Evan, Willy and Karen

On April 28, Family Foundation School students Evan H. and Karen S. accompanied by Athletic Director and father figure, Willy Williamson, received scholar athlete awards for Section 9 Division schools at the Kuhl’s Highland House. They received the awards for both being outstanding academic students as well as incredible participants in our school’s sports. There were 56 students from 28 different schools that received the award. The speaker announced their school, the sport(s) in which they participated and their future plans: college and major, or a future job. Karen S., ranked third at FFS with a 3.73 GPA, and participated in soccer, basketball and softball. After graduating in June her plans are to attend Rochester Institute of Technology and major in chemical engineering. Evan H., ranked eighth with a GPA of 3.5, participated in soccer, basketball and golf. He will be attending Stevenson University and he plans to major in business.

New Options Open Up for Skateboarders  at FFS

By Ross A.

For the last several months, skateboarding went from a dream, to a speculation, to a topic of discussion, to a consideration, and then to an actual sport here at The Family Foundation School.

Last month, the “Verdict” was “Approved”, and now it’s actually happening. Students have been bringing in their equipment, including a rail and a box, and getting ready to skate.

On Thursday, May 13, Ross A., Matt B., Scott M., Derek W., and Matt W. brought the equipment to the outside basketball courts and had the first session in Family School history. “It’s mind blowing that we can skate here now,” said Dave M. For an hour and a half, the skaters enjoyed the cool evening doing what they love. Along with having fun, the skaters prepared themselves for the more important event to come.

Three days later on Sunday, May 15, Willy Williamson took the skaters, plus Dave, Ted W., and Nelsan B., to the skate park at the neighboring French Woods campground. They skated there for two hours. With a miniramp, two street courses, a giant bowl, and a large half pipe, the skaters had plenty to work with. “The park was really nice and I had a lot of fun,” said Scott. French Woods has agreed to allow them to use the skate park every Sunday until July when the camp opens.

So far, Williamson has been able to provide the skaters with supervision every Thursday and Sunday, but more staff members are getting on board.

The skaters, along with Williamson, hope to get enough support for skateboarding to do it three to four times a week, and take more trips to skateboarding parks. So far, eight students have been approved for skateboarding, and the list continues to grow as skateboarding at FFS takes flight.

Falcons Drive to Honesdale and Comes Back Champions of the 6V6 Soccer Tournament

By Bennett O.

Nine soccer players, six of them from last year’s Family Foundation School team, and their coaches Willy Williamson and Carlton Williams, participated in the first annual Honesdale 6V6 Memorial Day soccer tournament on Saturday, May 29.

The students who participated were Yves K., Marc S., Jack S., Andrew B., George D., Matt B., Blake J., Ricky S., and Andrew G.

Each team played at least five games with two halves lasting 12 minutes each. The winner of each game received three points, the loser received zero points, and a tie resulted in one point.

In game one the Falcons faced off against Forest City. About three minutes into the first half Falcon defender Marc chipped the ball up to his teammate Yves; Yves leaped into the air and headed the ball into the net. The Falcons had won their first game with a with a 1-0 shutout.

Yves went on to win the MVP of the tournament. “It was a great privilege to participate in the soccer tournament,” said Yves after the game. “I was amazed when I found out that I won the MVP award. If it wasn’t for my teammates, this would never of happened.”

The Falcons’ next match was against Honesdale (2). The game was a blowout. Falcon’s goalie Blake had his second shutout of the tournament; the final score was 9-0, with the Falcons receiving three more points on their scoreboard.

The Falcons played their five games, winning four and tying one. They were in second place, two points behind their archrivals, Honesdale (1).

Just before the championship game there was a shootout. Every player from every team, including the goalie, was able to participate.

It came down to the final two Falcon players, Blake and Marc. One shot after the other; they didn’t miss. Finally, with some adjustments to the position of the kick, Blake won the shootout. “I was proud of myself and my teammate Marc that we were the top two people left in the shoot-out. I’m sorry Marc: I had to take home that win,” said Blake.

Following the shootout was the championship game. Both the Falcons and Honesdale were fighting for the number one spot. With just seconds into the game, Falcon forward Ricky S. stole the ball from his opponent. While dribbling the ball down the field, Ricky faked left and went right. Only ten feet from the net he wound up and ripped a shot to the top left corner of the net. Goal!

The Falcons went on to win the championship game 3-0.

