By Jamie Miller
Davis Elementary is getting ready to kick off their first year of the “Watch D.O.G.S., Dads of Great Students” program with[more] a “Pizza Kick Off” tonight, Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the Davis Elementary cafeteria.
According to Davis Principal, Tiffany Beasley, they have received over 300 RSVPs to the event. “This number includes students and dads so there should be at least 150 dads,” Beasley said.
The “Watch D.O.G.S.” program is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers to provide positive male role models for the students and to enhance school security.
The dads that want to participate each volunteer, at minimum, one day per year and show up to school and assist in classrooms. The dads will be able to sign up for their available day (or days) tonight at the “Pizza Kick Off.”
Each dad is screened by the “Watch D.O.G.S.” organization but will also be screened as they arrive to serve by Davis’ Raptor System.
“Upon their arrival at the school, they will assist with morning duties either in the car line, the gym or cafeteria, after which time they will have a short orientation and receive their schedules for the day,” Beasley said.
The dads will participate in five classrooms each time they serve, as well as one lunch and one recess duty and lunch with their child.
“In the classrooms, they work under the supervision of the classroom teacher to provide additional assistance with students who might need a little extra help or who might need someone to listen to them read or to read to them among other activities planned by the teacher prior to their arrival,” Beasley said.
At the conclusion of the day, the dads will help with dismissal of the students and be asked to take a brief survey to provide feedback about the program.
“We are extremely excited about having these men serve as positive role models for our students at DES,” Beasley said.
