The former president of St George’s Preparatory School PTA called on parents to take a central role with the start of the new academic year, and get engaged in their children’s lives.

Rajai Denbrook, who spoke at City Hall in Hamilton yesterday, said: “Engaged parents have long been identified as an essential factor in maximising outcomes for their children, in and out of school.

“These are parents who understand they are their children’s greatest protector and advocate, so their child can walk through this world with a sense of security and confidence only a loving and engaged parent can provide.”

Mr Denbrook, who was accompanied by daughters Sowillo and Winter at an event marking the start of the 2024-25 school year, believes that children who have active fathers in their lives posses additional confidence.

Community activists Glenn Fubler and Dennis Bean, representatives from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo and the Bermuda National Trust, and mother Wanda Robinson joined Mr Denbrook to mark the occasion.

Mr Bean said gang violence inhibited the ability to receive a good education, and urged people involved in these activities to “cease and desist and allow children to grow up and associate and assimilate in an environment which is conducive to proper recreational, spiritual and physical growth and socialisation”.

Ms Robinson told parents to be their children’s “village”, and to reach out to others for help if they needed it.

She added: “My daughter may not have the same situation as someone else’s, but they can help one another.

“So mothers, talk with your daughters and fathers, talk with your sons, because we can only teach them to be better citizens in this country if we listen to what they have to say and what needs they have.”

The gathering heard that BNT, BAMZ, the Bermuda National Library and other organisations have partnered to create a learning village for children.

This partnership will provide pointers to make going back to school easier in the coming days, and will loan family learning kits to library card holders starting on September 17.

The kits, which can be collected at the library, Caesar’s Pharmacy in Sandys and Somers Supermart in St George, will include books and puzzles.

Myles Darrell, the BNT’s head of natural heritage, highlighted the importance of learning and said the organisation’s indoor and outdoor areas could be easily turned into class spaces.

He explained: “I encourage people to get outside and use these spaces, not just to learn about the environment, but just to get a little peace of mind, a little bit of healing, maybe a little art and mathematics — it can all be done right there to assist you.”

Ian Walker, curator at BAMZ, said: “We encourage everybody to get involved in their community, whether it be BAMZ, BNT, the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute — whatever works for your child to provide them a source of inspiration so they can grow and inspire and become better citizens.”

• Visitbnt.bm andbamz.orgto learn more about the different programmes offered by each organisation.