MVCSD celebrates Dad, Take Your Child to School Day

Fathers and father figures are taking time out of their busy schedules to get a glimpse into their children’s routines during “Dad, Take Your Child to School Day” -- a two-day, districtwide event that began today at Graham, Nelson Mandela/Hosea Zollicoffer and Pennington schools. Click here to view photos from the day! 

The immersive initiative aims to offer a firsthand look into children’s classrooms and educational journeys. 

Hamilton School, Edward Williams School, Denzel Washington School of the Arts, Benjamin Turner Academy and Rebecca Turner Academy are hosting their events Friday.

At Graham, the spirited celebration kicked off in the gym, where the parents sat at decorated tables and enjoyed breakfast as they heard from several speakers, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Demarius Strickland and Principal Dr. Natasha Hunter-McGregor.

“There are stats that say black and brown men are not involved in their children’s lives. You are all continuing to defy that,” Dr. Strickland told the more than 50 people in attendance, including several women, some with babies in tow.

He then asked the group to give themselves a round of applause to express kudos for their involvement and dedication in their children’s lives.

“My father was not able to be as involved as he wanted to be,” the schools chief continued, as he also cited the vital role mothers play. “I’m a mama’s boy through and through. I’m happy to say I do have a great relationship with my father now. It took a minute to get there.”

Dr. Strickland then described the three points of focus that he stresses to his staff, beginning with how parents are the “first teachers” for the students.

“It’s what you do at home that makes all the difference,” he said. “They learn from you the most – they learn from the minute they are in the womb. I make sure we do our part to make sure your child is educated here.”

Next, Dr. Strickland drove home the points about bringing solutions, not problems, and moving from “got to” to “get to.”

“I didn’t get up this morning and say, ‘Argh, I gotta speak to the doggone dads and moms,’” he said. “No, I said, ‘I get to speak to the parents who are invaluable in their children’s lives.’ That’s how we have to view our children -- our babies. That’s what I still call them.”

Dr. Hunter-McGregor also thanked everyone for showing up.

“It warms my heart to see all these men who’ve taken the time to come here today,” she said. “You didn’t have to do it, but you did and we’re grateful.”

The principal also described the multifaceted meaning of literacy.

“It’s all-encompassing. It’s reading, writing, oral language -- it’s discourse, it’s our collaboration,” she said as she stressed the importance of reading aloud to your children.

Dianne Albin, a reading specialist in grades 5 through 8, took it a step further by urging the parents to have their children read to them.

“That’s what the teachers do, that’s what the specialists do,” Ms. Albin said. “Listen to see what their challenges are and if the challenges are significant, that’s to be addressed with your teacher. Let any child at any age read to you.”

Among the father figures was Pitt Bryan Balthazard, who accompanied his fourth-grade cousin Fordi Noah Cean to the event because the child’s dad could not attend.

“I’m excited to be here,” Mr. Balthazard said as he perused a folder containing literacy information left for the parents.

Jahi Gorham and his fifth-grade daughter, Jasmine, later sat on the lawn along with all the other students and grown-ups for the “Graham Greatest Reading Kick-Off Breaking Barrier in Mount Vernon,” a sunny, al fresco exercise in collective reading.

“It is awesome. The speeches were very informative and important for literacy,” Mr. Gorham said. “We learned about the skills necessary for the kids. I look forward to seeing her where she needs to be.”

At Nelson Mandela/Hosea Zollicoffer, the morning started with fathers and father figures entering the school hand-in-hand with their loved ones. As they strode into the building, they were welcomed warmly by faculty and staff. 

“It's important for the kids, right? I'm trying to do my best; I work too much, and the time I have, I have to spend with my daughter,” said Joao Moraes, a father of a first-grader who is in her first year at the school. “It's a great school here -- she's loving it.”

Before the school day started, families snapped photos with props and played outside before the parental figures made their way into the cafeteria for light refreshments, and to hear from the new principal, Danielle Davis-Marrow.

She discussed the importance of parents being involved in their children’s education, as well as showed her gratitude for those who are actively involved in their education.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for you to be engaged in the school community and to support your children,” she said. “I thank you for being here.”

PTA President Dr. Naeema Burgess also addressed the crowd.

“On behalf of the Nelson Mandela/Hosea Zollicoffer School, we want to welcome you today and really show our appreciation. We see many of you every morning, so it's great to see you all gathered in one spot.”

One of the Graham students said she had a good time – even though she doesn’t know how to read quite yet.

“I like summer and snow books,” first-grader Jaianna Bridges said. “I just look at all the pictures.”