By Pat C.
Rick Reeve, executive director of The Family Foundation, Inc. recently began a 12-Step beginners meeting to focus on Steps one, two, and three.
The meeting is called the “Beginners Meeting” and is held every Tuesday during activity A period. Each week newcomers to the school or program and “senior” kids attend the meeting to go over one of the first three Steps.
Many of the students who attend the beginners meeting use it as an opportunity to rejuvenate their commitment to the first three Steps and to share their experience, strength and hope with newcomers who are just beginning their 12-Step journey. Family Four student Chris B. said, “I decided to commit to coming to the beginners meeting to give back to new students what I was so freely given.”
The meeting helps educate students involved in recovery who are unable to attend 12-Step meetings off-campus due to how long they have attended FFS. Rafael L. of Family One said, “It has helped me because I can’t go to outside meetings and it has given me more knowledge about steps one, two, and three.”
The new students are getting a lot from the experience, strength, and hope of staff member Reeve and senior students involved with the meeting.
Student of the Month
by Andrew S.
Every family chooses a candidate that they feel is worthy of the honor. Then, every staff member, and students who have been here for over a year, to cast their votes.
Students and staff are not required to vote for the nominee from their family.
Family Five student, Megan R., won the popular vote for the month of May. She was ecstatic to find out that she had received this recognition.
Megan said, “God has done so much for me. I am grateful for The Family Foundation School and everything it has given me.”
Megan has been at the school for 17 months. She will be graduating from FFS in June.
“I remember seeing the Student of the Month when I was a new student, and I never thought that would be me,” said Megan.
by Regina C.
In the Russian Orthodox calendar, Easter is celebrated on April 18, and its traditions continue until the following week.
Natalya Kuchukov, Russian teacher, brought the Russian Orthodox tradition of the Easter celebration to The Family Foundation School on April 20.
Sharing this celebration with both of her Russian classes, Kuchukov had prepared some of the sweets that her family enjoys on Easter.
The feast contained sweets, because there is a strict 48 days fast with no meat products, milk products, sugar, or oil. During the feast at FFS, the students and Kuchukov sang Russian songs, and then everyone greeted each other with “Yesus vaskres,” translated to “Jesus rose.”
Andrew B., a student in Kuchukov’s class, said, “The food was good; it’s very different compared to American Easter, and it was a new experience that I never had before. It was fun.”
