Watch out for watch dog dads
Gary Ewing, RHMS Security (left) and George Mullens, Watch Dog Dad (right).
Article and photo by Amy Shanahan, RHMS Volunteer
Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) is a proud participant of the Watch DOGS program. The Watch DOGS program is a nationwide program that involves fathers, grandfathers and other father figures to participate in school day activities. DOGS is an acronym for Dads of Great Students, and our Watch DOGS really are just that!
The National Center for Fathering has found that involving fathers in the school day provides positive male role models for the students, and it also enhances school security. RHMS Assistant Principal, James McMurphy says, “We, of course, love all of our volunteers! Watch DOGS is a concerted effort to engage and reengage our Dads into the Middle School equation.
The Watch DOGS program gives the school an extra hand in the hallways and at lunches, more supervision for the hands on science, art, and technology labs and small learning groups. They provide added help for the special needs classes, and more importantly – it gives our dads a first hand look at what their children have the opportunity to do each day.
The Watch DOGS at RHMS sign up to come to the school in advance. Some of them spend a partial day, and others spend an entire day at the school. They help with overseeing student drop-off and pick-up, they help out in classrooms, and they are an additional adult presence throughout the day.
George Mullen has been a Watch DOGS at RHMS for three years and comes to the school on average twice per month. He says, “It’s nice to meet the faculty and teachers and get to know the people who my children interact with every day. It’s a good way for a male to volunteer. I have two children at RHMS and they like it because I’m not working with them directly, but I’m still a presence in their school – it lets them know I’m involved.”
RHMS is very proud to be a part of this nationally recognized program, and are very appreciative of the time, energy and dedication that our watch dog dads bring the to the school!
