The Family Times March 2009 Archive
The issue of natural gas drilling that has been raging in Upstate New York has caught the eye of the citizens of New York City. On March 18, the Manhattan Community Board No. 2 of New York City held a public hearing and unanimously called for …
The audience was full of laughs and giggles as the Family Players hit the stage on both March 20 and March 21. Chagrin d’Amour (the embarrassments of love) was the title of the performance chosen and directed by …
The results are in. The village of Hancock now welcomes Celia Vazquez as their new mayor. Bill Schoonmaker and Dottie Picozzi were also elected as trustees. Vazquez, who is not a native of the village, said, “I have to thank the village for …
As the clock struck 12, the funds were closed at over $1.6 million for the “Shoulder to Shoulder” Lourdes Clinic fundraising campaign headed by Robert Wrighter. Wrighter, owner of the Hancock Telephone Company, said the official tally will …
Whether it was making plans to hang out with friends or committing to my parents that I would not skip school again, I was always making commitments that I planned on keeping, but they didn’t always happen. According to The American …
Thirty minutes left… fifteen minutes left… five minutes left… time… the raise of a student’s hand, “I didn’t finish,” and the generic response from the teacher, “better luck next time.” Every child in the United States has experienced …
All Work and No Play for Girls
Recently I’ve been talking to my parents about my options for college. Although this is a very exciting time in my life, I can’t help but think about the millions of children, especially girls, to whom college is only a distant dream. How much …
Father Chris Welch, the new pastor at St. Paul’s Church in Hancock, N.Y., was elated to assume his position at the parish. Father Welch who came from Schuylerville, N.Y., was brought up as a Catholic and was inspired to become a …
A Letter From Across the Ocean
During our recent Christmas leave period, I received several cards and letters from The Family School addressed to soldiers sending them holiday greetings while they were away from home. This was a wonderful and very welcomed surprise and …
While it is true that students change at The Family Foundation School, change is also true for those who come on as staff. I’m in my fifteenth year as a chaplain here. That’s half of my priesthood. I’ve done parish work, taught in …
In March, the administrators raised the school’s awareness level of the “Back to Basics” theme for 2009 in little ways by restarting the old late card system, making sure students are keeping their lockers tidy, and enforcing the dress code.
Have you ever read a fairy tale and wished that something like that could happen to you? Family Foundation School staff member, Joan Parham, has reunited with her high school sweetheart in her own real-life fairytale. Parham met her …
FFS Debaters Take First At Districts
Family Foundation School debaters finished the season strong, taking first place at the Iroquois District Tournament in Oneonta, N.Y. on March 13-14. Four teams were entered in Public Forum Debate: Nat L. and Sam B., Philip D. and …
With only seven hours left before turning 18 years old, Troop 174’s Sean M. completed his Eagle Scout project at the Hancock Police Department on Sunday, March 1. Sean has been in the Boy Scouts since sixth grade. He was …
MySpace is one of the most popular websites in America, and teens are a big part of its success. It is a social networking site used to create profiles where you can show your favorite songs or post your favorite pictures and speak to your friends …
After many years of having a cottage in northeast Pennsylvania, Dr. Myrl Manley, M.D. looked around for a job in the surrounding area. An ad for a school doctor in Hancock, N.Y. caught his attention. “I was very interested to see what the …
Mathematicians Put to the Test
Ten people, two teams, one math problem. For the first time ever, The Family Foundation School competed in Moody’s Mega Math Challenge on March 8 in the FFS library. Andrew A., Sam B., Andrew E., Luke V., and Andrew S. made up …
Definition of the word friend as found in Webster’s Dictionary is “a person whom one knows well and is fond of.” I would like to tell you about my friend Jan Cheripko. It started 47 years ago. I grew up in a very rural area of New York …
Rabbi Brings Family School Prayers to Jerusalem
During the last week of February 2009, I had the privilege of attending a rabbinic conference in the holy city of Jerusalem, in Israel. There is no other city like it in the world, containing holy sites of the three main religions: Judaism …
Extracurricular Activities Galore