“It was an unexpected chance to reunite the team from last year and play competitive soccer. We took off right where we ended last year and won the tournament,” said Williamson. “After the tournament, the directors told me that the Falcons had the best display of sportsmanship and respect for the game.”

Tap, tap, taparoo ... Nash B. sinks a putt for birdie on hole 14 which puts his team ahead by a stroke.

Falcons Golf Season Comes to an End with a Win and is Topped Off with a Celebration

By Bennett O.

Despite the weather, the Falcons had no trouble taking home the win against Sullivan West, 246-248.

Up by one stroke and going into the last hole, the Falcons were driven to a victory by number one golfer Fran H. who kept his composer, shooting a 46. “I am grateful that I was a part of the team,” he said. “If it wasn’t for my teammates, and coaches Willy and Woody, I wouldn’t have been able to improve my swing.”

The Falcons had defeated their arch-rival Sullivan West which was fitting due to the fact that it was their last game of the season. “Our team came together in order to achieve a goal. We had not beaten Sullivan West in a long time,” said coach Thomas Wood. “We, as a team, accomplished It!”

The team has had a terrific season with a record of eight wins and four losses. To top it off, they beat Sullivan West for the first time in at least eight years. “I am proud to be a part of the team, which has taught me a lot of things both on and off of the golf course,” said Falcon golfer Kevin D.

With the season over, coaches Willy Williamson and Woody treated their players to a fun-filled round of golf at the French Woods course. The match was a seven on seven, with coach Williamson on one team and coach Woody on the other, played in best ball format. It lasted nine holes, with both coaches showing teammates some “tricks of the trade.” A two under par performance by team Williamson was good for a onepoint victory.

“We ended the season on a good note, finishing strong, and winning our last four games,” said coach Williamson. “The climax of the season was the match against each other; this made me realize that the small things in life, like playing golf, are things to cherish.”

Family School Staff and Students Get in Shape with Beautiful Campus Runs

By Jake H.

With nothing but the rhythmic reverberation of footsteps and the gentle breeze in your face, all the distractions of life are set aside. It is just you, a quiet country road winding through the hills, and a group that shares the same desire for relaxation in motion.

With the new summer light cutting through the morning fog, the silence screams serenity. The calm energy radiating from mother nature’s beauty washes away the ache of tired legs and sore feet.

The body and mind enter a state of complete tranquility.

As the weather warms up students and staff are becoming more active. Tommy Cummings is taking students out for bright and early runs on weekdays at 5 a.m. and weekends at 6.

Other staff members, Kurt Hock and Carlton Williams, have begun running with students during the last two periods of the day.

For the morning runs, Cummings requires students to be either RAs (Residential Assistant) or interns. Hock and Williams hand select the runners for the afternoon to ensure that they will keep themselves and others accountable to the school rules while out of sight from staff.

A typical run leaves the school and follows the road down to French Woods Camp and further if the runner desires to push on. The staff that oversees the run encourages the students to keep their own pace and not to exert more than they can handle.

Students are required to run in groups of two or more for safety reasons, such as cramping or injury. Students are instructed to run along with those who can keep the same pace or to run alongside of the staff who are willing to keep whatever pace is necessary.

In addition to the run, Williams has initiated a workout for students who want more. The workout begins with jumping jacks then moves to abdominal and arm exercises. To top it off, Williams ends with as many sprints as a student would like, up a sharply inclined hill. Williams claims that his workout will get a student in shape if the student will keep up.

The path taken is endlessly undulating. The run has its ups and downs, its lefts and rights, and its flat spots where a runner receives a break from burning legs. As it continues, the runners come to a beautiful road overhung by trees like umbrellas placed on a sunny beach. The further the group carries on, the more primitive the road becomes. Eventually the pavement flows into a swath of gravel carved through the hills.

“When I reach the four mile turning point, I no longer have any worries about my life; it is just me and mother nature,” said Bennett O. Once the point is reached where one can hear water spilling over picturesque waterfalls and splash through quaint mountain streams it is time to turn back.

On the way back to the school the runners begin to realize how far they have come and how they dominated a seemingly indomitable task. The path back is just as beautiful, if not more than the first pass because seeing the length of the ground covered by the run is unbelievably satisfying. After a good six to eight mile run, one can rest assured that the day was filled to the brim with both excitement and beauty.

FFS Staff Demolish the Students in a Memorial Day Softball Game, 13-2

By Evan H.

