Dads jump in to volunteering at schools

Glenwood — Better look out for the Watch DOGS at Laurin Middle School. The tutoring and mentoring program in Battle Ground Public Schools has expanded its reach to middle school thanks to dads Jim Fairchild and Nate Berberian. The two men co-chair the programs in Glenwood Heights Primary and Laurin Middle School which aim to have at least one father, grandfather, uncle or other adult male volunteer in each school every day except early-release days. “We’ll take all the help we can get,” Laurin teacher B.J. Rush said. “We want to see parents here all year, not just at awards ceremonies at the end of each semester.” At Glenwood Heights, the dads, in their Watch DOGS vests, “are rock stars” and extremely popular in classrooms and on the playground. Fairchild predicts more of the same at Laurin. “Your kids might say they don’t want you in school,” said Laurin Principal JoDee McMillen, “but it’s not true. They don’t mean it.”