Hey Dads & Male Guardians/Role Models, what are you doing on the evening of September 21?
The folks at Arp Elementary would love for your calendar to be clear.
The school is launching a proven program to involve fathers and father figures, not just in their children's education, but to spend at least one full day sometime during the school year volunteering at their child's school.
The initiative is called WATCH D.O.G.S., which stands for Dads of Great Students. Since its inception in 1998, it has grown to become one of the largest and most respected family and community engagement practices in the country.
On Tuesday Sept. 21, Arp Elementary will host a Dads and Kids’ Pizza Night celebration from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to get things started at the school cafeteria.
At that time, Dads can learn more about the program and sign up to help if interested.
The way it works, is a dad will pick a day when they can take off work, and spend that entire school day working alongside the staff at Arp Elementary helping as crossing guards, car/bus rider facilitators, hallway monitors, library assistants, lunchroom helpers, classroom and homework tutors and playground/gymnasium coaches.
They will also spend at least two full class periods in their child's/children's classroom.
A big objective of the program is that kids need male role models now more than ever. And as much as we love all our teachers at Arp Elementary, there are only two men that are full time teachers or aides out of 57 faculty members each day.
Studies by the U.S. Department of Education have demonstrated that a positive adult male role model will have a uniquely positive impact on the development and educational success of a child. It dramatically increases the child’s likelihood of graduating and getting mostly A’s along the way, while at the same time dramatically decreasing the likelihood of that child living in poverty, getting involved with drugs and alcohol, and avoiding potentially devastating choices that result in a criminal record or a teen pregnancy.
Every year this platform is an effective way for men to have a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids nationwide.
By volunteering, you would be doing the following:
- Students gain a positive male role model. Some students do not have a father-figure present in their home and the number of male teachers has been steadily declining in recent years. More positive male role models are needed in the school setting.
- Schools gain an extra set of eyes and ears. The presence of Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) can increase a sense of security at the building for students and staff, and it helps create an environment conducive to learning.
- Fathers and father-figures can spend meaningful time with their students in the school setting and gain a greater awareness of the positive impact they can have on their student’s life, just by being a ‘dad’.
- When Watch D.O.G.S. invest a day at school, they can learn how better to partner with the school to meet the educational goals of students.
A full description of the program can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Any questions can be directed to Arp Elementary School Counselor Monica Johnson. She can be reached at 903-859-4650 ext. 242 or monicaj@arpisd.org