On Oct. 30, H-F invited a group of dads to come back to visit the school. 

Dad Squad is a group of fathers from the H-F community who visit the school to experience what it’s like to be a student at H-F. This year is the second time that H-F has hosted the Dad Squad. The Homewood-Flossmoor Parent Association (HFPA) helped sponsor this event for this school year. 

This took months of planning and preparation for the event.  “It took planning and preparation months in advance. We had to prescreen the dads,” Principal Clinton Alexander said.

This year approximately 85 fathers came to the school and received a tour by the school’s administration and counselors. 

The dads got the chance to visit classrooms, go through the hallways of both North and South Buildings, and to tell dad jokes to the students throughout the school day. They also had an opportunity to ask teachers about what the students are learning in each class they visit. 

Alexander felt like this event could increase community engagement and motivate students to see more parents, especially fathers involved in their school life. Alexander hoped the Dad Squad would also help boost the school’s spirit.  

“The purpose was to increase community engagement. The purpose is also to give our kids some motivation to see parents and dads particularly involved,” Alexander said.

Anthony Mootry, a father from Dad Squad believes that a father’s involvement is needed as much as the mother’s involvement.

“Father involvement is just as important,” according to Mootry.  “It’s very important that fathers are involved in their children’s lives.”

Myron Gaskin, another father from Dad Squad believes that the event can help the students feel supported by their fathers.

“I think if a lot of children, if they see their fathers around they can feel the support and the strength,” Gaskin said.

The fathers felt very welcomed by students and staff that day.  

 Next year, Alexander is hoping to see more fathers involved in Dad Squad. He wants at least 100 fathers to attend the 2024-25 school year Dad Squad event.