Ground Rules

Hi, dads. First, let me thank you for coming to the blog and taking time out of your busy day to read this posting.

I wanted to get with all of you to go over some basic ground rules for all dads, father figures, grand-dads, and positive male role models. Generally we do this at the Pizza Night Kick-off. We did not have that this year, but next year we will.

Here is what I send out with each reminder when someone is going to be a Watch D.O.G. at Chinn. Even if you have seen it many times and read it before, please review it and then read my commentary afterwards.

Here are some tips to help you be the best Watch D.O.G. you can be:

Be approachable – smile and talk to the students. Listen to the students.
Be smart – follow the school policy on appropriate conduct and behavior with students and faculty.
Be alert – if a situation arises please report it to a school official starting with the principal – by walkie talkie if available..
Be available to be of service to the school, teachers, and students.
Be a positive role model.

You have read and agree to uphold the following:

Never use student restrooms. Always use the staff restrooms.
Never be alone with students.
Follow the school confidentiality policy regarding students and staff.
Always be visible to others.
Do not be disruptive when classes are in session.
Do not use profanity.
Do not use any form of tobacco on school grounds.
Do not share religious or political views.
Do not sell or give your official Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirt to someone who is not an approved Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer.
Do not wear your Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirt anywhere other than at school or at school events using Watch D.O.G.S. volunteers.
Limit personal use of cell phones and PDAs.

I don't want to cover this item by item, but will just summarize the basics.

The first thing, not in the agreement but in attitude, is to be positive. We are POSITIVE male role models not only for our children but for all of the students at Chinn. This is huge. Many of these children may not have dads or a positive male in their lives, at least not on a regular basis. This is a chance for those boys and girls to get some of that reinforcement that they so desperately need. Do not underestimate the impact we have on these young ladies and gentlemen. They will watch everything we do and listen to every word we say, even when we don't realize they are listening. Keep in mind that when we are the Watch D.O.G. dad for that day, we are on a stage. Give a great performance!

We love that dads get to spend time with their own children when they volunteer. That is a huge part of why many of us like this program so much. But also remember that we are here for the other students as well. Much of the time the students we work with will be the students that need the most help. These kids need the extra attention and work that the Watch D.O.G.S. program can afford them as students. This is our chance to shine as great examples to these kids that they do matter and that they are as important and as smart as anyone else. This is when we get to step-up show what being a Great Dad is all about.

Finally, Dads...have fun! At the end of the day, it should be one of the best days you've had that week. It should be productive, it should be fulfilling, and it should be well worth your time away from work. Since you are not at work, have fun. Enjoy the time you get to spend with your child and with his/her Panther friends. Have a blast and seize the day.

Thanks to all the dads who have or will be volunteering. Since its begining, this has been a tremendous and very well-received program at Chinn. Let's keep it going strong.

Steve

The end of the 1st year

As of Friday, Mr. Brian Biggs, will finish out the year as our final Watch D.O.G. dad for the '08-'09 school year. Thanks to Brian and all of the dads who "lined-up, signed-up, and showed up" to be positive male role models at Chinn Elementary.

When we first started talking about the program and what our expectations were going into the what was left of the school year we honestly believed if we could get 20 to 25 dads to volunteer we would be doing well. Dads.... you, obviously, have far exceeded our expectations and have continued to surpass all of our original goals. With 45 spots to fill on our calendar at our pizza kick-off back in February we ended that Thursday evening with no less than 33 names on the calendar and many more coming in the following days. By the time it was said and done we had just about every day covered and even had 2 dads working as Watch D.O.G.S. on some days.

We are looking forward to going into the next school year! We will have more time, and I'm sure more dads, to work with. Through out this year we have been talking and listienting to many of the dads who have gone through a day at Chinn. With this open communication we have been able to make adjustments both large and small. We are continuing to make adjustments as we go into another exciting year. Between the online surveys the dads take at the end of the day and the conversations that Mr. Fitzmorris, Mrs. Greim, and myself have been able to have we continue to strive and make this the best program possible.

Have a great time this summer! We will see everyone for another great and successful year.

Thanks again dads for all of your time and hard work to make this such an incredible 1st year. Thanks also to Mr. Fitzmorris, Mrs. Greim, Janet Johnson, Gwen Brown, and the entire teaching staff for making all of this possible, working with me and the dads, and just plain doing the incredible things you all do when working with our children every single day.

Steve Nokes

Welcome to the Chinn Watch D.O.G.S. Blog. Through this blog I hope to convey the fun, joy, and importance of the Watch D.O.G.S. program to anyone who has not or has had the opportunity to experience a day in your child's school as a Watch D.O.G. dad.

It's not always easy for a dad to find a way to be an active part of your child's daily school life. Generally it tends to be the moms who are working on the P.T.A., volunteering in the classrooms, or even going to the parent teacher conferences. The information is funneled back to us dads over diner, during the news, or some other time when we have five minutes (on a slow day) to exchange daily events with our spouses.

This strange, somewhat off balance, approach comes not from a lack of caring but more from a lack of time. Even in this day and age where more women are working and holding important jobs men still have not found that balance at home. It's not easy. I work a 50 plus hour work week as a food service manager and that is on a good week. Many other dads in other professions work just as much or more which leaves very little time to get overly involved in our kids school past making sure the homework is done and the grades are staying up. I also have an advantage to many dads out there as my days off tend to be during the week as my biggest volume days come on the weekends. This allows me time to go up to my kids school from time to time and see them at lunch, or help the teacher, or just read to the class. Getting that time off in other professions can be next to impossible. There in lies the quandary of many dads working hard to be great providers for their family and still trying to find the time to be "involved" in their children's education. It can be an exhausting, not to mention, frustrating situation for many of the men out there that so much wish to be more than just great providers, but also great parents, and great role models.

Ten years ago, or so, after the Jonesboro school shootings in Arkansas, a group of men got together to respond to what they saw as a lack of positive male role models in kids' lives. Thus, the Watch D.O.G.S. program was created. Without going into a lot of statistics I will say that in it's relatively short life this program has been extremely effective and successful in getting dads involved in their children's schools. Being involved, even for only one day as a volunteer (which is all the program asks of its participating dads), is a tremendous eye-opening experience for every dad involved.


In that one day dads get to see their kids in action. Dads also get to see what goes on in the classrooms, in the hallways, on the playrground, and in the cafeteria. It is a thrilling, exhausting experience. In return, the child gets to see his/her father truly involved in what will become some of the most important time of the child's life.


I'm passionate about the Watch D.O.G.S. for these reasons and many more. Through this blog I hope to share that passion with you. Please read whenever you have time and feel free to leave me comments if you wish.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Steve