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Schools

Dozens of Families Take Part in 'Fathers Take Your Children to School Day' in Burr Ridge

Eighty-three families took part in the District 180 event.

Every day Nick Reese walks his daughter Briana to Anne M. Jeans Elementary School. But Tuesday morning was a little bit different.

“This is the first time I’ve actually come in though,” Reese said.
Briana, who is in Christine Snyder’s second grade class at the Willowbrook school, was excited to show her dad her locker and desk.

“It’s nice, you get chance to see her room and see everything that’s going on with her,” he said.

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The two were among the 83 families at Jeans Elementary who participated in District 180’s first-ever Fathers Take Your Children to School Day.

“We see moms more often than we see dads,” Anne Jeans Principal Debbie LeBlanc said. “Even though many of our kids walk to school, so many of their dads are able walk them over because they’re so close.”

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On Tuesday the fathers came into the school with their children, ate breakfast with them in the gym, and then went to their classrooms.

Together, they took a character pledge, promising to be involved in their children’s education and school. A few students brought their grandfathers to the event.

“We had a couple of moms who came, and we said ‘hey, that’s fine. Glad to have you here and glad to have your support,’” LeBlanc said. “And to be truthful, many of these dads, this is the first time we’ve really seen them, which is OK. And it was a good way for us to talk with them and remind them about curriculum night next week.”

District 180 Superintendent Thomas Schneider said Jeans Elementary and Burr Ridge Middle School decided to host the event after a national organization sent the district a flyer. While the schools participation is not affiliated with the national organizations’ efforts, administrators thought the idea of bringing dads in for the morning was a good one.

“I think dads are involved, but when it comes down to it mom usually takes over the school related,” he said. “So as a dad, it’s nice to get a specific invitation.”

Over at the middle school, the turnout was larger than expected. Only 12 families signed up in advance, Schneider said.

“We probably had at least 30, maybe 50,” he said. “For our first time, I think we were really happy with the turnout. It’s just going to continue to expand and grow.”

The students, he said, were very proud to have their parents join them for the morning. After breakfast, they took parents on a tour of the school and to their classrooms.

“It doesn’t take much to show students and children how much you’re interested and care about what they’re doing,” Schneider said. “The kids loved it. The middle-schoolers loved it.”

Normally Daniel Cruz is dropped off at school by his mother, but on Tuesday, the third-grader’s father brought him.

“Fathers should be involved in their kids lives, whatever it is,” Pedro Cruz said.

Troy Goody brings his daughter, Tramya, who is in kindergarten and son, Troy, Jr., who is in second grade, to school every day. He said the morning was a good chance to meet their teachers and see their learning process.

Reese liked the opportunity as well.

“A lot of people don’t know what’s going on day to day with their kids, so when they a chance to go in their environment, it’s nice,” he said.

LeBlanc said while Tuesday’s event involved “Donuts with Dad,” the schools will likely host a similar “Muffins with Mom” event later in the year.

Schneider said it is part of the district’s efforts to make itself more accessible to parents, especially for those who can’t attend evening functions such as curriculum night. By participating when they can, parents let their children know they are interested and want to be involved.

“Sometimes that can be powerful. It doesn’t take much. You don’t have to do hours and hours...,” he said. “Just that active interest in what’s taking place in school can mean a lot. A little bit goes a long way.”

District 180 parents took the following pledge Tuesday morning at Anne M. Jeans Elementary School and Burr Ridge Middle School:

“I am responsible for the education of my child.
I will mentor my child and will teach them the values of education and family as well as the value of life.
I will volunteer at my child’s school during the year.
I will attend Parent/Teacher conferences during the school year.
I will work with my child’s mother/guardian to achieve the best academic and social outcomes for my child.”

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