Supporting Heritage Coaches
To the parents of White House
I write in gratitude to the men of White House who sacrifice their time to coach our children in sports.
Regarding Middle School Football and play time. We need to show these coaches some appreciation. As a parent whom has watched her child grow through middle school on up I was disappointed in the letters to the editor on Sept. 29, 2009.
My child as a whole could not have flourished as he has without the guidance of all of you. I have attended practically all of the games, away and at home. I have watched him sit on the bench at an early age and not play. We knew it was a right of passage if you will. It never crossed my mind to complain about it. If you really know what kind of effort a coach puts in, you would know that they are all Overworked, Underpaid and by a select few Under Appreciated.
Life is about lessons. Yes, this is not the Titans we are talking about. It is Middle School and High School Football. We are hopefully preparing these athletes for sports at the College level. I can't think of many High Schools or any Colleges that play the 2nd string when they are loosing or just because they show up and practice every day! Do we give A's out as grades just for effort or do they get the grade because they perform at the level to achieve it?
I wonder if my child gets accepted to a college and plays football for them if it would help if I called to complain they didn't play him enough.
As it is he has learned a valuable lesson from his coaches, performance and experience will get you on the field.
A heartfelt THANK YOU is in order for all the late nights and extra hours these coaches put in, to try and mold these athletes.
YOU ARE APPRECIATED!
Linette Robertson
Benefit for Pastor
On July 2, 2009 Pastor Roger Spivey was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).
His first question was, “Why me Lord?” “I need to be able to preach your word.” “I need to be able to win one more lost soul.” After a few weeks his question changed to “why not me?”
Over the past three months Roger and I have shed many tears, not all sad but many tears of joy. Many time we have said “Thank you God for supplying our every need and many of our wants.”
Roger has pastored Greenwood Free Will Baptist Church on East Robertson Road in Cross Plains for 22 years. On September 26, the Church sponsored a benefit for us. We were overwhelmed with the great turn out. The words “Thank You” doesn’t seem to be enough for all the food, singers, workers and donations.
We would like to say “Thank You” also to the community of Orlinda, our friends and our family for all the cards, visits, flowers, gifts, food, words of kindness and most of all prayers.
We don’t know what the future may hold but we know who holds the future. Philippians 1:3.
Roger and Wanda Spivey
My son plays football for WHMS. He started in Jr. Pro at the age of 9. A smallish boy determined to be a linebacker. He was fortunate enough to be coached by Rod Gentry and a crew of men who instilled in him a strong foundation of technique that allowed him to be a capable linebacker whose size did not matter. He worked hard and gained skills that made his size a non factor. His heart was big enough.
He was coached by a group of men who gave up their personal time, time with their own families in order to teach the young boys of White House the values of hard work and dedication. Lessons taught through demonstration of their own willingness to make sacrifices for others.
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Coaches Deserve Praise, not Criticism
This is in response to the letter in the September 29th edition. My children came home today outraged about this article. Players of the team are very upset with this article because they respect the coach and do not feel this is fair to him. I myself am the parent of players who are starters on the HMS team and am outraged at the letter to the paper. There is never going to be a given time when every parent and or child is happy with everything that occurs in school sports. As stated, this is middle school football not recreational football. School sports are a totally different ballgame. These players are on their way to becoming young men and the parents can not always be there to wipe up the tears because they can’t play. I myself was discouraged last year because neither of my sons played but about 5 plays all season between themselves. The person that is writing this letter seems very bitter and should take in all information before spewing out about a coach and team that they do not know all of the details about.
Coach Richards comes to us from another school. He is also the coach of another sport at HMS and shares his time between the two as well as teaching. This is his first year coaching at HMS. Last year the same thing occurred where we had players that hardly ever played and we had a different coach. Who was heartless last year? It is not 100% the coaches fault that we are not a winning team at this point.
I say this person needs to realize that some children may not play for different reasons like not showing up for practice and not letting coach know or having unsportsmanlike behavior or plainly just not cutting it. Sure it would be nice to see everyone play all game long but it does not work like that. I played basketball as a teen in middle school and did we play every game just because we did not want to hurt someones feelings NO. This is not elementary school or a recreational team. You EARN your position on the team it is NOT handed to you. Some of the children that come to practice have shown up with with horrible attitudes. Some with the attitude of, well, I only played two plays yesterday do I have to show for practice or talking badly about coach, etc.
