From Scott and Natasha Patterson
Monroe
To the editor:
A thank you to the Monroe cross country team: Our son Alex is a freshman enrolled in special education at Monroe High School. When we inquired about him going out for cross country, coach Dave Hirsbrunner was very supportive. The team and coaches have been amazingly welcoming and friendly all season long - even when Alex wasn't always very responsive. The team, and especially the girls, have encouraged him to persevere, do his best and grow in maturity as well.
Since his abilities did not qualify Alex to participate in high school meets, Coach Hirsh arranged for him to run in two middle school races, and Mya Waterman, a sophomore, volunteered to run alongside Alex after running her own race, coaching and motivating him along the route so that he finished in a respectable time. We've also noticed that Coach Hirsh always appears at several points along each route, cheering the last runner on the team just as enthusiastically as the first.
It's a wonderful thing to give a handicapped teen something he can be proud of at an age when self-esteem is so important. Our heartfelt thanks go to the entire team organization, and to the parents who raised such awesome young people.
Monroe
To the editor:
A thank you to the Monroe cross country team: Our son Alex is a freshman enrolled in special education at Monroe High School. When we inquired about him going out for cross country, coach Dave Hirsbrunner was very supportive. The team and coaches have been amazingly welcoming and friendly all season long - even when Alex wasn't always very responsive. The team, and especially the girls, have encouraged him to persevere, do his best and grow in maturity as well.
Since his abilities did not qualify Alex to participate in high school meets, Coach Hirsh arranged for him to run in two middle school races, and Mya Waterman, a sophomore, volunteered to run alongside Alex after running her own race, coaching and motivating him along the route so that he finished in a respectable time. We've also noticed that Coach Hirsh always appears at several points along each route, cheering the last runner on the team just as enthusiastically as the first.
It's a wonderful thing to give a handicapped teen something he can be proud of at an age when self-esteem is so important. Our heartfelt thanks go to the entire team organization, and to the parents who raised such awesome young people.
