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WATCH D.O.G.S. is the safe schools initiative of the National Center for Fathering. It involves fathers and father figures as an unobtrusive security presence and as adult male role models in their children's school. For more infromation, visit www.fathers.com/watchdogs.
About Me
- Top Dog
- My name is Eric Snow and I have the privilege of serving as the National Director of WATCH D.O.G.S. I have created this blog so that you can share with other Top Dogs and school adminstrators about all the great things that your WatchDOG Dads have done for your school and students. Please post your successes, what you've learned, photos and even links to other pages you may have created. Our goal is to see WATCH D.O.G.S. in every school in America. Our children need us! Won't you help? To learn more, visit www.fathers.com/watchdogs
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Top Dog!
18 comments:
I'm new to this program but signed up to be a watch DOG at my daughter's school at the end of the month. What do we do during the day at the school? I will share my experience when I have completed the day but wold like to have some info as to what we do.
Each school is in control of their own schedules and it can be driven by requests from some of the teachers. Typically what we suggest is meet with the liason at the school and get your schedule. Then you may help to supervise the students that are arriving by bus or car. Then you may walk the area to make sure that there are no stray kids and that the building is locked up, gates closed. Next you would rotate between classrooms (especially your own childs) to help them with science, reading, math, art, gym whatever... Have lunch with your child and visit with other children at lunch,and then help with the transportation area again at the end of the day. You are there to help ensure that things are safe, and to interact with the children, yours and especially ones that may not have a Dad of their own.
Posted By Scott
I have been asked to be the Top Dog and my children's school. I was wandering if any of you could give me some great tips to insure that the program is kicked off right. Thank you in advance.
Hey all you newbies out there!!! Wow what a great start we are four days in and I am ordering 200 shirts for the kids to buy. The response to the program is outstanding. We have implemented a reward program at lunch that if they are eating well and being respectful that we "Dog Tag" them. Each day we will pick 1 boy and 1 girl from each table, We have noticed this is huge w the kindergardners and the first graders they even wear it the next day well good luck all...T.B
Hello I was wondering if we can get new items for next year ie..Logo printed lanyards, balloons, rubber braclets, full size poster of the mascot, more promotional items in general..Paw prints,larger banners for the inside bulletin boards..Thanks T.B.
Hey Krenzkes: Hey did you figure out what to do @ the school?? The coordinator should already have a schedule for you!!..T.B.
Greetings all i'm new to the WATCH D.O.G.S. program myself my family and i reside in Arkansas.i joined the group just recently and i'm going to participate in my son's school WATCH D.O.G.S. programs every wed for the next 2 months starting in october and november.after that it will be as i get the free time off from work. i am really looking forward to being of assistance not only to my son but to my son's school and his little classmates.( he's in kindergarten ). I feel that with my job working at the local state prison will also help me keep an ever watchful eye on suspicious activities from dangers some others might not spot right away.Keeping the Children and the school staff safe is going to be something i take very seriously.That falls into part of my job mission statement at the state prison. to provide public safety by carrying out the mandates of the courts.
James Stailey.
James: Best o luck to you in your new venture!!! I am having a great time with the program. I have been asked to be the coordinator in our elementary we are the second of four schools in the state to start this...wow what a great thing for the students!!!!!!!!!!!
tomorrow is my first day to be a WATCH D.O.G. and i'm super excited the school sent me a reminder saying i should be at the school no later than 7:45 AM so that i can get announced during the morning announcements.Thats going to be great giving me a sense of knowing i'm doing something to better the lives of the school children.and being a part of that is a great motivation for me.As soon as i get in tomorrow i will do my best to post my days activities with the school and the children and let you all know how things went.
Wow today was as great as i had expected it to be. As soon as i got to school i checked in at the front office and got my schedule for the day. and that consisted of at least 45-50 things to do throughout the day. The first item was assisting in the directing of traffic and getting the children off the buses and from their parents cars in front of the school. Then it was off to my first class and how lucky am i it was my son's class i was in right after they announced us over the intercom and across the classroom tv they had set up to show in every room. After that it was hall patrols and playground equipment checks. then tons and tons of recess. Haha those 2nd and 1st graders gave me more of a workout then any of the other classes even thought of giving me. All in All it was a great day
My highlight of the day was making a new student feel welcomed. I met him after school was out and asked his name and it happened to be the same as mine. He also told me that his dad's name was the same and so was mine. He left and then returned shortly after to let me know how he appreciated sharing this information.
