Are YOU One of the Watch D.O.G.S.?

Are you one of the Watch D.O.G.S.?   (By the way, "D.O.G.S." stands for Dads Of Great Students.)

Meet Huntsville Fire Fighter and Head of the Watch D.O.G.S. at Scott Johnson Elementary School,
Mr. William Lamb and his daughter, Emily.  (Daughter Bailey is at Huntsville Intermediate School.)

Mr. William Lamb, along with lots of other Scott Johnson Elementary dads, are definitely Watch D.O.G.S.  How did that happen?

Good Morning to You!!  Mr. Clayton Heald is one of the Watch D.O.G.S.,
and he begins today by helping with the car rider line.

It all began last year when Huntsville Firefighter and District Dad William Lamb caught a story on The Today Show about the National Center for Fathering and their Watch D.O.G.S. program. 




It's a one-of-a-kind, school based father involvement program that works to support education and safety.  Once Mr. Lamb saw the story, he knew he had to act.

From Reading Aloud to Helping with Clean Up- Watch D.O.G.S do it all!

So he contacted Scott Johnson Elementary, and working closely with School Counselor Mrs. Marsha Stringer, they launched the program at the beginning of the school year.

Scott Johnson Counselor Mrs. Marsha Stringer with Joel Williams,
who's dad, Anthony "Moose" Williams, is definitely one of the Watch D.O.G.S.!

It began with an orientation meeting one weeknight a few weeks back, and both Mr. Lamb and Mrs. Stringer were bowled over at the attendance.

I did not know that!
Mr. Lamb learns something new everyday from the kids at Scott Johnson Elementary!

At least one hundred dads attended, and since then there has been a steady stream of volunteers.

Greyson and his dad, Mr. William Lutterschmidt, who's a professor of
Biological Sciences at Sam Houston State University.
Today was his first day as one of the Watch D.O.G.S., and if felt great!

Matthew and his Dad- Mr. Clayton Heald.  Mr. Heald is one of the "regulars," when he has
free time away as Systems Analyst at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Some Watch D.O.G.S. can make a weekly commitment, others monthly and still other dads can come only occasionally.

That's my daughter!  Mr. J.R. Hartley points to a picture of he and his daughter, Lydia,
posted on the Watch D.O.G.S Wall of Fame at the front of the school.
Mr. Hartley comes whenever he can when he isn't working at the Kroger's here in town.

The process is simple. First, we a do background check and go through an orientation.  Next, Mrs. Stringer creates a personalized schedule based on the school's daily needs and reflecting the opportunity for the Dad to spend time in their child's class (and to eat lunch with their kid, if the volunteer's schedule allows).

Is that a proud dad or what?  Mr. Arcibar poses with his son Emilio (left) and daughter Ali. 

We all know that you don't have to be a Dad to be a positive adult male role model for your (or any) child,  so the Watch D.O.G.S. program is available to grandfathers, uncles and any significant male figure in a child's life.

The Watch D.O.G.S Wall of Fame is filling up, but there is always room for more!!

What about the kids?  The children of Watch D.O.G.S. love it!  Ask any of them and they'll tell you about how much fun it is for them to have their Dads at school with them.

Mr. Josh Holloway- Dad of daughter Emily,
Craftsman with the HISD Maintenance & Operations Department and one of the Watch D.O.G.S.! 

Let it Begin!  The line is long, but it goes fast!

Mr. Lamb invites any dad with available time to come on down, make a difference and have some fun!  Not only can you get some insight into your kids' lives, you feel pretty dang great doing it!

"A Man's Gotta Eat!"  Why not dine with your daughter?

Help is now available in the cafeteria for opening rascally milk cartons and ranch dressing packets.

If you want to join in, please contact Marsha Stringer at Scott Johnson Elementary.  There is always room for one more!

Watch D.O.G.S  find a  need and fill it.
Here, the student council could use some help raising the flags.

Huntsville Independent School District, Huntsville ISD, Matthew Lahey

Go Zoe!!! SHSU Innovation Helps Huntsville Kindergartener and Houston's Fox 26 is Here with the Story

Do you know Zoe in Mrs. Paschall's kindergarten class at Huntsville Elementary School?

Meet Zoe- Kindergartener Extraordinaire.

Have you seen this terrific story that Houston's Fox 26 produced profiling one of our elementary school students?

When we visited her in class today it doesn't seem that fame has changed her fun loving, silly ways.

And, believe it or not, the Center for Innovation at Sam Houston State University is already working on a more comfortable version of her prosthetic hand!

Zoe with classmate, table-mate and friend Payton.  The girls are finishing up their magazines.

Zoe & her classmates in Mrs. Paschall's class on the second to last day of school!

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District

Attention: We'd like to Report a Bearkat Sighting at the High School

Strike a pose, take my picture!

