Programs

WATCH D.O.G.S (Dads Of Great Students) is an innovative program of the National Center for Fathering focusing on prevention of violence in our nation’s schools by using the positive influence of fathers and father-figures for a two-fold purpose:
1) to provide an unobtrusive presence in the schools, and
2) to be a positive and active role-model for students at their school.

WATCH D.O.G.S. was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR.  Joined with National Center for Fathering in 2006, WATCH D.O.G.S. serves to inspire and equip men to be the involved fathers, grandfathers and father-figures their students need.
 

Program Benefits
The benefits of the program are many, according to WATCH D.O.G.S.® National Director, Scott Huse.

·         Schools gain an extra set of eyes and ears.  The presence of a father or father-figure enhances a sense of security at the building for students and staff and helps create an environment conducive to learning.

·         Students gain a positive male role model.  Many students do not have a father-figure present in their home and these students benefit when a positive male role model is present.

·         Fathers get a glimpse of their students’ everyday world and learn about the increasingly complex challenges and decisions today’s youth are facing.  As a result, they can learn to relate better to their student and hopefully connect with them.

·         Fathers gain a greater awareness of the positive impact they can have on their student’s life in three critical areas including: academic performance, self esteem, social behavior.
 

Who are WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students)?
WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S. ® school.  During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow, mentor students, and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well.  Their mere presence offers additional security at school during the day!  On the day of their participation, the participants are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear an official WATCH D.O.G.S. ® t-shirt or vest with a disposable ‘Dog Tag’ identifying them as WatchDOGS.
 

Program Recognition
The WATCH D.O.G.S. ® program has been recognized by the United States Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has been involved in the U.S. Department of Education’s P.F.I.E. (Partnership for Family Involvement in Education).  The program has been recognized on the floor of Congress as a program that “can be a great tool in our efforts to prevent school violence and improve student performance because it can increase parental initiative and involvement in their children’s education.” (Congressional Record, February 7, 2000 page S392)
 

Program Goals
WATCH D.O.G.S. ® strives to:
·         Raise the banner of positive fathering through the forum of schools across America and the world.
·         Awaken fathers to the values and benefits of committed fathering.
·         Change culture by where every student has a father or father-figure to connect with in a positive way at school.
·         Help every school in America be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father-figures in their student’s life.

For more information, visit their website at www.fathers.com/watchdogs.

Anyone volunteering with the WatchD.O.G.S. program needs to have a completed background check on file with GISD and Annie Purl. Fill out the online form here. The process only takes a couple of minutes. Background checks are the policy of the school district and of Annie Purl Elementary.
 

RAH - Reading At Home

We want all of the students at Annie Purl to make reading a part of their daily lives. It is very important that all of our Purl students are able to read at or above grade level. Each child needs reading time, practice, and reinforcement at home to become, and continue to grow, as a successful reader.

In order to motivate our students to read or be read to at least 60 minutes each week, the PTA has initiated the RAH! Program (Reading-At-Home). A reading calendar will be stapled inside a special red folder. Parents or family members are asked to write the number of minutes read each night and initial the amount. Please TOTAL each week’s amount. Students will turn their calendars in to their teacher on Monday morning for PTA volunteers to tally. Those reaching the 60 minutes per week goal will receive a reward in the envelope of their red folder.

• Read to your child even if he/she is reading independently. Talk about what you are enjoying or learning as you read.

• Listen to your child read. Practice is important and includes rereading books. It is most helpful if you monitor your child's reading by sitting next to him/her to be sure the child is reading the test accurately and strategically.

• Writing and reading go hand in hand. Let your child write and encourage more and more complete writing--spelling becomes more complete, sentences become more interesting, even as stories become more "whole". A child may write different things such as a letter, a list, a story, or a report on a topic of interest.

What is Reflections?
The PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual arts Reflections Program. The Texas Reflections program has the most participation of any PTA program with entries totaling over 75,000 across the state. The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged to create and submit works of art in six areas: literature, musical composition, photography, the visual arts, dance choreography, and film/video. In its more than 30-year history, the program has encouraged millions of students across the nation and in American schools overseas to create works of art.

Each year, the Reflections Program challenges students to create art that interprets a specific theme.
Students participate in the Reflections Program by submitting entries to their local PTA or PTSA. Any PTA/PTSA in good standing is eligible to sponsor a Reflections Program.

A great learning experience!
Participating in the Reflections Program is an opportunity for students to explore and learn about various art forms. It does not matter whether an entry created for the Reflections Program has been created as a classroom assignment or independently at home. Artistic exploration and expression enhance and develop intellectual, social and physical skills. Creating art is a valuable learning process.

When children express themselves through words, pictures, movement, music, photography and other art forms, they grow intellectually. They learn to analyze their thoughts, feelings and ideas. They learn to look at things, people and experiences in a fresh and exciting way and they become more interested in the ideas and works of others. The Reflections Program also helps parents encourage and recognize the continuous self-discovery process of their children.
The PTA's Reflections Program is designed to enhance rather than replace a quality arts education. It provides opportunities for students to express themselves and to receive positive recognition for their artistic efforts. Parents, teachers and community members all play a critical role in fostering a positive learning environment for children. Supporting the Reflections Program is one way adults can help create that environment.

Participation
Young artists participate in the Reflections Program through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of the six arts areas listed below. Only original works of art are accepted. Arts areas are: literature, musical composition, photography, the visual arts, dance choreography, and film/video.

Participation in the Reflections Program is organized by school grade. This allows recognition and judging of artworks by appropriate developmental age and skill levels. Grade divisions are: Primary (preschool-grade 2), Intermediate (grades 3-5) Middle/Junior (grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12).

The Reflections Program is structured for PTAs to recognize students at the Local PTA, Council PTA, Area PTA, state and national levels.

A word to parents...
As with any student activity, parent involvement and support are very important. But parents must remember that student artists need to create their own works. Children must make their own decisions about what to create and what to enter in the Reflections Program. By creating their own literature, musical composition, photography, the visual arts, dance choreography, and film/video, children not only learn about the arts, more importantly, they learn about themselves.
Supporting the Reflections Program is one way that you can support the arts in your home, school and community.