Hey all: Just wanted to share what we have implimented into our program, one day of our choice throughout the month the kids wearing the mascot shirt gets to dig into our "Doggie Bag"(a little smaller than Santa's)for a "Doggie Treat"(candy bars). This is going huge!!!! Our school has an enrollment of 330 and we have just under 200 shirts out there!!!!. We had a contest to see what class could buy the most to earn a class party sponsored by our PTSA gals Great Success...T.B.
hey pack leader that sounds like a great idea. i think everyone that is a WATCH D.O.G. should do something special for the school they have a child in sort of like what the Doggie bag idea you implimented.I'm 31 years old but i'm a big kid at heart i plan on asking the school if they are going to allow the kids to dress up for Halloween at school. it would be so much great fun to dress up with the kids and having fun. or even prior to Thanksgiving if they'd let us dress up like a pilgrim or an indian or even the Thanksgiving turkey lol. No was for Christmas i'm a pretty decent sized guy and i'd like to ask the school prior to Christmas if maybe i could dress up like Santa for the kids and Pay each class a visit that day. that would make such a great fun day for the kids i'm almost sure.please feel free to give me some ideas or input i'd greatly appreciate it.
First time DOG here, I was at my daughters school yesterday. Basically I walked around and made sure doors were locked as supposed to be, Helped some of the students with flash cards, tied shoes, zipped jackets, put straws in juice boxes, Much of what Top Dog said. I got alot of Thank You's from the staff And students, and a few Full lines of high fives! It was a great day and I plan on doing it a few more times this year.
Well. To say I'm disappointed with the Program here at Clinton (AR) Elementary would be an understatement. I've been involved for two years and have "served" exactly two days. I signed up for every Tuesday and Thursday. I'm retired so that is no problem. I drive by the school quite often and do not see a Watchdog's car parked in their reserved spot. Also, when I visit the school, same thing. No Watchdog. I know that there were not enough Dads signed up to fill all the spots and whenever a "sub" is needed, no call for help.Plus, the only time I was "on duty" this year, all I did was sit at the back of my grand-daughter's class and "observe." It really rankles me that there is no "outside" involvement in our schools (in this area). All I hear is that "We need more men involved in our schools" but when people like myself try, we are rebuffed out of hand. I have a clean record and if you asked the kids themselves, the would tell you that "Mr. Edd loves them like he was their own." I guess I'm just really frustrated that our program is operated in this fashion. I think this program is great but not the way it is run here. I will probably not sign up again next year.
Tomorrow, I will be pitching the WatchDOGS idea at the school where my wife teaches, my oldest daughter attends and my youngest will be a rising K student.
We will be the 4th school in Georgia and the first in the Cobb County School District (NW of Atlanta).
This is a brand new school and the PTA is doing a Donuts for Dad tomorrow. They have had over 400 RSVPs from dads. It's going to be huge...
I took the WatchDOGS idea to the principal after seeing the ABC news story in November. She and I participated in the conference call on Tuesday. We are shooting for a 2009-2010 school year start-up.
Wish me LUCK!!!
I've been involved with WatchDOGs for two years now. I work a schedule where I get every other Friday off so I volunteer 1 day at the K-2 building and 1 at the 3-5 building as I have one child at each.
I have to brag on the Dads of Paola Kansas. They not only signed up, they showed up. We had 1 and a lot of times 2 Dads, at each of the schools, nearly every day the schools were open.
We've opened discussions with the middle school principle about getting WatchDOGs there next year. I'm looking for other middle schools or Jr. Highs that could offer some input about the program at their schools.
Several months ago I had my "Ah-ha moment" as they call it. I had taken an extra Friday off to finish some tractor mowing at the farm. I'm a telephone technician for a large engineering firm so even my days off are usually on call. I went from the tractor to work to replace a circuit pack in a phone switch. On the way home my wife called and asked me pick up a few items at Wal-Mart so I end up pushing a cart through the local Wal-Mart at 9:00 on a Friday night. I'm wearing my old Army DCU pants, bloused in my boots to keep the bugs out, one of my old T-shirts, two days worth of razor stubble and my WatchDOG hat (becaus it was in the truck and much more presentable that the one I wear on the tractor). A mother and her daughter round the corner and walking towards me and the 3rd graders eyes light up. As we pass she puts her hand up and we excange a "high five" just like in the hallways at school. As I continue walking I hear her tell her Mom "That was a WatchDog!". We are making an impact in our schools and our community.
Good Morning D.O.G.S (Dad of great students)
I just took over the Watch DOG program at my school and would like some ideas on how to have the pizza party run smoothly? I've been voluenteering for two years know and signing up on the GIANT calender some times is more troubles then the men would like. The past two years Mike was placing the calender on stage and letting the dads sign up for days. I would like any advice thanks!
TOPDOGVA
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