It’s a new school year. And they’re off!

By Mike Davisson, Executive Director/Olathe Regional Director for Father’s Club

Back to School is a busy time for Chapter Chairs, Co-Chairs and invested DADS. They meet with principals to discuss how DADS can be more involved throughout the school year. They attend Back to School nights and Orientation Nights to recruit more DADS and share the Father’s Club mission. They organize the first couple of events of the year, including Fist Bumps during the initial weeks of school.

Fist Bumps were prevalent in the student drop off lines at Oregon Trail, California Trail, Mission Trail, Santa Fe Trail and Chisholm Trail for the first few days of the new school year.

• Oregon Trail had their first Fist Bumps in conjunction with the school cheerleaders for the first day of school at this newly launched chapter.
• California Trail DADS could be seen with bright yellow vests at the crosswalk and both school entrances for the first three days of school.
• Santa Fe Trail DADS showed up with umbrellas to welcome KIDS as they entered the brand-new school building for the first day of classes.
• Mission Trail DADS showed their intentionality on the first 3 days of the new school year with DADS welcoming kids back to school and letting the KIDS know that they are there for them and that the KIDS are seen.

Finally, Chisholm Trail welcomed KIDS back to school and were featured on FOX 4 News as part of the 25 Year celebration of the existence of Chisholm Trail.  Chapter Chair, Brad Reynolds, was interviewed and did a great job of highlighting the simplicity of what we do and the impact we make as DADS when we show up.

If that weren’t enough, we have already had our signature, Fist Bumps for Food, events at Blue Valley Southwest, Blue Valley West and Blue Valley High.

We’ve planned events for Football Game Tailgate events across the metro, 50/50 Raffles at Olathe North home football games and of course Pickles on a Stick & Cotton Candy available for purchase at Blue Valley North High School home games.

Bishop Miege DADS spent time painting locker rooms and Olathe North DADS cleaned up multiple common areas before the start of the school year.

Additionally, we have our first Mental Wellness and Screen Sanity training scheduled for next month with plans to conduct more training throughout the school year. If you are interested in having a Mental Wellness training with QPR certification and/or a Screen Sanity, how to manage the digital world, training at your school, please reach out to Todd Milner, todd.milner@fathersclub.org or Mike Davisson, mdavisson@fathersclub.org to learn more.

As you can see, we are fast out of the gate and looking forward to having one of the greatest years of impact we have had to date!

Thanks to all of the DADS that are being intentional with their time and for the impact you are making on KIDS, other DADS and the COMMUNITY.