The NCA WatchDOGS program follows the National program in structure and purpose. Every day 1-2 dads, uncles or grandfathers spend the day with a purposeful schedule to help inside and outside the classrooms. They make a difference! Here is a ‘Day in the life of a WatchDOG at NCA’!
8:00 a.m. - Greeted by some great staff members who are excited to see me and take photos of my son and me to start the day. The greeting involves a very detailed and easy to understand plan for the day's adventures.
8:15 a.m. - I get to be a presence in the parking lot as kids arrive. High fives, eye contact "good mornings" by the kids fill my heart with gladness as my chest grows because I feel so proud to be part of such a great program and able to participate.
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Lots of tasks with the teachers. I enjoy doing these when it involves bumping up along with the kids. Being able to encourage them and tell them how great it is to be hanging out with them. Sometimes even getting invited to a "recess date". "Hey, Mr. Watch Dog will you play with me and my friends at recess?"
Lunch hits and I’m enjoying a bite to eat with my son and his class. I also get a taste of how difficult it is for the staff in charge of keeping the chaos at a minimum and thankful I don’t have to do that every day.
1:00-3:00 p.m. More tasks and recess as well as some great chats with kids and teachers.
"I always feel like I am someone very special when I WatchDOG. I take pride in the fact that I am there, not only to be a helper but to be an influencer. Somehow I make up in my mind that when the bad guys think about what schools to target they make sure not to mess with the WatchDOGS school. Having a male presence in the school is so important. When I was a boy I always felt safer when there were males around, so I feel like me being there has a greater impact than I would ever know."
