The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) is calling on all fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, godfathers, uncles, big brothers, cousins, mentors and male role models throughout the territory to take a child to the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 7.
This initiative serves to improve students’ behaviors, social emotional competencies, and academic success by recognizing the important role that males play in children’s educational development. Fathers are encouraged to tour their child’s school campus and meet with teachers to learn ways that they can support positive behaviors. Joining the Virgin Islands Department of Education in support of this initiative is the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
The department is also asking for the assistance of all fraternities who have adopted schools or who are interested in supporting schools in the territory to contact the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program managers: DeShawn S. Williams of the St. Thomas-St. John District at deshawn.williams@vide.vi or Gisele Schjang of the St. Croix District at gisele.schjang@vide.vi.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education is excited to welcome back all students to the start of the 2023-2024 school year. Parents are invited to come out as a family unit to support children on their first day. Parents, guardians and students are also asked to take pictures on the first day of school and use the hashtags #FirstDayMatters and #VIDE.
View the VIDE’s Dads Take Your Child to School PSAs here:
Rasheem Richards
Johoda Benjamin
Michael Smith