Does that work in class? If you raise your hand and the teacher does not call on them should we then call out the teachers because the teachers are making the children have less confidence because they don’t get to answer a question every time their hand is raised? I am writing this with input from my children that are on the team and they see the negativity that is exhumed during practices and even during the day at school. I feel this comes directly from the parents. That is the problem with children these days because the parents step in and ruin what should be for the children. This is whether or not they are starters. This makes it difficult on all of the children not just those who do not feel they are playing enough.
Look at the broad spectrum of things. Wake up. You can’t spoon feed your child for life. I love my children and love to watch them in anything they do but learn to suck it up and go on with life when they are not in the spotlight. I am writing this to the parents who also agree with letting your children quit in the middle of the season. What is that teaching the children? You can’t become someone if you just quit anytime you feel like it or when things are not going your way! When you start something you need to finish it and the need to learn that. It is not easy being a teacher or a coach these days. They deserve some kind of recognition. They deserve our appreciation for being there for our children. Is this writer a teacher and or a coach? I doubt it. I doubt that this person or persons even knows the meaning of appreciation.
I want to say thank you to Coach Richard for hanging in there the entire year with all of the road blocks you have encountered. You have coached the children yourself and without much help. You have had parents who were there ready willing and able to help but because of the school system you were unable to use them. We appreciate everything you have done. Thank you Coach Richard. Thank you for being there.
Christy Huffaker
White House
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the White House Inn Library greatly appreciate everyone who helped make our first-ever Family Fun Day a success. Several folks braved the rainy weather on Saturday, Sept. 26 to come to the City Park to support our efforts to raise awareness and money for a new library in White House. We hope those dedicated folks will continue to support our efforts and spread the word so others will join us in this important project.
We want to thank the companies and individuals who sponsored the event including The Farmers Bank, Northridge Church, White House Lions Club, The Bargain Browser, and The Woodmen of the World.
We also want to thank our volunteers who didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits, including White House High School Beta Club, White House Library Skills USA Club, and White House Heritage Beta Club.
We plan to hold other events in the future to support the library. If you would like to be involved with the Friends of the White House Inn Library, contact Dolly Peay at 672-4343 or dolly@hallmarktitle.net.
Remember, a Great City Deserves a Great Library.
Thanks again,
Philip Vickery, DDS, Chairman
White House Friends of the White House Inn Library
Heritage & Hope Preschool
My daughter began attending Heritage and Hope Preschool at age 2. She quickly grew to love going there and made friends quickly. We were very impressed not only with the love and attention that she received from the staff, but at how she was learning both academically and socially. Because of this we decided to keep enrolling her in the program each year and when she turned 4, we chose to enroll her in the K4 program at Heritage and Hope to get her prepared for the transition to Kindergarten the next year. It was obvious to myself and her father how much she was learning, but the true test was when she went for her Kindergarten screening at her “new” school. She did FANTASTIC! She knew every item that was asked of her and she even went above and beyond what she was asked on many of the items! We owe a lot to the teachers and staff at Heritage and Hope Academy for helping us prepare our daughter for Kindergarten no matter where she would be atttending! They really showed her the love and attention that she needed to get ready to move on to this important step in her academic career! Heritage and Hope is not just a daycare with a hyped up name! It is truly a fantastic Pre-kindergarten program that builds on the terrific Christian values being taught! Thank you to Ms. Amanda, Ms. Christy, Ms. Elizabeth and the rest of the staff at Heritage and Hope!
Heather Brinkley
Dear City of White House
I would like to thank everyone in the community who has helped me over the last two and a half years. Your prayers and support were a blessing to me and my family while I was in the hospital, recovering at home, and as I returned to all my normal activities.
This past Tuesday, I found out that I was granted my wish from Make-A-Wish. Businesses in White House (Papa John’s and Al’s) made wonderful donations. So many people supported me and stayed after the game to watch me receive my wish as well. I would also like to thank my teammates (2009 M.S. Champs) and coaches for supporting me throughout the season. It was a night I will never forget. I will never forget White House and will always be grateful.
Yours truly,
Nate Nowicki
Music To My Ears...
Each year, I look forward to the fall choral concert presented by White House Middle School and White House High School. Not only for the fact that my daughter is a participant, but knowing that I will once again hear the amazing voices that erupt from these groups of young men and women who understand the concepts of commitment, creativity and courage. Plus, the fall concert gives insight into what is to come later in the year. This year’s fall concert was excellent and a joy to behold.
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