WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads of Great Students)

Program Coordinator: Bill Booth

WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads of Great Students)is the Father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned Father who chose to take positive action after the 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR.

WATCH D.O.G.S.® organizes Fathers and Father figures to provide positive male role models for students and to enhance school security. Currently, more than 2127 schools in 40 states and New Zealand participate in the WATCH D.O.G.S. Program. The Program’s goal is to help every school in America be positively influenced by the committed involvement of fathers and father figures in lives of their children and students.

In its relatively short history, WATCH D.O.G.S.® has proven to be influential and effective in a number of venues:

• Beginning in 2005, involved in the U.S. Department of Education Father Involvement In Education Project.
• Invited by the National PTA to be a founding member of the MORE Alliance (Men Organized to Raise Engagement).
• Recognized on the floor of Congress as a program that "can be a great tool in our efforts to prevent school violence and to improve student performance because it can increase parental initiative and involvement in their children’s education." Congressional Record, Feb. 7, 2000, page S-392.

Who are WatchDOGS? Fathers, Grandfathers, Step-Fathers, Uncles, and other Father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day each year in a variety of school activities as assigned by the school principal or other administrator. School administrators and Dads both agree WATCH D.O.G.S.® is a winner!

• 79% of principals surveyed strongly agreed or agreed that "The WATCH D.O.G.S.® program has made a significant contribution to the safety of our school."
• 96% of Dads who completed our End-of-Day Survey strongly agreed or agreed that their "experience as a WatchDOGS volunteer was rewarding" and they would "want to do something like this again."

The WATCH D.O.G.S.® program at North Beach Elementary begins it fourth year for 2011-2012. In each of the first three years, over 100 Fathers each year have volunteered to serve while providing over 2,000 hours of Volunteer service to North Beach. We encourage all veteran and new Fathers and Father figures of North Beach Students to sign-up for this rewarding program today!

Fathers that are new to the program may obtain the required forms in the Main Office. The sign-up calendar is located outside of Room 6. If you have any questions, please contact North Beach Watch D.O.G. Coordinator Bill Booth at (206) 854-8822.