Welcome all Dads, Uncles, Grandfathers, and father figures! In 2011, we brought the WATCH D.O.G.S Dads program to Red Mountain Elementary, and the response has been amazing! Fathers report “feeling like rockstars” when students line up to give high-fives on the playground or in the lunchroom. Teachers enjoy the extra set of hands in the classroom. We all love the energy and enthusiasm our dads bring with them. These role models make a big difference. 

So…What are WATCH D.O.G.S?

WATCH D.O.G.S are Dads of Great Students. The WATCH D.O.G.S program is affiliated with National Center for Fathering and there are millions of WATCH D.O.G.S across America. To read more, go to www.fathers.com. The purpose of the program is simple – to bring more male volunteers into our schools. WATCH D.O.G.S are fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers and father figures who volunteer to serve at least one day a year in our school.

It’s a D.O.G.S’s Day

Our WATCH D.O.G.S arrive at 8:30 a.m. in the morning. WATCH D.O.G.S and their children wear T-Shirts, so they are easily recognized in the building. A D.O.G.S Day can consist of greeting students as they arrive and assisting in the drop-off lane or by the bus loop.

After a brief orientation, D.O.G.S receive a detailed schedule for the day. We keep dads busy in classrooms, working with small groups of students, helping teachers with special projects and many other things. Later, D.O.G.S hang out in the cafeteria with the students, enjoy lunch with their own children and spend time at recess getting to know the kids. You may even find them joining in on a game of basketball or four square. The day ends around 3:30 p.m. with a friendly farewell to the students and a program survey. It is a busy but very rewarding day!

On behalf of Blanding Elementary School (BES) Students and Staff, we want to thank you for becoming a WATCH D.O.G.S and so generously volunteering your valuable time. Your willingness to volunteer at B.E.S shows your commitment to the well-being of your child and all of our students. The contributions you make by participating in activities, helping out in the classroom, eating lunch with our students, providing entertainment during recess, and helping out where your needed really makes a difference in our students’ educational experience this year. As you know, students, staff, and parents here at B.E.S enjoy a warm, caring community that fosters the highest standards of academic, social, and emotional growth. The efforts of volunteers like you are a vital part of that community. Thank you again, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

Sincerely,

Blanding Elementary School

Click the button below to sign up! Please look for a date and time(s) that works best with your schedule.  Even if you want to come by and be a WATCH D.O.G. please! We welcome you any time