Extracurricular Activities at The Family Foundation School. The Family Foundation School offers a variety of interscholastic sports, including soccer, basketball, cheerleading, golf, and softball. Requirements for students include passing …
Family One had a lot of fun on and off campus this month. Family One went on their Cabin Fever Trip on March 28. Originally they were going roller skating and laser tagging, but the trip was rescheduled so the kids could go bowling, watch …
“It was a pretty quiet month” reported Sergio B., about the events in Family Two. Aside from the family’s “cabin fever trip” and the new coat of paint that Scott M. gave the family, all else has been quiet. The family has been …
Family Three has seen a few changes in the month of March. With the arrival of Lexi S. from Family One, the visit of Sheila B. from Family Four, and the departure of Angela O., the family is going through many adjustments. Lexi came to …
Family Four started the month of March anticipating a fun-filled cabin fever trip on the last weekend of the month. America Restaino, a staff member in Family Four, had been on leave since the beginning of February …
Family Five has been getting along better since their trip to Binghamton, rollerskating, laser-taging, and eating at the Great China Buffet. Caitlin R. said, “The newer students have been welcomed with a more comfortable …
This month Family Six, is continuing to grow. Family Six finally moved back into their family quarters. It had been under reconstruction since January. Family Leader Thomas “Woody” Wood explained “The new family is beautiful.”
This month in Family Seven, Austin C., Dave M., Brendan O., and Nick P. have earned shadowing after losing the privilege due to a struggle that they had in which they weren’t helping others. Nat L. has received an anchor, giving him the …
During this month all of the families had the opportunity to leave campus, enjoy an activity, and go out for dinner. There have been different choices made by each family, and all the students and staff that went had fun. They bonded with …
“Life is completely different than I expected,” said Matt T., who graduated from The Family Foundation School in December 2007. Matt was in Family Six. At 20 years old, Matt is living a great life. He attends classes at Lackawanna College and is …
Melissa T. paid a visit to The Family Foundation School on Family Day, Saturday March 21. Melissa stopped by to watch the Family Players perform and to reminisce with old friends about the good times they had at the school. “Life is …
Chris B. returned for a visit on Family Day, Saturday March 21. He was in Family Three. He has his own apartment that he shares with a sober friend. He attends classes at Brookdale Community College, and he also works on campus as …
Caitlin F. is a former student from Family Six who graduated in December 2008. Caitlin returned to The Family Foundation School for Family Day on Saturday March 21 to see the play and to catch up with old friends. She is doing well and is …
“Get connected right away,” said December 2008 alumnus Andre G. He was back for one day and it felt overwhelming for him at first, but as he got back into the groove, he felt as though he was back from a home visit. Andre is attending …
Just three months ago Eric K. was a work-study student coming up on graduation. He is now at college surviving the world at large. He said that “leaving is no big thing; you just have to do what’s right.” He did struggle with …
Chris S. looked vibrant on his return to The Family Foundation School on March 20. He is attending SUNY Fredonia as a psychology major, with a minor in criminal justice. He is engaged to Carmen A., but they …
Patrick P. visited The Family Foundation School in early March to spend the day with Family One and friends that are still at the school. Patrick graduated from FFS in December 2008. Since leaving he has connected with activities and people that help …
Life is a beautiful thing, and before I came to The Family Foundation School in February of 2007, I was wasting it on a daily basis. The lifestyle of addiction was draining me emotionally, physically, and mentally; but I thought I was having …
Family Foundation School staff member Jason Garnar led his team to another victory this year in the four-on-four March Madness basketball tournament held at The Family School on March 29. He overpowered Christian H.’s team in the …
The Chapel Field Lions beat the Family Falcons 55-33 in Section IX playoffs, held at The Family Foundation School on March 3, 2009. Both teams played short on players due to suspensions. The Falcons lost five players in the two weeks prior to the …
The Family Foundation School Falcons had their first scrimmage against the Hancock Wildcats on Friday, March 27, at the Greater Binghamton Sports Complex in Binghamton, N.Y. The Lady Falcons played hard but lost 19-0 to the Wildcats.
Alumni News
Hancock Fall Festival
