The Family Times December-January 2009 Archive
A ragtime piano tune was playing while photos depicting Hancock over the past hundred years were projected onto a screen. This was the scene preceding Alan Sorenson’s presentation of the Hancock Economic and …
FFS Approved By Joint Commission
The Family Foundation School has undergone many changes since its creation. In an effort to continue the progress, FFS administrators wanted an outside opinion on what could be done to improve the school. On October 22, 2008, two …
An ideal of teenage life is to look “cool” to your peers. Whether it’s wearing no belt so your pants can sag, wearing your hat backwards, or smoking cigarettes, teenagers take every chance they get to be seen as “with it.” Although teenagers often …
This past summer I found myself sitting on the porch of my new home, the sun bombarding my face and generating feelings of tranquility, sparking within myself an unfamiliar curiosity, and causing me to contemplate philosophies that once …
As I sit down to write my first column, I have so many thoughts about what I could or should say. Before I was named co-editor of The Family Times, I would think about what I would write for this column if I ever got the job. I would spend time …
Is upstate New York getting colder? New York is known for its rugged winters, is this a particularly tough one or have we been spoiled by global warming? Every morning seems to be the same scene; temperatures far below freezing and …
FFS Troop Leader Receives Award
After three years as a scoutmaster for The Family Foundation School Troop #174, Bruce Hutchison’s hard work has paid off. On January 14, Hutchison was presented with the Foothills District Scoutmaster of the Year award. The news surprised …
In the months of December and January The Family Foundation School welcomed 21 new families (7 families in December and 14 families in January). Jeff Brain, Vice President of External Affairs and Acting Director of Admissions, …
Since their arrival at The Family Foundation School in 2005, Pete and Caren Jacques have certainly been busy. From fly-fishing class, to the Shepherds Knitting Circle, to leading Family Five, the Jacques have changed their own lives, and the lives …
FFS Introduces New Laundry Supervisor
Once Natalaya Kuchukov stepped down from her position as supervisor of laundry at The Family Foundation School to begin teaching Russian, her post needed to be filled by someone who had as much love for the students and the job as …
Venture Crew troop #174 has reconvened on January 11, for the first time since graduation. The first order of business was to elect new officials. With the exception of treasurer, all of the positions needed to be filled. Under the guidance of …
Out With the Old, In With the New
No more boxes, extra shipping fees, and no more hassles! The Family Foundation School is moving from old-fashioned to high tech with its new online school store! Parents will now be able to shop online for their kids and purchase items …
Many people remember vivid recollections of a playpen or a tree-house or learning how to ride a bike when they think back on their childhood. I step into a completely different world when I dream about my childhood. It is a very real place …
The First Time Brushing My Hair Sober
A bad night, with a worse hangover, and the only thing on my mind was remorse. Sitting on my parents’ bed with my bloodshot eyes, my mother brushed my hair for me. Incapable of doing anything myself, I did not care about what I did or …
Family Foundation School Catholic students wake at sunrise on Saturday mornings to attend Mass and worship the Virgin Mary. Father Stephen Morris, FFS Catholic spiritual leader and Dean of Students, proposed a 7:15 Mass on Saturday mornings to …
Sunday, January 11, was the post-Christmas Feast of the Lord’s Baptism in the River Jordan. The day before, the young men pictured in Altar Forged of Snowspent hours in the cold creating a snow-altar so we could celebrate outdoors (Russian …
Family Foundation School students danced away 2008 and welcomed 2009 with outstretched hands at the New Year’s Eve dance. The students walked into the gymnasium-turned-dancehall at 9 p.m. and kicked off the dance. The music …
The gym was filled with laughter as Family Foundation School students displayed their acting abilities on stage on January 1. One of the more important events of the Winter Break for the students at The Family Foundation School is …
Binghamton University welcomed Family Foundation School students to their field house during the break. The students spent the afternoon playing basketball, running laps, and swimming in the University’s Olympic-size pool.
