By Austin C.
Admissions
FFS welcomed five new families in May, and five in June. In May FFS hosted visits from Dr. Jim Roche, an education consultant, and two representatives from Winston Preparatory private day school in Manhattan. In May, Jeff Brain, Vice President for External Affairs and Director of Admissions, visited Summit Oaks Hospital and High Focus treatment centers in New Jersey, the eating disorder clinic of Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, Md., and attended a school connection conference in Baltimore.
In June Brain attended an open house at a new intensive outpatient program for adolescents in Manhattan, Center for Living, and Cumberland Heights Hospital in Nashville, Tn. A week after Brain’s visit, a Cumberland Heights representative came to visit FFS. Brain also attended a conference in New Jersey on co-occurring disorders in adolescents, and the annual meeting of the New York Boarding School Association.
Performing Arts
The performing arts department just completed “a very successful competition and Family Day performance,” according to Tom Kovaleski, chairman of the performing arts department. In The North American Music Festival, The Family School’s show choir finished in first place. The men’s chorus received a Superior rating and the women’s and mixed chorus received Excellent ratings. The performing arts department spent much of June in preparation for the choral performance in the graduation ceremonies. Kovaleski and Geer are also in the process of selecting the fall musical and preparing for the upcoming auditions.
Athletics
The athletics department has focused on getting students up and active this month. They have incorporated activities such as hiking, running, fishing, etc. into the A and B activity periods. Carlton Williams heads the running activity; Willy Williamson leads powerwalking; Alex Carroll, Audra Towsley, and Katie Scutt direct the hikes; and Vinny Picece directs fishing. Physical education classes are doing outdoor softball. The softball season officially ended (see Lady Falcons, pg. 16) following the close of the golf team’s season. Now the athletics department is preparing for soccer season. Tryouts begin Saturday, July 18, and will continue every Saturday until the team is picked. August 17 is the first day of practice. Bill Musgrove is the head coach of the boy’s team, with Williams assisting. Scott MacDonald will be coaching the girls’ team, with Donna Broce stepping in as assistant coach.
Maintenance
The maintenance team has been working on the new dorm, inside on rainy days and outside on nice days. They took two weeks off to get “a few odds and ends fixed up around campus,” according to Ed Anderson, maintenance superintendent; they then continued work on the dorm. This time of year the maintenance interns and summer workers spend their time mowing the lawn and keeping up the campus grounds.
Administration
The administrative team has spent June coming up with new, creative ways to strengthen the spirit of FFS for the students remaining after graduation. This graduating class is one of the largest FFS has had; after June will be a “great time for renewal” according to Dr. Rita Argiros, Vice President of Administrative Affairs. Many staff members and alumni with 12-Step backgrounds have volunteered to speak at the Sunday night AA meetings on campus in order to create a bridge between the way the school used to be and the way it is now. Mike Argiros, President of FFS, has been promoting cleanliness around campus, while Rita Argiros and staff member Tommy Cummings have been emphasizing the importance of being active. The administrative team as a whole has been spreading the necessity of leading by example to the students. The new work study interns have been meeting with their bosses to gain an understanding of what they will be expected to do next semester and have been emerging as next semester’s leaders.
FFS Starts Knitting Ministry
