Students practice swimming at the Meadowbrook Swim Club (Photo: Ms. Carol Menetrez)

By Qu’Chae Madison

For the third consecutive year, Patterson students have been learning swimming skills and training in preparation for the Special Olympics Summer Games.

Approximately ten students and even some staff members attend practices every Friday, including social worker Ms. Carole Menetrez, classroom teacher, Mr.Peralta and some classroom aides. The team travels by bus to Meadowbrook Swim Club where practices are held. The club is owned by Olympic gold-medalist and Maryland native, Michael Phelps. The Patterson students will join forces with other students in Baltimore for this exciting event. Students will have practiced throughout March, April and May and must participate in two qualifiers this spring. The event will be held on Saturday, April 27th at the Naval Academy.

Ms. Menetrez volunteered to organize a group of eager Patterson students, interested in swimming and willing to take a leap of faith and join Baltimore City’s Sharks Swim Team. Ms. Menetrez enjoys working with them and watching them master their skills as swimmers. Three students who are returning to this year’s swim team are Dominic Allen, Charles Collins and Jasmain Gilliam. They enjoy swimming because they say,”it’s fun”. Dominic reports,”It makes me relaxed and all the anger goes away when I get in the water”. Rodney Lee, who is a new swimmer this year, is enjoying getting in the water and reports he’s learning to swim. When returning swimmer, Quandra Horne, masters a new skill in the water, she likes to refer to the Baltimore Sharks Team Slogan: “I Know I Can”.

Congratulations to all the Patterson Students for showing their support for Patterson’s Swim Team.

With files from Ms. Carol Menetrez.

Patterson’s Special Olympics Swim Team (Photo: Ms. Carol Menetrez)

(Photo: Ms. Carol Menetrez)

Ms. Menetrez (right) poses with a Patterson student on the Sharks swim team (Photo: Ms. Carol Menetrez)