Donuts and dads at Larson Heights Elementary
Charles H. Featherstone/Columbia Basin Herald Johnny Lucas and his son Jevonny spend some time together in the gym at Larson Heights Elementary on Friday.
MOSES LAKE — There were donuts, there were dads, and there were a lot of kids at Larson Heights Elementary School on Friday morning.
Talking. Laughing. Listening. Just spending time with each other.
“My son is here in kindergarten,” said Johnny Lucas, who sat with his son Jevonny as he drew. “I have weird work hours, and Friday and Saturday are our days together.”
Donuts for Dads is something Larson Heights Elementary School does at least once a year, a way to try and get more dads involved in their kids’ education and more involved in the community, according to counselor Cynthia Swan.
“It’s a way for parents to see teachers, to bring their kids in and just have some fun,” she said.
Before the end of the school year, Larson Heights will also stage its “Muffins for Moms” event, Swan said, bringing moms in for breakfast and time at school.
In addition to all the parents, kids, teachers, and donuts, there were police and firefighters as well serving up breakfast, making the rounds and chatting up kids and their fathers.
“This is awesome,” said Larson Heights Principal Diana McFaul. “We were scheduled to have fire fighters and police here earlier, but that turned out to be a snow day, and it got canceled. So we got them here today.”
McFaul noted that there seemed to be fewer people here than last year, even with all the police and fire fighters.
“We have lots of donuts,” she said, microphone in hand, over the Larson Heights gym’s speaker system. “So come on up and get as much as you’d like!”
Sam Mitchell, who works at Walmart, said that donuts or not, he wouldn’t miss time with his son Anthony for the world.
“I absolutely like being here!” He said.
His son agreed.
“I like my dad!” Anthony said.
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.