STANWOOD — Chad Sage enjoys volunteering at his kids’ school so much, he’s considering going back to college to earn a teaching degree.
For now, Sage is a member of Cedarhome Elementary School’s Watch DOGS, short for Dads of Great Students.
“The kids at Cedarhome get excited when the dads are here,” Sage said. “Especially at recess, the DOGS give students who need it that little bit of extra attention. That’s good for kids without dads at home. And it makes me feel like a rock star.”
Sage and equally enthusiastic dad and DOGS member Tim Poetzl even made a music video about encouraging students to be healthy, happy learners.
Cedarhome, located northeast of downtown Stanwood, has hundreds of people who volunteer at the school throughout the year. Until November, however, very few fathers were among the regular helpers.
“We were missing those dads,” Principal Jeff Lofgren said. “We have wonderful moms and grandmas, but we needed those male role models, too.”
Lofgren decided to start a chapter of the national Watch DOGS program, which was launched in response to the 1998 school shooting in Jonesboro, Ark. In order to encourage membership in Watch DOGS, Cedarhome threw a pizza night in November and signed up dozens of dads.
“All we ask is that each man volunteers one day a year,” Lofgren said. “But so far, we’ve had very few days with no Watch DOGS at school.”
The fathers add to the safe environment of Cedarhome Elementary, he said.
“They greet the kids as they arrive at school, they’re out at recess and they help all day long,” Lofgren said. “The DOGS are an extra set of eyes and ears for me.”
During the morning announcements at the school, delivered on closed-circuit TV, the Watch DOGS of the day are introduced to students. The dads wave and dance on camera to the tune of “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
On a recent Friday, the DOGS on duty were Sage and Travis Koster.
“It’s amazing how busy things are at school,” Koster said. “It’s a really big treat for me to be at school and the kids love it. You can see it in their eyes when they come through the door. Volunteering also is a good opportunity to see how hard the teachers work.”
Koster gets permission from his boss to take the day to volunteer. Sage is self-employed and can adjust his time in order to accompany his children to school.
“When I’m feeling down on myself, I just schedule a day at school,” Sage said. “It’s also a chance to learn how I can better help my own kids at home.”
Most DOGS dads enjoy their days so much they keep signing up to come back to school, said Karen Hushagen, a teacher on the Cedarhome Watch DOGS committee.
“I cannot tell you how amazing this program is for our school,” Hushagen said.
Nate Lindberry, 10, agreed.
“It’s great to have a guy to talk to and not get a lot of grief from,” the fifth-grader said. “The dads understand how kids feel and how to have fun with all of us.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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