CMSD NEWS BUREAU

09/26/23

If you walked past many Cleveland Metropolitan School buildings last Thursday morning, you would have witnessed a sea of fathers and their children walking or participating in fun activities for the annual CMSD FathersWalk. 

Dads and their students take a picture with Browns mascot Chomps at the Garfield PreK-8 School Fathers Walk.

At Garfield PreK-8 School, the Cleveland Browns mascot, Chomps, made a special appearance along with representatives from The Cleveland Browns Foundation, Stay in the Game! Network and former players Ben Davis and Greg Pruitt to promote the importance of students’ attending school on a regular basis. 

Lizzie Heidenreich, manager of the Cleveland Browns Foundation, says they wanted to create a welcoming environment for the Father’s Walk. 

“Parents play such a huge role in getting children to school each day and that includes dads,” said Heidenreich. 

At Buhrer Dual Language Academy, the father’s walk activities were well attended, and the walk participants could be seen for blocks as many fathers stepped hand in hand with their students around the school’s neighborhood. 

At Max Hayes High School, CMSD CEO Dr. Warren Morgan spoke to a room full of fathers and father figures about their commitment to their child’s education before taking a tour of the school. 

"It is so great to see our fathers and father figures coming alongside educators to do this important work and raising their hand to say ‘we care,’ and it is important to be invested in CMSD,” said Dr. Morgan. 

Dr. Morgan gets his blood pressure checked at Max Hayes High School Fathers Walk activities (Courtsey: Marietta Mack-Hood)

Some dads and Dr. Morgan also had their blood pressure checked as a reminder to the fathers of the importance of being aware of hypertension and associated risks. 

Greg Jurecki believes participating in the Father’s Walk events is a way to show his son, Chapman, he cares. 

“The Father’s Walk is a great idea and allows fathers to support their kids,” said Jurecki. 

Dads take a tour of Max Hayes High School during Fathers Walk 

At O.H. Perry PreK-8 School several fathers were touched to be able to participate in this special day with their children. 

“It is an experience for me because I never did a dads walk when I was a kid,” said one dad. “It means a lot.” 

The Father’s Walk is a Cuyahoga County and nationwide initiative designed to show how important it is for fathers to be involved in the lives of their children. Dads should contact their child’s school for details about ways they can continue to stay involved in their children’s education.