Dad’s The Word at Henry Street
By Chelsea Jupin
Dads took center stage in September as Henry Street’s youth programs helped children recognize and celebrate their fathers and other male mentors or role models. After-school and early childhood education programs all found unique ways to participate in the nationwide Dads Take Your Child to School campaign on September 20th.
The Early Childhood Education program’s parent orientation coincided with the festivities, so the young students enjoyed a breakfast and photo booth with the father figures in their lives. “It was wonderful to meet new parents and guardians”, says Lauren Trueax, Education Director, Early Childhood Center. “It was the perfect opportunity to begin a tradition of celebrations to honor male involvement.”
Children at P.S.20’s after-school program made portraits depicting themselves with their father or male mentor. Older students wrote accompanying descriptions of how important their father figures are to them. The students were all excited to present their framed portraits to their father figures.
Students in the after-school program at P.S. 134 similarly drew pictures that represent their relationship with a special father figure in their life, and then shared their thoughts and pictures with their classmates.
