ACWORTH - A group of dads will join their kids for pizza on Thursday night at Pickett's Mill Elementary School in Acworth as part of a nationwide campaign to get men more involved in their children's school activities.

'Dads and Kids Pizza Night' is being promoted by Watch DOGS (dads of great students). It's an initiative of the Kansas City-based National Center for Fathering, which was created after the Jonesboro, Ark. school shooting in 1998.

"This is a night out for the dads of our school to spend time with their children," said Keith Schumacher, Pickett's Mill Watch DOGS coordinator. "It is a night of fun and food. The goal is to encourage the dads to spend a more active role in their child's life. Particularly the biggest part of their day, school time."

Eric Snow, the national director of the Watch DOGS program, will be the guest speaker on Thursday night. The event is free to the public. It begins at 6 p.m. at Pickett's Mill, located at 6400 Old Stilesboro Road in Acworth.

Organizers are expecting at least half of the dads at the school of 725 students to participate in pizza night.

"We're hoping to give mom a break that night, but everyone is welcomed," said Schumacher, 45. "In homes where there is not a dad present, we encourage the mom to come with the kids and learn about the program."

Pickett's Mill is the first school in Cobb to have a Watch DOGS program and at least the fourth in Georgia.

Patrice Jones, assistant principal at Pickett's Mill, said the school was excited to be apart of the program.

"Students are able to see their dads helping out and being more involved," she said. "We want dads to be even more visible."

The program asks that participating dads or father figures volunteer one day per school year. About 60 dads have already signed up for the program, said Schumacher. Some of them were present on the first day of school, greeting students and their parents, he said. They've since patrolled the hallways, parking lots, secured doors, and assisted in raising and lowering the flag.

Schumacher, a paramedic, said he has always been an active dad. But, it wasn't until he watched an ABC News story last fall that he became aware of Watch DOGS.

"Unfortunately, as a culture, men have 'checked-out' of participating in their children's school life," Schumacher said. "There are very few male teachers to serve as role models. Watch DOGS gives young men someone to look up to and talk to in a way that they might not be able to relate to a female teacher. It is very important to be there also for the children who do not have a dad at home for some reason or another."

The dads - and several female program participants - have received a positive response from the students at Pickett's Mill, giving high-fives and showing plenty of smiles, Schumacher said.

Two of those students are his daughters, 9-year-old Gracie, a fourth-grader, and 5-year-old Anna Marie, who's in kindergarten. His wife, Carolyn Schumacher, also teaches first-grade at Pickett's Mill.

"I am very happy to see the dads taking part in our school day," she said. "I am also thrilled that our family is having the opportunity to be one of several that are setting an example for active parent-family involvement in our school."

Beginning Sept. 1, Watch DOGS at Pickett's Mill will begin regularly greeting students each morning. They'll also begin working with classroom teachers, assisting on the playground and making sure students get on the right buses to go home. And of course, the dads will get to spend some time in their child's classroom and eat lunch with them, Schumacher said.

Anyone interested in joining Watch DOGS at Pickett's Mill can contact Keith Schumacher at (770) 975-7172. For information on starting a Watch DOGS program, call (888) 540-3647 or visit www.fathers.com/watchdogs.