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

Huntsville High's S.O.A.P Squad Speaks (and Screams, and Sings) Out Against Problems at Scott Johnson Elementary

Wednesday morning, we were lucky enough to catch the Huntsville ISD phenomenon known as The Soap Squad perform for the students of Scott Johnson Elementary School.

Let's get it started!!  (Click image to enlarge, click enlarged image to begin slide show.)

Are you believing this?

Huntsville High School's improv / theater /singing performance team is storming through all of the district's elementary schools for Red Ribbon week.

OMG!!

The troupe is bringing the positive messages of kids staying Drug & Alcohol Free, and also sharing the message that it takes all kids to keep Huntsville ISD a Bully Free Zone.

Now in it's ninth year, HHS counselor and sponsor (aka "Da Bosss!!!") Danielle Williams now has high schoolers that saw the Soap Squad when they were little.  Why does she keep doing it? She knows that it makes a difference...and it doesn't hurt that she loves to act and be silly, too.

Do you think they are listening?

Getting Serious & Looking Ridiculous...yes that is a HHS student with a SpongeBob Toilet seat on his head.

How do you like his plunger?  

Are you ready to do this?

This student wears a red ribbon in her hair to celebrate  Red Ribbon Week.

Afterwards, the Soap Squad always stays for high fives.

First / Top Row- Jared Shirley, David Bohan, Barrett Koerselman, Dawson Smith, Demarcus Hester

Second Row- Chance Hartley, Randy Goodson, Kori Beckman, Sabrina Johnson (squad leader), Trey Williams, High School Counselor Danielle Williams (aka "Da Bosssssss!!!!")

Third Row- Ciera Fowler, Paige Losak, Julian Thorne, Robin Welle, Keona Wynne (squad leader)

Fourth Row- Claudia Guevara, Skylar Smith, Sydney Andrus, Kyndal Ootsy

Fifth /Bottom Row- Eugene Nam

Not Pictured: Serra Bauer

Matthew Lahey  Huntsville ISD Huntsville Independent School District