Dads and father figures at Coral Reef Elementary can grab doughnuts on campus Friday, Sept. 18, before the school day begins.

The Coral Reef Elementary PTA's "Donuts With Dad/Fathers in Education" event starts at 7:30 a.m. at the school, 7955 S.W. 152nd St. in Palmetto Bay, according to the PTA's online calendar.

Event is part of districtwide fatherhood initiative

The breakfast falls during Miami-Dade County Public Schools' Fathers in Action and Advocacy Week, which runs Sept. 14-18. The district's Office of Family Engagement and Parent Academy is hosting "Fathers, Be the Link!" presentations and webinars throughout the week. The districtwide Fathers in Education Day landed Thursday, Sept. 17, but Coral Reef Elementary scheduled its own celebration for the following morning.

Program links father involvement to better grades

The Fathers in Education program dates to 2014, when the district's Fatherhood Task Force launched it. The district has cited research showing that when fathers are involved in their children's schooling, test scores and grades increase. Preschoolers show stronger verbal skills, and girls show stronger math skills. Children are two times more likely to repeat a grade or drop out when fathers are not engaged, according to district materials.

Superintendent Jose L. Dotres said at a September 2024 kickoff breakfast at Pinecrest Elementary that the effort "... gets larger and larger" each year, with growing involvement from students' fathers.

Grandparents lunch preceded this week's events

The doughnuts event caps a week of family programming at Coral Reef Elementary. The PTA hosted a "Pastelitos With Abuelitos" grandparents lunch on Sept. 11.

Fun run and Kona Ice are coming up next

What's ahead at Coral Reef Elementary:

  • Monday, Sept. 21: No school
  • Wednesday, Sept. 23, 8:45 a.m.: Get Fit Fun Run. Registration is free. The PTA needs volunteers for prize distribution, colored powder prep and day-of support.
  • Thursday, Sept. 24, 1:30 p.m.: Kona Ice
  • Wednesday, Sept. 30: Get Fit Fundraiser ends

Details and sign-ups are available at cre-pta.org.