If you live on the coast, you may be familiar with the term “dawn patrol,” an early morning surfing tradition where surfers catch waves before the sunrise. To help improve Santa Fe Christian’s morning drop-off, leadership took this concept and put a spin on it where dads are swapping surfboards for safety vests to join the “Dads Dawn Patrol.”

This team of dedicated dads arrive on campus every morning before the start of the school day to assist with carpool drop-off. Their main goal is to help direct traffic, assist children out of their cars, and escort them safely to the sidewalk.

Dave Procelli, one of the volunteers, emphasized the significance of having fathers present and actively serving on campus. 

“One of the best things you can do if you want your children to have a servant’s heart is to demonstrate it,” said Porcelli. “That’s what we do every morning.” 

The presence of the Dads Dawn Patrol has had a noticeable impact on both the students and the overall flow of traffic. TJ Smith, another volunteer, praised the program for improving safety and creating a more efficient drop-off process. 

“It gives the teacher the ability to do lesson planning in the morning instead of having to direct traffic and the dads find it’s a way to connect with other dads,” said Smith. 

A heartwarming tradition that has emerged is “I Love You” Mondays. On these days, if a child says “I love you” to their parent before leaving the car, they receive a small treat from the dads, creating a joyful start to the day for both parents and children.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to see the dads out there, supporting the kids and making sure everyone is safe. It gives us moms peace of mind,” said Jacklyn Starkey, an SFC mom.

With the Dads Dawn Patrol in place, the school community is not only safer but also more connected.

“I would love to see every school in the county have dads run carpool like SFC does,” said Smith.

Read it in the San Diego Union-Tribune here.