Dads volunteer as watch dogs at schools
September 26, 2008
By Laura Geggel
David Cook and his daughter, Jillian, eat pizza at the WATCH D.O.G.S. kickoff event at North Bend Elementary.
Kaitlyn Rogers knows it’s hard for her dad to get time off work and volunteer at her school, but she loves it when he does.
“He comes out to recess. He helps everybody when some people need help,” Kaitlyn, a fourth-grade student, said. “He sits by everybody at lunchtime. He’s just really fun when he comes.”
This is the third year Kaitlyn’s dad, Berry Rogers, will spend time at North Bend Elementary, where she goes to school with her first-grade twin brothers. Rogers, Top Dog of the elementary school’s WATCH D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students) program, is encouraging fathers like himself to help teachers and students during the school day.
“It really is about getting the dad involved in the classroom,” Rogers said. “It could be walking around the campus and being an extra set of eyes for the staff. Maybe it’s helping out with a project in the classroom. I’ve read before so a teacher could spend some one-on-one time with another student.”
Jim Moore, an Arkansas father, bred the program in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, Ark. Since then, more than 760 programs in 33 states have followed his lead, according to the WATCH D.O.G.S. Web site.
Fathers and children gathered in North Bend Elementary’s multi-purpose room for the program’s kick-off Sept. 18. Last year, the program had about 60 fathers, Rogers said.
David Cook and his daughter Jillian took advantage of the event’s free pizza and the many crayons.
“Somebody’s got to look over you,” Cook said to Jillian, when asked why he wanted to volunteer.
“Generally, it’s the moms who are more involved,” said Don Russell. “This gives dads a forum.”
Some fathers said it would be hard to take a day off, but Rogers said even half a day spent volunteering is better than none at all.
“I’m going to give it a shot,” said Brain Hayes, who attended the event with his fourth-grade daughter Kirsten.
Mount Si High School students from DECA took the children to the playground while Rogers showed the fathers a WATCH D.O.G.S. video. The video cited studies showing that children with parents who were involved in their school activities had better academic success and social wellbeing. A 1999 study found 40 percent of fathers did not know the name of their child’s teacher and did not read to their child. One-third of fathers had never visited their child’s school.
The WATCH D.O.G.S. program hopes to improve these statistics.
Alan Tepper, the physical education teacher at North Bend Elementary, said many of the students look up to the father volunteers.
“Since we have so many women on staff in the elementary school and so very few men, it’s nice to have the male role models as well,” Tepper said. He also congratulated the mothers who help him run the jump rope and unicycles clubs before and after school.
North Bend Elementary Principal Jim Frazier seconded Tepper’s response.
“It’s great seeing the kids faces light up when dad is in school,” Frazier said.
North Bend Elementary is not the only school encouraging fathers to volunteer. Opstad Elementary is holding a “Donuts with Dad” event from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Opstad cafeteria Oct. 8. The donuts and drinks are free, but the time fathers spend with their children will be priceless.
“My pre-schooler walks around calling me watch dog daddy,” said Paul Sprouse, father of an Opstad student.
Snoqualmie Elementary will begin its WATCH D.O.G.S. program in late October after the walk-a-thon, said father Geoffrey Doy.
Cascade View has a year-old WATCH D.O.G.S. program, but it’s still under expansion, said PTSA President Cliff Brown.
“The main thing we recognize is that we have to reduce some of the imaginary barriers to volunteerism that many dads feel when involved at the school,” Brown said. “We have tried to convey the message that helping out even just once a year in any number of capacities is welcome.”
Last year, Cascade View recruited D.O.G.S. to clear snow from the sidewalk and set-up for assemblies. Paul Cornell, whose two children attend Cascade View, held a career workshop about his technical writing job at Microsoft.
“You have to show that you care to your kids, that’s the most important thing,” Cornell said.
Reach Reporter Laura Geggel at 392-6434 .221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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