by admin on October 28, 2009
Jenny K.
Program Graduate of December ‘07
Jenny K. is a former student of FFS. She lives in Monaco, France and corresponds with Journalism teacher, Chris Stein frequently. Here is a letter about her most recent adventures and endeavors.
Hi Chris,
I don’t know if I ever told you that my whole family are scuba divers; we have been to Egypt quite a few times. The Red Sea is a fabulous place to dive. It offers an immense diversity of colors, animals, corals, shipwrecks as well as beautiful sceneries above sea level. The night skies are one of the things I love the most about Egypt. I have never seen a sky as full of stars as the one there. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the small selection of photos I will attach to this e-mail. On another note, I would like to travel to the U.S. again soon. Of course, I want to include The Family Foundation School in my visit. Could you let me know when it is a good time, in your opinion, to visit? Are there any special events coming up soon besides December graduation? Maybe in the new year? I am trying to make the most of my life. I feel I could do better at times, but life is great! It’s strange how sometimes I feel that I gained a lot through my past and at other times I feel like I lost too much. I am taking the TOEFL exam on November 7. At the end of this month I am visiting a debate in England with a friend, and after that I am taking a course at the London Academy of Media, Film & TV. I am very excited about all of it. There is one thing which is causing uneasiness. That is, I still am undecided about what Diploma to take. In other words, do I take the GED, or try to earn the missing credits for a high school diploma, or do I do “A” levels (the UK system)? It is hard to decide because I want to go to UNI soon. However, I feel that if I spend more time doing the “A” levels I have a better chance to enter a university of my choice. Well, we will see.
Wish you well!
Talk soon!
Jenny
by admin on October 27, 2009
FFS Students and Staff Celebrate the Traditional Jewish Holiday Sukkot
By Liam M. and Brendan O.
Outside the “house” on The Family Foundation School campus, a massive wooden frame was erected over the picnic tables. It spanned almost the entire length of the house, was covered with multi-colored sheets, banners and paper chains, and was built to celebrate the Jewish holiday Sukkot.
The annual celebration of thanksgiving and harvest brought together the hearts and spirit of students and staff on Sunday, October 4.
“Sukkot,” the plural of the Hebrew word “sukkah,” means booth or hut and refers to the movable dwellings of the ancient Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after Exodus from Egypt.
The maintenance department built the large wooden structure and the students made walls with vibrant colored banners and sheets.
The all-day Sukkot celebration began with Rabbi Michele Medwin discussing several traditions surrounding the holiday. Students then returned to their houses and spent the morning making hundreds of yards of colorful paper chains and symbols with which to decorate the sukkah.
They also created banners depicting their favorite psalms from the Talmud. After lunch, the student headed outdoors with the chains and laid them side by side to determine which house had the longest. The winner was Smith House whose chain stretched from the house to the daycare center, approximately a quarter mile.
The students then gathered on the lawn in front of the sukkah while each family presented and explained their banner.
The day concluded with a dinner of beef stew and apple turnovers enjoyed under the sukkah. Sukkot has been celebrated annually at The Family School since 2001 when former Jewish Studies Director, Ellen Singer, organized the event following 9/11 in an effort to focus on the positive things in life.
by admin on October 26, 2009
Benny K.
Alumnus of 1989
Sunday night the gym bleachers were packed with students all looking down at a tall, tattooed man sitting at the designated speakers’ table. Benny K. hadn’t been to The Family Foundation School in nineteen years. “It’s crazy to see that you all have, you know, two hundred brothers and sisters; I had like fifty at the most here,” Benny announced while telling his story.
Benny arrived at FFS the week of Halloween in 1989, when he was seventeen years old. He was court mandated to the school for as long as needed. His life was completely out of control; he was addicted to heroin and crack, and was constantly getting in trouble with the law.
Enjoying his time at The Family was the last thing he expected, but he learned to have fun in ways he never thought that he could.
During Benny’s stay, his father had a heart attack and he was sent home for two weeks to be with him. After he returned to the school, his father died and his world was turned upside down. Due to legal issues, Benny had to leave the school and go home, this time permanently. He was not prepared for the change and relapsed. For two years he was out using. But he wasn’t happy and he knew he would never be happy again unless he got sober.
Benny now has almost eighteen years clean and sober. He is married and has a five-year- old daughter Rachel. He works as a building engineer and is also a short-story writer and a poet.
“When I got sober, I found the things I really enjoyed doing, and they helped to keep me in the program,” he said.
Benny’s advice to the students of FFS is to find people who will listen to you and to put faith into something other than yourself. He says, “You must be honest so you can actually work through your problems instead of letting them slip by.”
by admin on October 25, 2009
Rob M.
Class of June ‘08
Rob M. arrived at The Family Foundation School August 21, 2006. His stay lasted 22 months. His life at home was out of control; he was abusing drugs and getting kicked out of school.
His stay at the school was a great learning experience for him. Midway through, Rob received a letter from his father telling him as long as he did well and learned to control himself, he could still drink.
This left him with a huge decision to make. After speaking with his sponsor, Ed Becker, he decided he wanted to live a sober life. Shortly after this change in Rob, he received junior sponsoring which allowed him to give back what was given to him.
He graduated from high school and the program in June 2008. He is now a sophomore at Marywood University, majoring in hospitality management. He has managed to stay sober by attending meetings every other day and hanging out with sober friends.
He still spends time with friends from FFS, including alumni Eric K. On the weekends they play football and going to the movies with other friends. Rob’s advice to the students of FFS is to find a staff member that they completely trust.
His sponsor Ed Becker, he says, was one the people who helped him to change the most.
Letter To The Editor
Medal Awarded to Long-Time Trooper
