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Linderman WATCH D.O.G.S. 2014 program begins with pizza

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POLSON — Fifty-seven empty pizza boxes were stacked against the wall in the Linderman School lunchroom testifying to a big turnout for 

Dads and Kids Pizza Night kicks-off WATCH D.O.G.S.

D.O.G.S. stands for Dads of Great Students, and the 2014-2015 school year marks Linderman’s second year for the program, which increases dads, stepdads, granddads and guardians involvement in their students’ schools. 

“We had a great turnout with about 110 dads RSVP-ing,” Linderman Principal Tim Finkbeiner said.

After pizza with their children, the dads learned more about the WATCH D.O.G.S. program, and the kids headed off to the gym for games. 

According to Linderman Counselor Chris McElwee, WATCH D.O.G.S. dads volunteer to work at least one day in their child’s school.

“About 60 dads signed up last year,” McElwee said. “We were hoping for 20.”  

A large calendar allowed dads to sign up for a day at Linderman.

Individual schedules are set up for each dad. First they get the does and don’t from Finkbeiner or McElwee, and then their name is announced over the loudspeaker. After a photo is taken with their child, dads begin their day in their child’s classroom. 

“We try to have dads in the classroom, sitting next to kids, keeping them on task, reading with them, doing flashcards,” McElwee said.

“We’re pretty full up until December,” McElwee said.

Most dads do sign up at the pizza party,but after kids see other dads coming to school, they begin to bug their dads, McElwee said. Last year about 10 fathers called the school later in the year and set up a day.

“It’s been a great program,” McElwee said.

“My hope is to get WATCH D.O.G.S. going at Cherry Valley.”  

WATCH D.O.G.S. is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering. A press release noted that 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 — increasing a child’s likelihood of graduating and getting mostly A’s along the way and decreasing the likelihood of that child living in poverty and getting involved with drugs and alcohol. 

For more information, go to www.fathers.com/watchdogs.

 

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