Press Release Battle Ground Public Schools PO Box 200 • Battle Ground, WA 98604-0200 • Office Location: 11104 NE 149th Street • Brush Prairie, Washington District Switchboard: (360) 885-5300
Date: January 30, 2014 CAPTAIN STRONG PRIMARY CALLS IN THE D.O.G.S. Battle Ground, WA – Watch D.O.G.S. is now at Captain Strong Primary School. For the past several months Principal Michael Michaud, and Assist. Principal Jennifer Kerr, have been working with Curtis Miller and the Battle Ground Mentoring Collaborative to develop strategies to increase community volunteers and support the students at Captain Strong. With the help of school staff and community members the group decided to implement the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Good Students) program.
Participants listen to an overview of the Watch D.O.G.S. program at Captain Strong
On Wednesday, January 22 over 120 dads and father-figures, more than 200 kids, and over 30 high school students showed up to launch the start of the program in the school. Participants ate pizza, played dodgeball & floor hockey, and built Legos as a way to build friendships and celebrate this new program. Participants also received an overview of the program and signed up to volunteer for Watch D.O.G.S. day for the remainder of the school year. While this is a program sponsored by Captain Strong, it also included efforts by Lewis River Rotary, One Team Before and After School Program, Battle Ground Rotary, Point Man Ministries (retired veterans), Battle Ground Baptist Church, and Landmark Christian Church. The program is the, “Father Involvement Initiative,” of the National Center for Fathering. Its goal is to, “Engage men, inspire children, reduce bullying and enhance the educational Participants play Dodgeball during the event. environment.” Dads or father-figures are invited to attend school for one day out of the school year. The volunteers are assigned activities by school administrators and engage with youth throughout the day. They wear a Watch D.O.G.S. t-shirt, play games with students, give high fives and are literally the “big man on campus” for the day. Captain Strong joins Glenwood Heights Primary School, Laurin Middle School, and Pleasant Valley Primary in implementing the program. Veteran volunteers and coordinators from
Glenwood supported the creation and implementation of the Captain Strong program. “We are humbled by the level of interest in the Watch D.O.G.S. program,” said Michaud. “Our hope is to strengthen family, school, and community relationships. With an increase in fathers and fatherfigures throughout the building we are sure to see an increase in achievement and a reduction in student misbehavior. I also hope for Watch D.O.G.S. to preserve the stability and integrity of the Battle Ground Community.” If you would like to read more about this event please review the article on the Battle Ground Buzz website http://battlegroundbuzz.com/2014/watch-d-o-g-s/. If you would like to sign up as a volunteer or learn more about ways to support our schools please call the school office or visit the Battle Ground Mentoring Collaborative at http://www.connectbattleground.com/.
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