FFS Students Enjoy Their Time Off from School with Fun-Filled Activities
By Bennett O.
Winter break at The Family Foundation School kicked off on Wednesday, December 23. For the next week and a half the houses competed in events which included sports, academics, arts and crafts, a talent show, cleaning of the families, board games and some surprises.
Prizes were awarded to all the houses with the first place winner receiving an off-campus pizza party and movie. Mann House took the first place prize.
The first event of the break was a Christmas carol sing-a-long and a skit of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
On Christmas morning the families went to the chapel to participate in Father Ralph Groskoph’s last service at the school. Father Ralph who is retiring after seven years as an Episcopalian priest at FFS said, “I did my best to provide laughter in tense situations, be a sounding board for student ideas, and bring an image of God to the students. It was hard to leave but it had to be done.”
At the end of the Mass the students went down to their houses to begin opening presents. Each house opened presents one at a time while the rest of the family watched, with oohs and aahs, and waited for their turn.
After the presents were opened the students stuffed themselves with lots and lots of Christmas sweets (and some good food), and watched movies.
The next few days were filled with fun and exciting events beginning with laser tag in the gym. “It was a spectacular, illuminating experience,” said Nick P. The students also took a trip to the Fox Bowling Center in Hancock. “Bowling was a fun-filled family experience,” said Robert R.
An afternoon at the movie theater for the double feature “The Blind Side” and “The Princess and the Frog,” was followed by an evening at the hockey rink and a trip to the China Buffet.
New Years Eve was the big day. The families found out who won the competition. Before the scores were tallied each house set up their arts and crafts projects for display, and put on a talent show. After all the families had a few laughs and competed with great sportsmanship, Talbot house family leader Jan Cheripko announced the winner: Mann House. “I’m extremely proud of their hard work and determination and I never doubted for a minute that they would do well in a competition,” said Mann House family leader Joe Petriella.
New Years was just a few hours away, so to start the year off on the right foot the families went up to the chapel to spend some time with Father Stephen. Then they went to their houses to celebrate the New Year, healthy and sober.
