Panda Pals and WATCH D.O.G.S.: Building a Community of Support at Bel Pre Elementary School
At Bel Pre Elementary School, the hallway walls echo a simple but powerful mantra: “Everyone Belongs Here.” During National Mentoring Month, the school is proving that belonging isn’t just a slogan —it is a daily practice. Through two distinct but complementary mentoring initiatives, Bel Pre is leveraging the power of consistent adult relationships to transform student attendance and strengthen community bonds.
Panda Pals: Attendance Built on Connection
Launched as a pilot for the Attendance Matters program, Panda Pals focuses on the link between emotional connection and physical presence in the classroom. The program pairs non-classroom-based staff members with students who have faced challenges with chronic absenteeism.
Unlike traditional tutoring, Panda Pals is built on the “daily check-in.” Each morning, mentors meet with their “Pals” to track attendance together. If a student is present, they celebrate by coloring a spot on their Attendance Tracker. These small, consistent moments of recognition help students build the habits necessary for academic success, while fostering a sense of security.
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The program is strategically timed to combat the “spring slump” and holiday transitions, targeting students who show early warning signs of missing school. Students work toward incentives — ranging from extra recess time to lunch bunches — but the real reward is the bond formed with an adult who is rooting for them.
“Our Panda Pals mentoring program is more than attendance; it’s about reinforcing a sense of belonging,” says principal Dara Brooks. “When our students know that a trusted adult is excited to see them, cheering them on and celebrating their presence every single day, school becomes a place they want to be. Through pairing students with caring staff members beyond the classroom, our Panda Pals build trust, consistency and hope.”
WATCH D.O.G.S.: A New Generation of Role Models
While Panda Pals focuses on internal staff connections, the WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program brings the community into the heart of the school. Originally launched in 2018 and enthusiastically reignited this school year, this national family engagement initiative invites fathers and father figures to play an active, visible role in schools.
The impact was felt immediately during the program’s relaunch. One Bel Pre ES mother noted, “This is such a wonderful opportunity for the kids to see that dads belong in school too.”
These mentors do more than supervise; they are integrated into the fabric of the school day. You might find a “WATCH D.O.G.” leading a structured game at recess, reading a favorite book to a first-grade class or chaperoning a field trip. Their reach extends beyond the classroom as well — Dads have assembled planters for the community garden, assisted with school event setups and launched a new after-school chess club.
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To support school equity, the dads have also delivered fresh fruit and vegetable bags to afternoon bus stops, ensuring families without easy transportation can benefit from the school’s resources.
“Representation matters,” Brooks emphasizes when discussing the WATCH D.O.G.S. initiative. “When our students see fathers and father figures showing up with consistency, kindness and purpose, they begin to imagine themselves as future leaders, caregivers and contributors to their community. This expands what they believe is possible for themselves and for others.”
A Holistic Circle of Support
By running these programs concurrently, Bel Pre ensures that students are supported from all angles. Whether it is a daily high-five from a Panda Pal staff member or a chess lesson from a WATCH D.O.G.S. volunteer, the message to students remains the same: you are seen, you are valued and you belong.
Read the original article at mcps