Ames Middle School Seeks Watch D.O.G.S. Volunteers

WRITTEN BY AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Information meeting is 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 1.

AMES–Ames Middle School staff is forming a Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program for the 2013-14 school year. Teacher Dave Doughan is heading up a committee to organize a pool of parents and relatives of Ames Middle School students who would be willing to volunteer for the Watch D.O.G.S. program, which is already in place at 2,811 schools in 46 states. Doughan said the committee seeks to expand the program at Ames Middle School to include more than just dads, since all adult family members helping at school—from mothers, stepparents and grandparents to uncles, aunts and adult siblings—would be assets.

Each Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer would be asked to spend at least one hour during the school day, at least once a year, to be a positive role model and to provide an extra set of eyes and ears in a classroom, the hallway, lunchroom, or wherever extra help is needed. A meeting about Watch D.O.G.S. will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday Aug. 1, 2013, at Ames Middle School, in room H 109A. All volunteers in Ames schools must comply with a background check. More information about Watch D.O.G.S. is available at www.fathers.com/watchdogs. If you are interested, please email Dave Doughan at david.doughan@ames.k12.ia.us.