and hallways across the country, creating millions of hours of “in school” volunteer time and having a tremendously positive impact on the educational process.

 

Program Benefits:

  • Students gain positive male role models.
  • Schools gain an extra set of eyes and ears. The presence of a father or father figure will provide an additional deterrent to bullying, enhance a sense of security in the building, and will help to 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.
  • Due to budget shortfalls and cutbacks, often teachers are presented with larger classrooms each year. The WatchDOGS volunteers provide real and important help for the teachers and the students.

Who are WatchDOGS?

 

WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer at Michell Elementary. During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow 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. On the day of their participation, WatchDOGS are given a schedule of classes to assist and can wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S. t-shirt

 

 

To sign up: (More details coming soon!!)

Please complete the PISD volunteer application.  You can find the link at the top of this page or at the volunteer homepage.  Once you have been cleared by PISD to volunteer, then navigate to the signup genius at the top of this page to request a time.  Please indicate your child’s name. grade level and teacher.  Then on the day you volunteer, please sign in at the front office where you will get a printed schedule of your activities. Morning sign in will be at 7:15 am and afternoon sign in will be just prior to the child’s scheduled lunch period.

 

If you have any questions, please contact watchdogs@mitchellpta.net.