Mapleton Elementary recently invested in the national family engagement program called Watch D.O.G.S® (Dads of Great Students), and volunteers are flocking to the school. The Watch D.O.G.S® program is structured around promoting positive male role models through volunteering. In Mapleton, dads and other trusted adult men sign up to spend a full day in the school moving throughout classrooms to help during What I Need (WIN) Time.
Aimee Strand, Mapleton Elementary School’s counselor, began researching the national program in the spring of 2024 as a method of increasing family engagement. After discussion with the school principal and planning for the start-up cost (approximately $500 for materials), the school made the decision to move forward with the program for the fall of 2024. The goal of Watch D.O.G.S at Mapleton is to show students that dads value education. The benefits of the program extend to the volunteers and teachers alike; teachers get an extra set of hands and eyes and volunteers get to experience the great moments and the challenges in the classroom.
There are several ways for dads to sign up; the school hosts a pizza night at the beginning of the school year inviting parents to learn about the program with a short presentation; sign-ups open that night. Volunteers can also get involved by simply writing their name on a large calendar in the commons or by directly contacting Strand. All volunteers need on the day of their shift is an official Watch D.O.G.S t-shirt. The PTO keeps the shirt costs low at $5 so the program is accessible to all. The day of their shift, Strand meets with the volunteer to review their daily schedule, expectations, and guidelines. Volunteers are scheduled to visit multiple classrooms during WIN time. WIN time is the part of the day where students work on what they need; no new instruction takes place during this time. Because WIN time is utilized in a variety of ways by students, volunteer tasks vary from classroom and grade. They may find themselves helping students practice reading, work on math programs, or even playing games in the hallway.
Students love seeing the dads at school. Strand says, “Students are so excited to have their dads be here that many dads tell me their child has begged them to come and volunteer. I think the students are our best promoters of the program.” After a dad finishes volunteering, they take a picture with their student that goes on the Watch D.O.G.S. Hero wall.
Strand hopes to see volunteer numbers continue to increase. She also envisions an evolution of the program to include community member support for students whose dads are unavailable. Strand envisions a mentorship program or an “Adopt a Watch D.O.G.S” program where a community member volunteers to be paired with a student so all students can feel supported by a male role model. Eventually, they hope to further connect with community businesses to sponsor pieces of the program like purchasing a Watch D.O.G.S mascot.
For schools looking to increase family engagement, Strand recommends the Watch D.O.G.S program. “It can feel daunting, but the national organization really supports you every step of the way with easy training and materials laid out for you.” After a year and a half of the program, Strand says that it’s “absolutely worth it. To learn more about the national Watch D.O.G.S program, visit their website.
Written By: Kate Balstad, SEEC Marketing and Events Specialist