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
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)