Watch D.O.G.S. program starting at Riverside

Watch D.O.G.S. is coming to Riverside Intermediate School this year, thanks to the Manchester Community Schools Foundation. (photo from Watch D.O.G.S. website)

When Matt & Lisa Borders moved to Manchester with their family of five children in October 2017, they noticed immediately that one of their favorite programs from the kids’ prior district, in Macomb County, was not offered at Manchester Community Schools. So, they started trying to figure out a way to bring the program to their new hometown.

Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students), a program which started in Arkansas in 1998, is a program that encourages positive male role models (students’ fathers and father-figures) to volunteer in their child’s school. Dads will spend the whole day at school, helping with everything from drop-off, to time in the classroom (doing flash cards/educational games/reading, etc.) helping in the  lunchroom (getting to eat lunch with their child), playing on the playground, to dismissal.

“The students in our previous district really enjoyed having Watch D.O.G.S. present,” said Lisa Brothers. “It was like having an adult friend at school.”

WATCH D.O.G.S.® is a family and community engagement educational initiative with two primary goals: To provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important; and to provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security and reduce bullying.

There are a variety of benefits of the program, according to the Watch D.O.G.S. website:

• Students gain more positive male role models.
• Schools gain an extra set of eyes and ears. The presence of a father or father figure will provide an additional deterrent to bullying, enhance a sense of security in the building, and will help to create an environment conducive to learning.
• Fathers get a glimpse of their students’ everyday world and learn about the increasingly complex challenges and decisions today’s youth are facing. As a result, they can learn to relate better to their student and hopefully connect with them.
• Fathers gain a greater awareness of the positive impact they can have on their student’s life in three critical areas including: academic performance, self-esteem, social behavior.
• Due to budget shortfalls and cutbacks, often teachers are presented with larger classrooms each year. The WatchDOGS volunteers provide real and important help for the teachers and the students.

Kids always love seeing their family member get to be the “Watch Dog” at school. Dads, too, enjoy their days at school, getting the opportunity to see what their children do, and be more directly involved.

“At the end of last year, I reached out to Ms. Mayes at Klager with the idea,” Lisa said. “I ended up meeting with both Ms. Mayes and Mr. Puhl last summer, and both of them could see it being beneficial here in Manchester. They wanted someone to take the lead, and that’s when my husband and I stepped up.”

The first order of business was to secure funding to purchase the ready-to-go program.  A survey was sent out to parents from Riverside and Klager, to gauge interest get data to help find funding. Of the completed surveys, the results were positive, so the search for a sponsor began.

Unfortunately, with the PTO budget already set for the new school year, that organization was unable to help for the initial year.

“Ms. Mayes then suggested we try reaching out to the Manchester Community Schools Foundation to see if they would be willing to sponsor us,” Lisa explained. “We initially asked for funding for both schools (as each school is supposed to purchase their own rights), but were willing to accept funding for just one school to get the program off the ground. The foundation believed in our cause, and granted us funding for one school, as a trial period. If the program proves successful, they will consider funding the other school next year.

“We all agreed that this is fair and reasonable; and Ms. Mayes and Mr. Puhl decided that Riverside would be the one to start this year.”

Although the start up process has been slowed a little by all of the recent snow days, the plan is to roll out the Watch D.O.G.S. program at Riverside Intermediate School as soon as possible.

“We hope this will be a positive and welcomed change for the students and parents,” Lisa concluded. “We are looking forward to working with some great dads.”

Photo courtesy of Watch D.O.G.S website

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.