Whitworth Elementary School 4th and 5th Grade
Dear Al,
Thank you again for your presentation to the fourth and fifth grade students at Whitworth Elementary on Friday, February 11, 2005. As you know, your presentation was the culmination of a week-long program in which our students were outfitted with "disabilities" and expected to participate in regular school activities. The goal, of course, is to foster empathy for others with different abilities by "walking a mile" in their shoes. Your inspiring message (delivered with grace and wit!) was the perfect ending to our students' experience. They were encouraged to look beyond external appearance and recognize that everyone has something special to offer. Best of all, you gave them simple suggestions to use when approaching a person with disabilities. Thank you again for your time and effort on our behalf, as well as your willingness to be vulnerable so that others may benefit from your experience.
Best regards,
Elizabeth Terry, RN
Whitworth Elementary School
John Muir Elementary School 5th and 6th Grade
Dear Mr. Foxx,
Thank you for the outstanding performance you gave at our school. Your themes: choices and consequences, the incredible power of setting goals, and winners don’t quit are a timeless reminder our fifth and sixth grade students found easy to understand and apply to their own lives.
Your storytelling abilities and humorous anecdotes kept their interest through the whole hour. The fact that you talk about you disabilities openly and honestly really speaks to today’s youth. When you described how, for years following your accident, routine tasks become major projects, our students realized that they too can overcome their own obstacles, if they just try hard enough. Many students (and teachers too!) walked away from your presentation feeling empowered to set goals and work hard to achieve them.
I am sure that all those attending your assembly left with a new awareness of the incredible power of choices. It is a tribute to you and your positive outlook on life that I heard the following comments from students after the assembly:
"WINNERS don’t quit! Winners DON’T quit! Winners don’t QUIT!"
"What I learned was never drink and drive and ride a motorcycle."
"I learned to make good choices and that ‘Winners don’t quit!"’
"I never saw things that way before. I hope he comes back."
"If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Think first and make good choices."
"Think twice before you do something that could ruin your life."
"Choices are important. You should never quit, because WINNERS don’t quit. Winners DON’T quit. Winners don’t QUIT."
"I think that Mr. Foxx was pretty funny and that Winners don’t quit."
"I learned it’s not nice to make fun of disabled people. Winners don’t quit."
"I am very glad you came to our school to help us make good choices. You are a talented comedian. I learned a lot from you. Thanks."
"Mr. Foxx, I’m really happy you came. You really helped me to understand more about handicapped people. Winners don’t quit."
"Mr. Foxx taught me that winners don’t quit and I never will because of him."
"I’m glad he taught us about good choices and bad choices and never giving up because winners don’t quit."
I thank you again for taking the time to talk to the students at John Muir Elementary School. I cannot think of a better way to teach my students the power of positive thinking! I salute you and your courageous crusade to inspire people to greatness.
Sincerely,
Karen Kline,
Librarian
Robert Frost Elementary School 5th Grade
Mr. Foxx spoke to our class on Wednesday. He shared with our class details about his motorcycle accident. He also talked with us about the fact that accidents can happen to anyone, no matter who you are. The choices you make can have positive and negative effects on your life. Mr. Foxx shared how the choices he has made since his accident have made him set goals to achieve things so that he can be independent. The following are key messages that Mr. Foxx shared with our class.
Winners don’t quit is a very important saying that Mr. Foxx lives by in all that he does. ALWAYS wear a helmet when you are riding a bicycle. This is-important because the helmet can save your life if you were to fall. When you fall, get back up! Do not quit!
The following are comments from our fifth grade students:
"I thought it was great that Mr. Foxx made 50 many goals! I liked him saying ‘Never Give Up!"’
"You did a terrific job explaining to us why we should wear our helmets and you really made me think about why I should wear my helmet! "
"Mr. Foxx taught me that kids shouldn’t use drugs."
"I think that kids should take Mr. Foxx’s advice."
"I thought Mr. Foxx’s performance what great! He taught us that nobody is perfect. He also taught us that we need to be safe."
"I learned that accidents can happen to anyone!"
"I am glad that Mr. Foxx never gave up after his accident."
"I learned that it is better to be safe than sorry. Wear a helmet!"
Mr. Foxx has a very important message and Is willing to make it fit your students needs. We are glad that he was able to share with our class.
Kristi Young and Kevin Olson
Robert Frost Elementary School-3rd Grade
To whom it may concern,
My third grade classroom had the opportunity to listen to Al Foxx present this school year. His presentation had fabulous messages. Winners don’t quit, keep your expectations high, and make good choices were a few. His personal testimony tied it all together.
Students were very attentive while listening and very responsive to Al’s message. He kept his messages to the point and kept the interest level high throughout. Students were very pleased with his presentation. They even asked him for his autograph which he signed, WINNERS DON’T QUIT.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Tracy Chester
Robert Frost Elementary School-2nd Grade
To Whom It May Concern:
Al Foxx has been an educational assistant in my class for the last four weeks. He has assisted special education students in making good behavior choices in the classroom setting.
Additionally, Al has given motivational speeches to the elementary students in our pod of classrooms. His messages were well received by the students. The speech in my classroom was filled with humor and very important messages that have stuck with the children. He told the children through many of his personal examples that "Winner’s Don’t Quit," and to always "Wear a Helmet."
Additionally, Mr. Foxx communicated to the children how after he had his motorcycle accident he had to learn to talk, walk and learn to drive again even after being told he would never do those things. He stressed the importance of a positive attitude, working hard, and setting goals.
After he left the comments by the children were very insightful. One eight year old boy said he felt bad, because he had imitated the way Mr. Foxx talked and walked on the playground and now that he knew the reason why he would not do this ever again. "It’s important to be nice to people no matter what they are like." A girl indicated that "heads were difficult to fix when they got hurt" and so she would always wear a helmet.
Sincerely
Susan D. Wiggins
Second Grade Teacher
Robert Frost Elementary School-Kindergarten
To Whom it May Concern,
My All-Day Kindergarten class had the wonderful learning opportunity to hear Al Foxx’s presentation on Safety and Friendship. His ability to relate personal experience with the lesson was very effective. The children were very interested and responsive to his presentation. His use of humor and appropriate examples reinforced the students’ understanding that "Super Safe is Super Fun".
I would recommend having Mr. Foxx speak to any primary classroom that is learning how to play safe while having fun.
Sincerely,
Tracey Shigley
Kindergarten Teacher
John Muir Elementary School-Kindergarten
Dear Mr. Fox,
Thank you for teaching us to be kind, to keep our heads safe with helmets, and to also have fun! We also learned it was important to share and most of all we learned that it is o.k. to be different because that is what makes us special. Thank you again!!
Love,
Mrs. Severn-Klooster’s Kindergarten Class
"The Tigers"
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