BATTLE MOUNTAIN - More than 250 dads, stepdads, granddads, uncles, big brothers and K-8 students showed up for the third annual Donuts With Dads event held on Feb. 24.
The event took place at the Civic Center where the men and the kids they brought were treated to free donuts, coffee, Tang and bottled water. The beverage and donut stations were run by youth volunteers from Sober Seniors and the Honor Society and supplied by the Battle Mountain PTA and the Owl Club Restaurant.
Donuts With Dads is the last of two events held each year to encourage men to volunteer in their child's school as positive male role models through the WATCH D.O.G.S (Dads Of Great Students) program.
The Dads and Kids event, which is held at the beginning of each school year, usually fills the first half of the school year and Donuts With Dads fills the remainder.
This event also gives the schools an opportunity to thank the men who have already served at least one day in the schools and let them all know what a difference it makes to have a male presence in the schools.
Eleanor Lemaire Elementary School and Austin Principal Amy Nelson and Battle Mountain Junior High School Principal Michelle Caramella began the event by letting the men in attendance know how much they appreciate having them volunteer in their schools.
Caramella reminded them that they are welcome and needed at the junior high and let them know that they will utilize the new phone system to let parents know about special events that they may want to sign up for but are welcome anytime they can come in.
Nelson said engaged fathers and positive male role models have been the "missing link" in education in her opinion and noted the difference she has seen since the WATCH D.O.G.S program was brought to the school district by members of the Battle Mountain PTA three years ago. PTA also funds the local program.
Next, WATCH D.O.G.S. Program Coordinator Krissi Tucker updated the crowd on the local and national success of the WATCH D.O.G.S program.
Nationally the program, which was started in one school in Springdale, Ark., by concerned father Jim Moore, is currently active in nearly 2,200 schools across the country and has been recognized by Congress as a powerful program to engage fathers on a national level. Locally, Tucker said there are more than 250 registered WATCH D.O.G.S here in Battle Mountain alone.
Tucker went on to reveal the details of the end of year raffle in which men are entered every time they volunteer as a WATCH D.O.G. in any of the schools. On the last day of school, June 6, three names will be drawn for three separate mini vacations for their families.
The first vacation is a trip to Reno and includes a one night stay at the Grand Sierra Resort and four day passes to Wild Island Family Adventure Water Park.
The second package is a trip to Salt Lake City and includes four day passes to Lagoon Water and Amusement Park and $100 to help with travel expenses.
Last but certainly not least, one winner will receive a staycation right here in Battle Mountain. This package includes a season pass for a family of four to the Battle Mountain Swimming Pool and $100 in gift certificates for up to four local businesses of the winner's choice.
When asked about the prizes, Tucker said that due to work schedules and financial situations, families aren't always able to take a vacation.
"Our hope is that no matter what the situation, these mini vacations will allow the winners to spend at least a couple of days relaxing, engaging and making memories with their families this summer," said Tucker. "It's not the amount of time but the quality of the time spent together that matters most."
To show how much they enjoy having WATCH D.O.G.S in the schools, students from the 21st Century After School Program performed a music montage with songs like "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window," "Woof there It Is," "Atomic Dog" and of course the local WATCH D.O.G.S theme song "Who Let the Dogs Out."
Members of the Title I team and Mason Burkhart and Pooja Bhakta, from the L.Y.T (Longhorn Youth Team), called several "dads" and the kids they brought onto the stage to play various Minute To Win It games.
The games included getting the men to catch marshmallows in their mouths thrown by their kids, balancing blocks stacked by their kids on their head and wrapping their "dads" in an entire roll of toilet paper in under one minute just to name a few.
The games were a fun way for the men to interact and work as a team with the kids they brought and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun. The games were easy, inexpensive and quick and could be fun to play at home with their families.
The one-hour event concluded with the announcement of the first WATCH D.O.G.S essay contest winners. Alex Juvera, a local WATCH D.O.G., came up with the idea at the end of last year and it was put into place this year.
The theme was "What I like best about having WATCH D.O.G.S in our school" and hundreds of entries were received from Eliza Pierce Elementary School, Mary S. Black Elementary School and Eleanor Lemaire Elementary School. The winners were Shae Jones, first grade, Destiny Villanueva, third grade, and Drue Domagala, fifth grade.
The winning essays were shared with those in attendance and each winner received a certificate and a check for $50. Each essay will be framed and on display in the participating schools.
If you or someone you know would like more information about how they can contribute to the safety and education of our youth through the WATCH D.O.G.S program, please contact Krissi Tucker at (775) 635-2889 or visit fathers.com/watchdogs.
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