As a warm-up game for the graduates, which is scheduled for June 24, the staff clobbered the students, 13-2.

Mann House student and former softball player Candace M. batted first. She hit the ball off staff pitcher and MVP Willy Williamson and into the outfield where staff member Jason Garnar caught it. The inning continued with Owen D. striking out and Jaci K. hitting it to left field into Scott Cole’s glove; it was a classic three up, three down inning.

The staff waited no time to put numbers on the board. With Joe Rogalovich on first base and Tommy Cummings on second, Maintenance worker Eric Anderson hit the ball onto the basketball courts, giving the staff three runs.

To begin the second inning for the students was Talbot House student Lee D. He hit the ball to shortstop Eric Anderson who threw it to Jim Kavarnos on first base but due to an error on Jim, whose foot was off the bag, Lee was safe. Then after a few batter Kayla M. was up and Lee was on second as Joey P. was on first. She hit it to the outfield near Joe Rogalovich and brought Lee and Joey home.

The staff answered back with vengeance. After Williamson and Hock scored, the bases were loaded with Missy Dunlap on third, Joe Rogalovich on second, and Tommy Cummings on first, Eric Anderson was up to the plate. Immediately, on the first pitch thrown by Kayla, Anderson clobbered the ball into the outfield making a grand slam and exceeding the five-run mercy rule. The inning ended with the score 8-2, staff.

As the students struggled to score, the staff continued to put numbers on the board. However, the number one play of the game was an out-of-bounds catch by Wilson House student Joey P. It went like this: It was the bottom of the fourth inning and Cummings was up to bat with two outs. He crushed a ball delivered by pitcher Fran H. into out-of-bounds left field, and out of nowhere Joey P. runs into the crowd and catches the ball ending the inning. “It was a wild catch,” said Mann House fan Kevin L.

“According to some students we (the old people) shouldn’t beat them, but I feel we proved that it’s not age that matters; it’s ability. Our abilities proved we can win and showed the graduates what they are in for,” said Dunlap.

Risky runner ... After a wild pitch thrown by Livingston Manor pitcher, Marissa Diescher, Falcon Denise T. successfully steals home for the Falcons first and only run of the game.

In a Close 2-1 Loss Against Livingston Manor, the Falcons End the Season With a Record of 4-9

By Evan H.

One out, runners on first and third and the game tied at one in the top of the seventh inning.

Falcon pitcher Denise T. was pitching one of her best games of the year. She noticed that Wildcat Megan Edwards was standing forward in the batters box which meant that she was going to bunt.

Accordingly, Denise decided to throw a fastball down the middle in hopes that the ball would go right back to her. The logic made sense, however, things didn’t work out as expected. The pitch was thrown and just as Denise predicted Edwards bunted it, but the ball landed closer to home plate than the pitching mound.

Falcon catcher Kayla M. pounced on the ball and called off Denise. “I made a mistake. I was confused as to whether or not to throw to first or third base, so I threw it to first base because it was my first instinct,” said Kayla.

Emily Casey broke from second and rounded third base and just made it to home plate to give her team the go-ahead run of the game.

With a chance to come back in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Falcons were doing all that they could to capitalize. “At that point in the game, most, if not all of us were saying prayers and giving each other words of  encouragement,” said third baseman Candace M.

Diescher delivered a three up, three down strikeout inning that ended the game, 2-1.

“Although we lost, I felt that we played as a team, and I am satisfied with ending the season that way,” said Denise.

Fellowship of the disc ... After much competition and laughs, Family School and Wallenpauge Ultimate players spend some time getting to know each other.

FFS Ultimate Frisbee Team Faces Off With the Wallenpaupack High School Team

By Jake H.

At The Family Foundation School Frisbee has always been a game for the weekends and spare time, but now the sport has become official.

Dawn Finlay, math teacher and department chair, persuaded FFS administration to officially recognize Frisbee as an FFS sport.

On Sunday, May 9, Finlay convinced her son, Steve, and daughter, Brandy, to round up members of the Wallenpaupack High School Ultimate Frisbee team and travel to Hancock to face off against FFS.

The first match was FFS against the Wallenpaupack team and was fought gallantly. FFS was considered the underdog due to lack of experience of strategic play, but they made up for it with heart.

