As you enjoy your donuts this morning, we ask: Dads and students stay seated TOGETHER. As you eat, complete the activities TOGETHER. (handouts on table) Kids can go to blacktop/Kinder at 8 am.

WATCH D.O.G.S. at Tulita Elementary Donuts with Dad Kick Off 2017-18

Why did your ‘dad’ used to come to school? What about your Granddad? Great Granddad?

Why Tulita? I had a great dad but my dad couldn’t tell you what my school’s name was or who my teacher was. Doesn’t mean we all had bad dads, dads need an invit

Let’s Connect It’s easy to see that when your hands are not connected to your student’s hands, it’s harder for them to follow you. And here’s the lesson… When your hearts are not connected to your student’s heart, it’s hard for them to follow you too. Dads, please face your student have raise both hands like you are about to give them a “high five” hand clap with both hands. Students, place the palm of your hands matching up and touching your dad’s hands. Kids, keep your hands doing whatever your dads hands do and stay connected. Dads, move your hands about in all directions and at different speeds. Stop. Now do it again, but this time students, move your hands about 6-8 inches away from your dad’s hands. Not touching. Repeat. Stop, put your hands down and face this way. The point is this (SHOW SLIDE) Kids, we’re going to talk to your dads now, so please line up quiet at the door and our supervisors will take you out to the black top for a few minutes of play. We’ll see you in about 30 minutes.

Student Dismissal

What is WATCH D.O.G.S.? Father involvement program of the National Center for Fathering Created in 1988 by two dads in Arkansas. Provides positive male role models for the students Demonstrates to students through the gift of time, that education is important. Provides an extra set of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying. Endorsed by the President’s Advisory Council. In the council’s 2010 report to the president, WATCH DOGS was one of their recommendations for advancing fatherhood in America. A couple of years ago ABC World News did a profile on the WATCH D.O.G.S. program that will give us a great picture of the program and how it will impact our school and community.

Why are WATCH D.O.G.S. important? Research tells us that kids develop more fully when they have a positive male role model, actively engaged. 25 million kids nationwide suffer from physical fatherlessness. Even more suffer from emotional fatherlessness. 39%, almost 18 million students in grades 1-12, live in homes without their fathers. Study after study demonstrates the necessity of a child having their father actively engaged in their life. If it can’t be their biological father, then the stepfather, grandfather, big brother, uncle, priest, rabbi or coach. But that child needs some adult male to follow in the footsteps of and to learn from. No matter girl or boy. There are two kinds of fatherlessness; Physical fatherlessness – the guy simply isn’t there. Emotional fatherlessness – the father is in the home but not emotionally engaged in the child’s life.

What does this REALLY mean? Poverty Crime Teen Pregnancy Health Education Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school. Poverty – the us census bureau found that children living in father-absent homes are 5 times more likely to live at or below the poverty line. Crime – The journal of criminal justice published students that demonstrated that adolescents, particularly boys, in father-absent homes are at a dramatically higher risk of personal and property delinquencies and of substance abuse and drinking and smoking. Teen Pregnancy – Research in child development has shown conclusively that teens without involved fathers are twice as likely to be involved in early sexual activity and girls are 7 times more likely to get pregnant as an adolescent. Health – The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth found that obese children are more likely to live in father-absent homes. Education – The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services says that students living in father-absent homes are twice as likely to repeat a grade, but father involvement in school is associated with the likelihood of a student getting mostly A’s.

Who are WATCH D.O.G.S.? You. We invite fathers and father figures to volunteer ONE FULL DAY, over the course of the school year, to work with the teachers in the schools. WATCH D.O.G.S. seeks to have at least one father or father figure present in Tulita every day possible for the school year for the simple purpose of being a dad at school. The primary focus will always be geared for each father to make a positive connection with his own son and/or daughter, but the need for interaction with the entire student body as a whole is also vital. Most days, you may be known as a banker, a contractor, a fireman or whatever your profession is, but at least one day a year, you can be an extra set of eyes and ears as well. A hero in the eyes of your student and the staff. You are not the principal, teacher, counselor or any school authority. But you can help inside and outside the building. You can not go into the boys’ or girls’ restrooms, be alone or unsupervised with students or espouse political or religious beliefs on them. But you can eat lunch with students, play on the playground or in the gym, read to classes or individual students, work with flashcards, share about your career, tutor small group of students and actively and positive engage with your student and student body.

What Does a Day Look Like? 7:45-8:00am Check In, Watch Orientation Video & Valet 8:00-8:15am Playground 8:15-8:30am Morning Exercises 8:30-9:30am Classroom Support – be engaged! 9:30-9:45am Break 9:45-10:00am Recess Time Prep – Choose your game! 10:00-10:40am Recess 10:40-11:20am Classroom/Library Support 11:20am-1:15pm Playground/Lunch Tables (parent to eat with their child, dads get lunch!) 1:20-2:15pm Classroom Support 2:15-2:45pm Assist with Valet & Check Out

1st: The Student 2nd: The School 3rd: The “Dad” Who are the winners? This is a win/win opportunity. The first winner is the student. Study after study shows the positive effects that children receive when “dad” is present and positively engaged in the lives of his children. The second winner is the school and ultimately the community! And finally the winner is dad. No matter your educational or athletic background, when you are at school, you will become Michael Jordan on the playground, Albert Einstein in the classroom and Superman in the hallways. My hope is that the feeling will become addicting. So I’d like to end with one last story about the importance of dads in their children’s lives.

Now fathers, tonight children all across this state and nation are looking for a dad who will see them where they are; A day who will leave his seat in the stands, get out of his comfort zone and onto the area floor of life. A dad who will fight off every obstacle that keeps him from being with his children A dad who will race to them, put his arms around them, keep them in the right land and finish the race together.

Please allow for advanced notice! 2 Ways to Sign Up How do I sign up? Sign up today! Put it in your calendar and don’t forget! Sign up through our link – Volunteer Spot. Safety First – Megan’s Law and Fingerprints (more than 2 visits a year)& Volunteer form needed. Only 2 DOGS per day! Please allow for advanced notice!

It’s time to…. Line Up Sign Up Show Up Tonight you have great opportunity to do just that. Fathers, here is your chance to make a positive mark with your student. It’s time to get involved. It’s time to make that commitment. It’s time to Line Up, Sign Up and Show Up. You were given a sticker when you checked in tonight. Please use this sticker to indicate the day you would like to be a watch dog. We can have up to two dad on a single day, but we’d really like to at least have one dad each day. After you’ve signed up, you can reunite with your student outside at our lunch tables and we thank you for joining us this evening.