By Cyndi Goodrich

Moapa Valley Progress

Aaron Lyon takes his turn at hopscotch while his daughters look on at the Grant Bowler Elementary Dudes and Donuts Day. Photo by Cyndi Goodrich.

Passersby at Grant Bowler Elementary on Thursday morning might have seen the dozens of dads, and other significant male role models, fill the school’s playground to participate in a little before-school playtime.

This year the PTO sponsored its annual event with a new name. Dudes and Donuts replaced the Dads-N-Donuts activity to be sure to include all children whose dads could not make it to the event.

The morning is held to encourage positive bonding, invite the men into the school and help them be engaged in the education of their children.

Teri Holzer, a PTO board member and chair for the event was pleased with the mornings turn-out.

“It was full and kept moving.,” Holzer said. “We went through 70 dozen donuts. Lins’ and their bakery made a generous discount on the donuts, and Meadow Gold donated all the milk. It was a fun morning.”

Bowler principal, Shawna Jessen was thrilled and touched to see all the dads on the playground with the children.

“There are more people here than I’ve ever seen,” Jessen said. “This is so great.”

With all the smiling faces it was clear that the kids all thought it was great too.