To see the full news story on just one of the AMAZING things happening at NRE, visit the link below:

 http://www.wlwt.com/article/dads-start-program-to-give-all-students-father-figures/13859186

 

 

 NEW RICHMOND, Ohio —  As buses unload in front of New Richmond Elementary School, a watchdog is at his post.

He's always on alert and ready to serve.

Watch DOGS head Garret Slone leads a dedicated group of new Richmond dads who take turns watching over all kids nearly every day.

“I am here every Thursday usually. If I miss or am on another day ... another volunteer can fill in. They are telling me, ‘Hey, I thought you were here on Thursdays.’ They know every day, these different watchdogs are here,” Slone said. “We have lunch with them. We even go out and have recess with them. They wear us out more than we wear them out. There is no doubt about that."

Watch DOGS stands for Dads Of Great Students.

Slone said the newly adopted program at New Richmond Elementary has 10 active dads who dedicate their entire day to volunteer at the school to man the halls and support the students.

“Each Watch DOGS is able to get into four classes to help out different time of the day,” Slone said. “From what we have seen here, if we don't get to these kids before they get to the seventh grade or middle school, we will lose them."

From hallways, to classrooms to recess, the dads stay engaged. Watch DOGS members like Slone and school board member Tim Dufau want to make sure each child has a father figure to lean on.

“When I see these kids and the suffering they go through, the lack of leadership in their families, I thought that is a program we can bring -- male role models to these kids,” Dufau said.

They are part of what fourth-grader Kate Isbell says is a necessary normal, which is why she shares her dad with other kids through the Watch DOGS program.

“Dads should be there for everybody in the school,” Kate said. “It is really important because if they don’t have anyone to talk to at home, they can have someone to talk to out here.“

"Sixty-three percent of all teenagers and young people that pass away from suicide is because either they have never had a positive role model in their life, or there is no father in their life,” Slone said.

According to Principal Jamie Kunz, families with no father figure are the norm here, which makes the high-fives and warm embraces of the "dads of great students" crucial.

“We are the only Title I building in the district.  Most of our kids come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and are lacking that father figure in their lives. This is a great tool to bring our dads into the school and we share our dads,” Kunz said.

“Every time when kids come in, they are giving you hugs or they are just starving to give someone a hug. They are giving you high-fives. The boys are real big in that. The girls are real big in giving you hugs and stuff,” Slone said.

There are more than 450 students here at New Richmond Elementary. On the days students see Watch DOGS members, Kunz said, the detention rate goes down 80 percent.

As Watch DOGS continues to recruit more fathers, Slone tells potential newcomers the sense of pride and purpose is indescribable.

“Take the first step and you will be shocked at the difference you will make. You think your life is busy. But when you do this, you have done something more special than you will ever do in your life. You’re making a difference in a child's life, what more can you ask for than that,” Slone said.