We’re gearing up for another successful year of the WATCH D.O.G.S. program. A big thank you to all of the dads who volunteered last year. Join us at the Castle again for the 2024-2025 school year!

DONUTS WITH DUDES - watch d.o.g.s kickoff event

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 @ 7:30 am.

At the event, we will provide donuts/OJ/milk/water for you and your kids. Once the kids head to class, there will be a short presentation about the Watch D.O.G.S. program. This event is mandatory for all new Watch D.O.G.S.

WatchD.O.G.S. are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at Norton.
 
If you have participated in the program with us at Norton in the past, you aren’t required to attend as there are no substantive changes—same timing and expectations. Following the event, we will post the Volunteer Calendar for you to sign up for your day.

ABOUT WATCH D.O.G.S.

WatchD.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is a national program with the goal of providing positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important.  Visit https://dadsofgreatstudents.com/ for additional information on the national program.

When you sign up for WatchD.O.G.S., you pick a day to spend at Norton during a designated time. You will receive a schedule of activities, which can vary from reading to your child’s class, playing with the kids during recess or PE, sharing your profession with a classroom, or helping out the staff with odd jobs around the school. You will spend some time in your child’s classroom(s) and eat lunch together. 

WatchD.O.G.S. are encouraged to interact with other kids and be a positive presence wherever there is a need. You’ll come away with a better understanding of how your kids spend their days, not to mention a greater appreciation for the hard work their teachers do every day. From time-to-time, WatchD.O.G.S. are called upon to help with special events like refereeing kickball games or manning stations at Field Day.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

STEP 1) Sign up for a Norton PTA membership at www.ptanorton.org.

All Watch D.O.G.S. are required to be Norton PTA Members during the current school year. 

STEP 2) Complete the required volunteer background check through AISD.

This is mandatory before you will be allowed inside the school. Processing can take up to two weeks. This is done through Winocular, and you will need to create an account if you have never volunteered in Allen ISD before at https://apps2.winocular.com/AllenISD/workspace/

STEP 3) Take a look at WatchD.O.G.S. calendar

Find an open date and submit your date request using the Google form link. The link to the calendar and form will be sent out to attendees following the Donuts with Dudes WatchD.O.G.S. presentation. If you were not able to attend the presentation, please email Peyton DeLeon at peyton.deleon@allenisd.org.

 Note: Due to the popularity of the program, we ask that you only sign up for ONE day so that everyone has an opportunity to participate. If we end up with open days—which we often do during the second half of the school—we’ll ask for more volunteers later in the year.

STEP 4) Buy a T-shirt

WatchD.O.G.S t-shirts are required. It is important for campus security and helps the kids and the staff identify you as the WatchD.O.G.S. of the day. If you don’t already have a shirt, please order one of our newly designed, Norton specific WatchDOGS shirts.

Option 1: Order online through the Norton PTA, https://nortonpta.membershiptoolkit.com/open_forms.

Option 2: Order online from the National WatchDOG store, https://shop.dadsofgreatstudents.com/apparel/

CONTACTS

WatchDOG Coordinator: Jinu Matthew, Dads Club Chair, dadsclub@ptanorton.org
Program Coordinator at Norton: Peyton DeLeon, Norton School Counselor, peyton.deleon@allenisd.org