Family Foundation School students freshened up their bowling skills at Fox Lanes Bowling in Hancock. The experience helped students get together and have fun playing a few simple rounds of bowling. When the students arrived, they …
There’s been a lot of change in Family One. They have a number of new students, but they stick close to basic AA. “Family One is very happy to have the new students from other families,” said family leader Robin Ducey said about …
At the start of the New Year, Family Two is already on it’s way to the top. With new students, new staff and new responsibilities the family has been engaging with each other. Ted W., Demetri S., Erika C., and Nadine N. are Family Eight students who …
The months of December and January were big months for Family Three. Family Three received ten students and staff from Family Eight, in the recent re-arrangement of the school. The students and staff that joined …
Family Four has gone through a lot of changes going into 2009. The family said goodbye to Miranda B., Steven B., Dave F., Eric G., and Sarah K. who all graduated from The Family Foundation School in December. Family Four was sad to …
The notorious Family Five leaders Pete and Caren Jacques are working harder than ever around the Family Foundation School. The Jacques formed a knitting club called “the Shepard’s knitting circle”. The point of the …
Tom “Woody” Wood and Christine Speicher, both highly respected family leaders at The Family Foundation School, have been dealing with many dramatic changes around Family Six. Through all of these changes, the Family Six staff …
Family Seven is adjusting to change well. With the departure of Nanci Newcomb and the December graduates, the family has seen many obstacles in keeping it together. Luckily, there are many members of the family who are stepping up. These …
Katelyn R. has been living a successful and spiritual life since her graduation in June 2004. Katelyn came to upstate New York area to enjoy a dinner with Father Stephen Morris, who was her spiritual mentor while at the school. Currently …
When Julian B. first left The Family Foundation School he went back home to Miami where he worked for Wachovia Securities as an intern along with taking night courses at the local community college. While Julian was living in Miami he …
“I love it here, this is where my life changed,” said Rick W., a December ’02 graduate. Rick attended The Family Foundation School for two years and came back to visit. During his visit he watched the Winter Performance, ate lunch in his …
Steve B. is enjoying his life since after The Family Foundation School. In fact, since he left he’s adopted a new catchphrase to describe it, “Bah-dah-bop-bop-bah, I’m lovin’ it.” Steve has been living at the Recovery House at …
Ryan W. does not live the “boring” lifestyle that most Family Foundation School students fear. “My life is still spontaneous, fun, and eventful,” said Ryan. He attends school full time at Suffolk Community College. He works for his father on …
Dontis W. returned the weekend of January 24 to visit his friends and family at The Family Foundation School. He has been living at home and on Monday, January 26, he started school at New York City Tech, where he is pursuing his interest in …
Recently, Emily W. spent the weekend in Hancock with two other alumni. On her visit back to the school she spoke with staff members Chris Stein, Mike and Rita Argiros and Sid Parham. She and the other alumni enjoyed the Winter …
Vicky K. returned the weekend of January 24. Sporting a bright smile and an air of confidence, she was welcomed with opened arms back into The Family Foundation School. She has been living in her college dorm at Pace University, where she …
Matt S., a program graduate of December 2007, has since graduated from high school and is now attending college for business. Matt commented that his life is glorious because he practices absolute honesty as a principle that he learned here and …
Claire M. is attending George Mason University for business. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her dad, and says that her life is wonderful. Claire said that her relationship with her dad is great, and admits that she’s a …
Competing in a four-team tournament with the Downsville Eagles and the Afton Knights in Downsville, N.Y., the Family Foundation School Falcons brought home the first place trophy. On December 29 and 30, the Falcons added two wins …
FFS Athletic Director Receives Award
After being the athletic director for twelve years at The Family Foundation School, Bill Musgrove was named the Section IX winner of the 2008/2009 New York State Athletic Administrator Award. The annual award is given to an outstanding …
In one of the best games of their season, the Lady Falcons scored 29 points against the Roscoe Blue Devils’ 53 in an aggressive match at Roscoe, N.Y. on January 23. The Falcons scored more points in the game than any other this year. The Falcons went …
There were three seconds left on the clock when Falcons’ center, Khalfani M., took an inbound pass and sank it for a 55-53 over Varsity Livingston Manor. Khalfani had 19 rebounds and a total of 17 points. “It was one of the happiest …
Alumni News
Shopping for the Christmas Spirit