OK, so the rumors are true and your eyes have not deceived you...

Whazzup, People???

We would like to make an official report that yes,  a few days back, Sam Houston State University's Sammy the Bearkat got loose at the High School and went a little crazy.

Right now she's thinking, "I got to get more sleep,  I'm starting to see things."

And yes for those of you who are wondering (and although we didn't see it for ourselves),  he did know enough to check in with ladies at the front desk (Belle Hansen and Elaine Kane) to show some proper identification.

Easy there Sammy!  Sammy whispers sweet nothings to Ms. York
Ms. York's class was minding their own business in the Library when Sammy arrived.

Sammy ran through the halls, giving out hugs and high fives to everyone who wanted them, and a few who weren't sure if they did or not.

I think this was a marriage proposal-
Sammy, I'm sure she was flattered, but it would never work.

He went through classrooms, the library, the Life Skills wing and had an impromptu meeting with Principal Burt.

First there was a push ups contest with Jared.

And then Sammy insisted on a hug.

With Principal Burt.  Topics may or may not have included
a proposal to amend our "no wild animals in school" policy.

Believe it or not he was here on official business, as he is one of our community readers volunteering to record reading a book for The Reading Project.  We'll share more on The Reading Project in a post very soon.   In the meantime, Sammy has the left the building and we can now resume our daily lives.

You've heard of a bear hug?  How about a Bearkat hug?  Richy says yes!

What's my login again?
Sammy visits Mrs. Herrington's class as they meet in a computer lab.

Seniors 2014: Bow Down to the Crown!

Who's the new dude in Mrs. Partin's class?

Greetings from Sammy & Aleana the Huntsville High School Library!

A moment made for a selfie.

With our Homecoming Queen, Estafania.

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District

Our Future Journalists Take a Step Back in Time to Help Visitors in the Here and Now

A few days ago, we caught up with a group of future journalists taking a step back in time, and they are doing it to help visitors in the here and now.

Kayla knows that sometimes you have to get down to shoot up!

Mance Park Middle School Teacher Ms. Petkovsek's students are recreating the walking guide for visitors of Huntsville's historic Oakwood Cemetery.  Ms. "P." explains that this is the culminating project at the end of this semester, and it's done every other year.

History just steps away from the Mance Park Middle School.

Several of her classes are collaborating on the guide,  which will require students to research, fact check, photograph, update and create a downloadable document that anyone interested in Huntsville (or Texas) history can use to guide themselves around Oakwood. Students drew names out of thirty prominent sites to determine their subjects, and these will present to the class on their subject in addition to producing this walking guide.

Eduardo sizes up these gravestones to get the best shot.

Many of us are familiar with the cemetery being the final resting place of Texas Hero Samuel Houston, though here are many other grave sites of note, including those of both Union and Confederate soldiers and various Texas historical figures.

Veronica demonstrating the composition
principle of leading lines.

Alexia finds the right framing.

One of the most photographed areas of Oakwood has to be gravesite of Rawley Powell, a young boy who died and whose parents erected a full size replica of "The Christus" by Danish Sculptor Bertel Thorwaldsen.  This is the statue that is known informally as the "Black Jesus," as the bronze has developed a deep dark patina over the years.

Chelsea goes for an interesting angle. 

Getting in Focus:  Students train their cameras on "The Christus."

Joey finds Oyster Shells embedded in a marker.

Ashley and Amahya on the path to finding
their assigned grave.

Lissett gets a close up of one of the countless
wildflowers growing in Oakwood.

MacKenzie poses for a pic before she snaps one.

The students worked in teams.  Cheyenne gently holds the flower for Ana,
so you can see how having a partner helped out.

Monument to Samuel Houston- Burial site just behind here.

Their fearless leader, Ms. "P."

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District

Carnival of Books = Fun!

Once a year, students from PreK-6 descend upon Huntsville Intermediate School for a celebration of books and reading. This is known as THE CARNIVAL OF BOOKS!

You might ask, what is the Carnival of Books? Well, what isn’t it?

First, when you get to the library, every student gets to pick one free book out of tables and tables of books. And they get to keep them! The books are purchased by a grant from the Huntsville Education Foundation

Then, it’s on to the cafeteria where there is popcorn, face painting, dogs that like to be read to, and other booths and goodies.

Then, head out to the 6th grade gym where every table represents a different book, from Polar Express to Pete the Cat. Games, crafts, and goodies are on every one.

Next stop is the 6th grade gym where you will find superheroes and poems, because this is Where the Sidewalk Ends, the theme of the 5th and 6th grade teachers’ booths. Want to sell a sister? We have a booth for that!

This event has been going on since 2009 and is organized by all the elementaries, Pre-K, and the Intermediate school, who host every year. Thank you to all the HISD faculty and staff that put in such hard work for our students!!