In his book The Art of Loving, Fromm writes: "Father is the one who teaches the child, who shows him the road into the world." A father’s courage, independence and decisiveness subtly build a child's character through parent-child activities.
At Hiba Academy Hangzhou (Nursery), we place a high emphasis on fostering a strong community spirit and recognise the critical impact that active parental engagement has on the growth and happiness of our children. We understand that creating robust and meaningful connections among parents is essential for building this sense of community.
In this spirit, we are thrilled to announce the launch of an innovative and engaging new program called Dad’s Army. This initiative is designed specifically to encourage and support the involvement of fathers in the educational journey of their children. Dad's Army aims to create opportunities for dads to actively participate in school activities and strengthen the bond within the school community. This program will feature various events and activities that facilitate interaction, learning and fun, helping to not only enrich the children's experiences but also to build a network of supportive relationships among the parents.
This initiative is the brainchild of Kofi Ansah, our early years grade leader who envisioned a supportive space where dads and positive male role models within our school could come together, connect and share their parenting journeys. Kofi's idea resonated with Gregory Pauline and together, they have invested their time and effort into transforming this vision into a thriving and dynamic community.
Plans of Dad Army
To have as many positive male role models as possible in the lives of our children.
To spread the joy of spending time playing with our children.
To have a place where we can meet and talk and possibly discuss any issues we might be facing in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
To arrange meaningful group outings with our children at least twice each term and at least once a term for just us dads.
Gregory Pauline
Early Years Class Teacher
Outdoor Lead
Dad's Army is a wonderful initiative that originated from an idea by Kofi. We both loved the concept and are working hard to develop it into a thriving community. We aim to create a strong, supportive network for dads and positive male role models within our school. We want to encourage as many dads as possible to get involved, providing a space to support each other and enhance our parenting journeys.
Dad's Army is dedicated to offering a platform for dads to connect and engage. It is a place where fathers can organise meetups with their children, discuss fatherhood-related questions, seek advice and provide support. Most importantly, it is a space where we can come together, chat and have a laugh. We believe that building these connections is crucial for developing camaraderie and mutual support.
We began this journey in the nursery and have successfully built our community over the past year. The response has been fantastic, and we are thrilled to announce that we have recently expanded Dad's Army across the entire school. This growth signifies our commitment to involving more dads and positive male role models in our community.
To celebrate this expansion, we are excited to announce our next event, happening very soon—an outdoor cinema and barbecue. It is the perfect opportunity for dads and their children to enjoy quality time together and connect with other families. This event promises to be a memorable evening filled with fun, food and fantastic company.
Looking ahead, we are also discussing the formation of a dads' basketball team. This initiative will provide regular opportunities for dads to stay active, build friendships and enjoy some healthy competition. We are confident that this addition will further strengthen our community bonds.
One of the best aspects of Dad's Army is that it is shaped by the ideas and feedback from all participating dads. This is not just a group led by Kofi and Greg; it is a collective effort, and we are committed to listening to and incorporating everyone's suggestions to ensure our activities and initiatives meet the needs and interests of our community.
Our vision for Dad's Army is to create a supportive network where dads feel empowered and connected. We believe that by building these relationships, we can enhance the school experience for our children and create lasting, positive impacts for our families.
So come join us in Dad's Army, and let us build a vibrant, supportive community together!
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