River Eves Hosts Dads Breakfast

Calling all dads: the River Eves PTA will host its third annual school breakfast for fathers this Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 a.m. in the Media Center at River Eves Elementary School.  

Fathers and male role models or mentors are invited to bring their students to school, share breakfast and learn about opportunities for dads to get involved at the school. At the end of the breakfast, fathers are encouraged to walk their students to class.

“Research and our own experience show that children of involved fathers are more likely to enjoy school, have better grades, have fewer behavior problems and become more responsible adults,” said Neil Pinnock, principal of River Eves Elementary. “When fathers are involved with their children’s education, they send their child an essential message: school is important.”

The River Eves PTA and the school administration have worked together to develop an ever-growing program of activities that center on involving fathers in the academic lives of their children. This year, the program will include monthly “Dads Lunches” at school, as well as the opportunity to read and volunteer either in class or at home for the Math Superstars and Accelerated Reader programs and help with sporting activities such as Boosterthon, Field Day and the Eagle Fliers Running Club, to name just a few.

Research also suggests that men who are involved fathers feel more self-confident and effective as parents, find parenting more satisfying, and feel more intrinsically important to their children.

“The days of the PTA being only for mothers are really in the past,” said Angie Browning, River Eves PTA Co-President. “We are seeing both career dads and stay-at-home dads from all family models getting more involved at our school. One of the biggest differences a father, grandfather or male relative can make is simply having regular discussions with their child about school. Our goal is to offer as many opportunities for dads to do that as we can.”

For more information on the breakfast or the River Eves "Calling All Dads" program, contact Preston Shirmeyer at pshirmey@hotmail.com.