Some players knew that the right attitude towards the match was the key to having an enjoyable game. “I didn’t go in with any expectations of winning and ended up having a lot of fun,” said Dave K., an FFS Ultimate player.

The game was a chance for FFS players to prove themselves to an outside team and to FFS coaches. It was also an opportunity for the team to gain a greater understanding of the official rules of the game.

Eventually, the game began to slow down and the score, along with competitiveness, was lost between the teams and it became a game for kicks. “The game was relaxed, but we still played hard and had a great time,” said Ross A. “It was fun to play with pride aside and just have fun with fellow players,” said Matt B. No longer did the teams consider themselves opposites, but one group working for the sole purpose of having fun in the Sunday sun.

The FFS Ultimate Frisbee Team is scheduled to meet and practice every first Sunday of the month. The team plans to travel to surrounding high schools to compete in matches against other official teams and the team hopes to become known in the surrounding area. “We had a good game,” said Willy Williamson, FFS Ultimate coach. “It was good for our students to see other players come and play at the school, and it was a good lesson for everyone on the team.”

Getting some air ... Students Matt B. and Ted W. kickflip as faculty advisor Willy Williamson supervises and learns more about the sport.

After Much Discussion and Convincing from the Students, FFS Has Decided to Allow Skateboarding, but with Certain Stipulations

By Evan H.

It is a common notion that skate­boarders are anti-authoritarian. This negative connotation hinders them as well as the sport. Many people even refuse to acknowl­edge skateboarding as an official sport, even though the number of participants has greatly increased in the past few years.

On April 8, Family Foundation School family leaders met for their monthly meeting to discuss the topic of skateboarding for a second time. They resolved to allow skateboarding so long as the students meet the “skating requirements.”

Students need to demonstrate the spirit of excellence, both academically and behaviorally and uphold the skating requirements for new skaters in the program.

According to FFS President Mike Argiros, the family leaders came to the decision to allow skateboarding because, “[FFS] has always been open to try and find creative ways to have fun while still upholding principles.”

He went on to say, “People have different attractions and if skateboarding is one of them, then I am all for that as long as they can continue to be responsible and follow the skating requirements.

Behind The Scenes

Since 1999, FFS family lead­ers have met monthly to discuss issues and create ways to improve the school. On Thursday, March 11, for the first time in FFS his­tory, students were invited to the meeting to explain the logistics and details of how skateboarding would be a success at FFS.

After their presentation, Dave M., Ted W., and Will H., who were accompanied by faculty advisor Willie Wil­liamson, listened to the concerns that the family leaders had about skateboarding. The concerns cen­tered on the students’ maturity-level and their ability to handle the “old image” temptation that many of them gave into in the past. “It can be deduced from our previous experience that skateboarding, unlike soccer, focuses greatly on self-defined expression,” said Ted. “My goal is to disassociate the negativity from the individual and make skateboarding positive.”

The family leaders gave the three students a month to demon­strate their maturity level to the school. They passed the test and, accordingly, for the first time in Family School history, skateboard­ing will not only be allowed but encouraged.

“I look forward to learning more about skateboarding and working with the students to make this program successful so it can benefit kids in the future,” said Williamson.

Go deep ... Student Ted W. launches the Frisbee to his teammate.

As Spring Springs, Frisbees Fly at FFS

By Jake H.

This year at The Family Foundation School the school has seen a surge in flying Frisbees. From the time the last bell rings on Friday until dinner is called on Sunday evening, the colorful discs can be seen soaring over the campus in every direction.

As a result of spring coming early students at FFS have already begun to take to the outdoors and dust off their Frisbee skills. Frisbee seems to take over during spring and summer as the preferred pastime, and this year is no exception. “It’s fun to see all of the people get into playing,” said Sarah B. “I think it’s cool to feel the excitement of the players.”

Every year the school hosts an Ultimate Frisbee tournament for students at the school who want to test their skills against each other. This year the top team, comprised of the school’s “top players,” is going to be challenged by an up-and-coming team. The challengers have not yet fully disclosed their members or strategy, but they’re ready to give the standing team a run for their money. “I think they are in for a surprise,” said Ross A., a member of the underdogs. “This may turn out like the 2008 Super Bowl and we’re the Giants.”

Less passionate types just play for fun on the weekends and spare time during the week. It is an enjoyable pastime in which two friends can grab a disc and relax in the spring sun. Some students use the time to talk about their program with a junior sponsor, fellow student, or even a staff that knows how to play.