What do you get when you combine good food, more than 300 “good dudes,” and good reading and writing tools? The answer is simple. You get Manning Early Childhood Center’s event, “Dine with Dudes.”
For the past three Wednesday mornings, MECC’s cafeteria and classrooms have been bustling with male visitors, all with one purpose in mind: To support their MECC students.
“We host this event because it gives us the opportunity to welcome father figures and other family members into our school, so they can see the great things their children are doing,” said assistant principal Jamie Stokes,.
MECC has hosted the annual event for dads to come have breakfast with their children, “Donuts for Dads,” but this year it took a different spin to include not just dads, but all father figures who are actively involved in the students’ lives to recognize the variety of family units in the school community.
“We wanted to show that we value all the different kinds of families we have in our school, including families where there is not the typical ‘dad,’” Stokes said. “By using the term ‘dudes,’ we can highlight all father figures, including uncles, older brothers, grandfathers, stepdads, family friends, mentors, and many others.”
“Dine with Dudes” is not just an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful breakfast, but an opportunity to showcase what MECC’s students are doing in the classroom and to provide families with information on academic skills and strategies.
After breakfast, the “dudes” visited classrooms to participate in learning activities. Pre-K teachers modeled how to read books aloud and have conversations around books.
K5 teachers facilitated the importance of reading together by providing books for families to read with their children. First grade students and teachers shared writing samples to for their special “dudes”. “Dudes” were also provided with a flyer on how to make reading at home fun and meaningful.
“At MECC, we understand and value family members as their child’s first teacher,” Stokes said. “It takes us all working together to help our children succeed, so these events help us make the connection between learning at home and at school.”
For any “dude” who missed the event, grade level videos will be posted on the school website and Facebook page to highlight literacy skills to use when reading to children at home.
In addition, all MECC parents and guardians should know that MECC’s doors are always open for visits.
“All parents and guardians are always welcome to join their children for breakfast and lunch,” said Principal Otis Reed. “They are also welcome to accompany their children in class and observe them during instructional time. We just ask that conferences be scheduled with teachers to discuss their child’s performance in order to protect instructional time.”
To learn more about upcoming events like these and other great happenings at MECC, follow their Facebook page at www.facebook/manningearlychildhoodcenter and check out their school website at sc02209526.schoolwires.net/Domain/8.
- Briana Whitaker
