The schools chancellor is encouraging schools to get more fathers involved, and she says one school in Queens is a model for how to get it done. NY1's Lindsey Christ filed the following report.
On Friday morning, more than 150 men went to middle school in Bayside. It was Bring Your Dad to School day at the Bell Academy, an annual event celebrating the father figures in the students' lives.
"He means the world to me," said one student.
It's a celebratory few hours, beginning with breakfast and followed by a parade of the men into the auditorium. There are awards for volunteerism and performances, including a father-daughter dance team that brought down the house.
But there was a deeper purpose to getting the dads in the door.
"In middle school, there are times where we have to call parents in for some less friendly conversations, and it's nice that we have the familiarity with parents where they know that we're here to celebrate your child," said David Abbott, principal at Bell Academy.
Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña has been asking schools to figure out creative ways to get parents involved, especially fathers, whose role in parenting is sometimes overlooked in the schools.
"We've encouraged all schools to have a Bring your Dad to School day, and many schools do it once a month," Fariña said. "We have daddy donut day. We have dads talk about careers. But the idea is to get more and more parents into, particularly into middle schools, so they understand what the work is, but also so students understand the role of their parents and grandparents in their own lives."
Not every student had a dad to bring, and that was OK.
"We have some students who brought in a neighbor, some who requested a teacher be there. We have some students who lost their fathers, so they found someone to bring to serve as that positive male role model," Abbott said.
Helen Bernard came with her dad and her much older brother.
"I decided to take the day off and come because she doesn't usually ask for a lot," said Cedrix Bernard, Helen's older brother.
Kyla Vincent brought her soon-to-be stepfather.
"I love him very much, and he's special," she said.
Through a video chat, Abbott surprised his own father in Florida with the auditorium full of dads. He then spoke about their complicated, but ultimatly loving, relationship, as many in the room nodded along.