3 minute read
Danville Club Scene: How Involved Parents are Helping Our Kids
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Stephen Dunphy, Resident since 2011, and Matt Alberti, Resident since 2015
Happy to inform you that there are two new clubs on the westside. Both the Montair Dads Club and Montair Run Club are new organizations focused on enriching the lives of the kids that attend Montair Elementary School.
Montair Dads Club
Matt Alberti (left) and Stephen Dunphy (right) are the founders and current officers of the Montair Dads Club, along with Dr. Anthony Rega and Dr. Jeremy Lieb. Matt serves as President of the Montair Dads Club, while Stephen serves as Treasurer. They appreciate the role that Montair Elementary School plays in developing their children for the future. They know that Montair Elementary is not just a public school, but an integral part of the community.
The Montair Dads Club is a Not-For- Profit Corporation formed in March 2018 by four dads with children at Montair Elementary School. What began with a few dads spending time with their children during their lunch hour has turned into a club with over 100 members and growing. The organization’s mission is to support the Montair Elementary School community through time, energy, effort, and financial resources in order to build stronger relationships with the students. According to research by the U.S. Department of Education, students with involved dads have higher rates of academic success, fewer problems with truancy, suspensions, and expulsions, increased self-esteem and self-confidence, and better child-father relationships.
The Montair Dads Club meets on the second Monday of each month at Norm’s Place in Danville where the members discuss ideas and strategies for making a positive impact on the school. Their flagship event is the annual pancake breakfast where the dads prepare pancakes, fruit, sausage, and orange juice for several hundred attendees. Other on campus events have included donut day, interacting with the students during lunchtime activities, and participation in the Montair Run Club.
Recently, the Montair Dads Club hosted an off-campus bocce event raising over $1,500 in donations. A portion of that money, along with plenty of human capital, was used to build a Kegerator which was gifted to the Monitor Education Foundation and later sold at their annual auction for $3,500. Additionally, the Montair Dads Club supports the Montair Elementary PTA by helping with setup and tear down of its carnival and movie night.
Police Chief Allan Shields joins Run Club earlier this year. The kids love when he stops by!
The Dads Club also helps with beautification and maintenance at the school as well. Last year it funded and installed new hooks for the children’s coats and book bags. Although the Montair Dads Club is new to the scene, it has already made a considerable impact on the Montair Elementary School community
Montair Run Club
The Montair Run Club is an association that started in 2013, funded by the PTA, and now managed by the Montair Dads Club. The club meets before school each Wednesday at 7:30 am and encourages all fitness levels to come and join the fun. There is always a lively crowd ready to run around the school accompanied by music and a Montair Dads Club member on the bullhorn giving runners the encouragement they need to keep going.
Our dads stick together!
The group has approximately 100 registered members who have run a combined total of 640 miles this year. Parent volunteers use QR codes and an app to track laps, and students earn a charm for every five laps (equaling one mile), that are proudly displayed on a necklace. Students are recognized by their fellow classmates for high mileage achievements.
Dad’s Club hosts its Annual Pancake Breakfast.
The Wednesday morning exercise is a great way to start the day. Occasionally the group will have “special guest runners.” This year Danville Police Chief Allan Shields joined the kids.
Both clubs have helped our community in special ways. Be sure to look out for future events hosted by the Montair Dads Club and honk the next time you see the Montair Run Club exercising before school!
