All About WatchD.O.G.S.

WATCH D.O.G.S.® (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative program of the National Center for Fathering focusing on prevention of violence in our nation’s schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures for a two-fold purpose:
1. to provide an unobtrusive presence in the schools, and
2. to be a positive and active role-model for students at their school.

WATCH D.O.G.S.® was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR. Joined with the National Center for Fathers in 2006, WATCH D.O.G.S.® serves to inspire and equip men to be the involved fathers, grandfathers and father-figures their students need.

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 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, mentor students, and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well. Their mere presence offers additional security at the school during the day! On the day of their participation, the participants are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S.® t-shirt provided to them by the PTA.

Program Recognition
The WATCH D.O.G.S.® program has been recognized by the United States Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has been involved in the U.S. Department of Education’s P.F.I.E. (Partnership For Family Involvement in Education). The program has been recognized on the floor of Congress as a program that “can be a great tool in our efforts to prevent school violence and improve student performance because it can increase parental initiative and involvement in their children’s education.” (Congressional Record, February 7, 2000 page S392).

Program Goals
WATCH D.O.G.S.® strives to:
Raise the banner of positive fathering through the forum of schools across America and the world.
Awaken fathers to the values and benefits of committed fathering.
Change culture by where every student has a father or father-figure to connect with in a positive way at school.
Help every school in America be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father-figures in their student’s life.

WILDER WATCHD.O.G.S. have been in existence since 2003. We invite you to become part of our program. You may obtain more information at our booth during “Meet your Teacher” as well as at “Open House” on September 11th. Watch for flyers to come home in your child’s backpack during the first week of school.If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Jennifer Givens at 523-5335 (wk), 880-0533 (cell) or email at jlgivens@spsmail.org.