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NOVEMBER 2016
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after the mayfair and
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d.o.g.s. conference call,
jason
organized a leadership team of about six dads. each father brings his own strength to the team. some dads excel in public speaking, while others are aces at organization and logistics. ?e dads got together and planned the dads and
kids
pizza night to launch the program and sign fathers up for the year. for other fathers who would like to bring a
watch
d.o.g.s. program to their school,
jason
encourages that it can be done easily, with support. ?it is going to take some energy and organization. when you do link up with other dads, it is manageable.? ?e
watch
d.o.g.s. dads and
kids
pizza night, which was rescheduled due to the flood, was an outstanding beginning.
jason
estimates around 70-80 dads attended with their
kids
. ?e pizza night was mostly an informational meeting where the fathers could also sign up on a massive wall calendar. dad volunteers can continue to sign up through the pta website throughout the year. what does a volunteer day look like? ?carpool to carpool,?
jason
says. ?ey start the day with an orientation with teachers and administration.
jason
explains the guidelines, ?do high fives, encourage school work, but don?t intercede with discipline.? ?e administration also provides a map and schedules. ?e
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d.o.g.s. go into classrooms to engage the
kids
and express how they prioritize education. ?ey can also share how education has impacted their careers.
jason
described his first volunteer day this way, ?i was whipped by the end of the school day and ready for a nap. we did everything from playing crab ball in pe with sixth graders to reading in the library to the first grade class. i had lunch with my
kids
and chatted with others in the cafeteria. at recess, i pushed
kids
on the swing. i also got to patrol around the campus to be another set of eyes. as a dad, that gave me a little sense of fulfillment that i could be there for protection.? ?e time is right for dads to get involved, especially in elementary school, when having your ?dad at school is still cool.? at least that?s what
jason
?s
kids
think.
jason
sees
watch
d.o.g.s. having a great impact on the students. ?we are showing
kids
that we want them to prioritize their education. as fathers, collectively we are linking arms and wanting to remind the
kids
to do their best in school and be on their best behavior.? ?ough the children experience positive effects of the
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d.o.g.s. program, it?s the fathers who have the most to gain from it. ?we can work our entire careers, but if we are neglecting the real important roles like this, we will regret it. ?is is an easy way to have that interaction,?
jason
shares. mayfair lab and its fathers are fully invested in making
watch
d.o.g.s. a meaningful reality for their students and families. principal christa bordelon- leon shares her perspective, ??e
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d.o.g.s. program has had a positive impact on the school. ?e students light up when they see a dad on campus. one of the biggest impacts is having dads share real world experiences that pertain to what students are learning in the classroom. ?e program will continue to grow and become a vital part of the mayfair campus moving forward.?
jason
?s hope is that their impact will be transcendent, going further than just the school walls. he explains, ?i want
kids
to see
watch
d.o.g.s. as men who are trying to be supportive and fill our roles to provide security for our children. we want them to see that example so that when they older, they will see the importance of being the protector, the one that will continue that for their own children.? to learn more, visit fathers.com/
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dogs. ? november 2016 | brparents.com 47
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