Fathers’ day of a different kind at Mattaponi Elementary

Students spend the day with a group of volunteer dads

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Brenda Ahearn⁄The Gazette Christopher Stephens reads with pupils in Erika O’Neill’s third-grade class on Friday at Mattaponi Elementary School in Upper Marlboro. Stephens and other fathers were at the school for Dads Make a Difference Day.

But Mitchell didn’t have to wait until Lamar came home from school to connect with his son. He volunteered at school in the first-ever ‘‘Dad’s Make a Difference Day,“ held on Friday.

‘‘I just wanted to show support, to let the kids know that men care. We’re here for our children. A lot of times, it seems like it’s only the women, but the kids need to know that they can get nurturing from a male as well,” Mitchell said.

The event was the idea of Kimberly Stephens, president of the Mattaponi Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), who worked out details with other PTO members and school Principal Janice P. Hay.

‘‘We thought it was a good idea to get the dads out here. There’s only one male teacher at this school — the physical education teacher — and we wanted the kids to see their fathers get involved in their education,” Stephens said.

Stephens and Hay were hoping for at least 19 fathers — one for each classroom. They ended up with 44.

‘‘We are just overwhelmed with the turnout,” Stephens said. The fathers were assigned to different classrooms where they helped teachers by grading papers, reading to small groups and assisting pupils with independent activities.

‘‘We have a very active PTO, and we’re always brainstorming activities to get parents more involved in the school activities and to be partners in education with their children. We have an open-door policy for our parents, but it’s important to provide opportunities for parents to participate, especially the dads,” Hay said.

Hay and Stephens plan to make this an annual event.

Fifth-grader Javon Curtis said he enjoyed having extra men in the classroom.

‘‘I like it because they are helping us with our homework,” Javon said.

Classmate Osaretin Okonedo agreed.

‘‘It’s cool that the dads are here today. We don’t see that every day in school,” Okonedo said.

The fathers also participated in recess activities, including dancing the hokey-pokey with the kids.

‘‘We hear so much in society nowadays about how fathers are disconnected. I just wanted to show that fathers are connected. It’s nice to see that so many fathers are out here today, participating in this,” said Jeffrey Trueheart, who spent the day in the classroom with his 11-year-old son Jeffrey Jr.

Fathers were encouraged to participate, whether they had a half-hour to devote, or all day.

‘‘Oftentimes in schools, it’s the moms that seem to be the most involved in rearing the children and taking care of school activities. So we came up with the idea of Dad’s Make a Difference to come in and partner with us to see what’s going on in school and get involved in their activities,” Hay said.

E-mail Carla Peay at cpeay@gazette.net