The continued success of the Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) organization at Diablo Vista Elementary School in Antioch has spurred another local school, Lone Tree Elementary, to sign up for the program.The parent organization at Lone Tree was so impressed with the Watch DOGS, they have agreed to fund the entire on-campus program.

Melanie Jones, principal at Delta Vista Elementary, agrees it's a wonderful program.

"Our dads are our most powerful male role models," said Jones. "They are committed to our school and making a difference for our kids. Everyday our students look for the dads who can be easily spotted in their DOG T-shirts. Our students look forward to working with them in class and playing wiht them out on the playground. Our learning environment is safer and more secure with our DOGS."

Last year, Diablo Vista Elementary established a chapter of the nationwide Watch DOGS group on campus – the first of its kind in the Bay Area. The main focus of the group is to get dads more involved in their children’s education by getting them to come in and help out the teachers in the classroom, do playground duty, enjoy lunch with the kids, help out during P.E., and develop long-lasting relationships with their children.

For more information on the Watch DOGS program, visit www.fathers.com and click on the Watch DOGS link. Or e-mail Rick Hilton at dvedogs@packbel.net or David Chuey at davechuey@yahoo.com.