WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) is a family and community engagement educational initiative.

1. To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.

2. To provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.

Tavola WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an Tavola Elementary. WATCH D.O.G.S. is a K-12 program that invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures to volunteer at least one day all day at their child’s/student’s school during the school year. Fathers and father figures sign up to volunteer through our ‘Launch Events’ such as a “Dads and Kids Pizza Night” or “Donuts with Dad”, by contacting Top DOGS coordinator or by calling their child’s school any time throughout the school year. The program is overseen by a “Top Dogs” who partners with the school administrator to coordinate scheduling and identify opportunities for WatchDOGS to assist at the school.

WatchDOG dads and volunteers perform a variety of tasks during their volunteer day including monitoring the school entrance, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and cars, monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher’s guidance by working with small groups of students on homework, flashcards, or spelling.

During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, patrol the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow, and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their students but other students as well. Many school principals have reported that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dad dramatically reduces reports of bullying. On the day of their participation, WatchDOG dads are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S. t-shirt with a disposable ‘Dog Tag’ identifying them as a WatchDOG.

Yes! WATCH D.O.G.S. has a great track record of bringing fathers and father figures to school for the whole day. While volunteering a day is a sacrifice for these fathers and father figures, once they serve their day they will be glad that they did. In fact, in many cases, these fathers and father figures will sign up for more days, both because they had an incredible experience and because it gives them a greater appreciation for what the teachers are doing to educate their children.

Thanks for being an involved father or father figure! You are going to love your day as a WatchDOG, and your kids will too. To sign up to be a WatchDOG, please call your child’s school and ask for the Top Dog Coordinator or the Watch Dog School Representative to find out a date you can sign up.

To change your volunteer date, please call your child’s school and ask for the Top Dog Coordinator or the Watch Dog School Representative to find out a new date you can sign up for.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 281-577-2900 or email us at [email protected]