New Film Class at The Family Foundation School

By Roderick O.

To help those fascinated in investigating the historical values of film, Natalya K. and Ian F. have provided a film class this semester. By starting the class, they wish to convey two messages to their students. The first one being, how film has developed into what it is today. The second one is to express the importance of the message of each film.

Getting an extra large-bucket of warm, buttered popcorn, a tall, fizzing cup of soda and sitting down with my eyes glued to a movie screen is something I love doing when I am bored. However, I forget to realize there are hundreds of years of history behind how these films came to be.

The film class is an extracurricular class and is an art credit. The art-credited class has attracted a diverse range of students around the school. Not only are the students coming together on common ground, but they are also building character by helping each other learn things about themselves through the film. This is what I believe to be the main goal of the class.

Both Ian and Natalya are both extremely talented and passionate for the class. Ian being quite savvy with technology helps the students learn how to handle the equipment properly. Natalya having tremendous passion for the history of film adds her own unique style of teaching.

By watching certain documentaries Natalya says, “It helps kids realize the extent of what they were doing before they got to the school. I want them to realize they have a perfect opportunity in front of them to redefine their lives.” Before my interview with Ian and Natalya, I thought all the class did was watch movies. I now realize that Ian and Natalya go above and beyond to help the kids understand the history behind film making while adding in pinch of program.

We believe that a strong work ethic is essential for student growth. 

Succeeding in school, at a job, in a relationship, or at anything else in life has less to do with talent or luck than it does with good old-fashioned hard work. A strong work ethic is in fact the number one precursor to success. “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration,” said Thomas Edison. We believe that the greatest gift we can give young people is to help them develop the discipline, patience and persistence it takes to complete a task; to help those who dream big to fall in love with the process of work.

The kind of diligence that leads to achievement requires a willingness to endure disappointment, failure, fear, and pain without quitting. To tackle and stick with the “un-fun” parts of the process, the parts that are boring, frustrating, distasteful, and even humbling, until the job is done. Success is indeed sweet when we’ve worked hard to achieve it. But an even bigger benefit of a strong work ethic, of working hard and long to accomplish something we didn’t believe was possible to accomplish, is the confidence and self-esteem it builds.

We believe one way that knowledge and wisdom may be gained is through respectful, sincere, and rational conversation.

The therapeutic environment of The Family Foundation School offers students many healthy ways to learn, change, and grow. One of the most effective, in the 12-Step tradition, involves simple conversation. Conversing with others, telling stories and exchanging ideas can help a troubled teen work through his or her struggles by acquiring new information, knowledge and understanding. That’s the beginning of wisdom.

Each student here has a 12-Step sponsor whose job it is to listen, to ask questions, to guide the student’s observation and reflections, and to share his or her own experience, strength and hope. In conversing with sponsors, students learn about trust, openness and respect, and how conversations can both inspire and heal. They learn to speak what is on their minds and in their hearts, and to listen to what others have to say without judging or criticizing. The goal of such exchanges is not always to arrive at a specific answer or solution, but to experience “aha!” moments. To make connections, explore assumptions and generate ideas that can add to their store of knowledge and perhaps open the door to real wisdom.

By Roderick O.

People come and go; the world keeps turning, but memories stay with you forever. This past weekend I witnessed some of my best friends graduate from the Family School. January 14, 2012 graduation left me close to tears and overwhelmed with joy.

The Baccalaureate Ceremony on January 13 allowed the schools ministers to bless the departing students and wish them luck with whatever they choose to do in life. Hymns were followed by scripture readings and scripture readings were topped off by personal experiences by the pastors with the graduates.

This is the third graduation I’ve witnessed at the school and by far the most emotional. Over the past 13 months I have grown with these people and have shared lifelong memories with them. It was hard watching them leave, not only for me but for the entire school because of the enormous amount of support the graduates have provided, but I believe they are in God’s hand now and may his will be done. My friend, Kevin Savage, told me when I was saying bye to him, “it’s not good-bye forever, it’s more like I’ll see you later.”

Opening clip of January 2012 Graduation from The Family Foundation School on Vimeo.

Dr. Gerald Janauer

January 2012 Graduation Speech

The time has come, once again, for us to bid farewell to our graduating seniors.  Another senior class is ready to depart, waiting to pack their belongings and go home.  Wow, that sounds very simple – and very final.

As we all know, however, nothing was simple for these young adults that you see before you this morning.  The path each of these students has taken was long and tortuous.  Parents will clearly remember the fear, anguish and a desperate search for help.  Students will remember crazy days and crazy nights and the terrible rift that existed between them and their families.  Today, these same young people have reached a milestone of accomplishment that most young men and women of their age would find difficult to understand.

All of our students that are sitting before you on the stage have earned an academic diploma, but graduation from The Family Foundation School means much more than the New York State Regents Diploma that these students are about to receive.  Graduation from The Family Foundation School means that these young men and women have worked hard to exemplify the program principles of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and have practiced these principles in their daily lives at the school, as well as when they were away with their families and on home visits.  Graduation from The Family Foundation School means that these young men and women have shown a willingness to be honest in all of their affairs, and to be of service to others as they grew to trust God as they understood Him.  Graduation from The Family Foundation School required firm faith on the part of students as well as parents.  The level of work that our students and their families have invested in this graduation is extraordinary – regular high school students cannot boast of this achievement.

So – graduation from FFS is not simple.  Nor is it final.  Many of our students still have a long road ahead.  There will be temptation, there will be trials, and there may be slips.  Our students have gained the tools to overcome difficulties in their lives.  These tools are there whenever they need to reach for them.  Indeed, our students have also gained a new extended family – The Family Foundation School teachers, staff, and their fellow students.  Many of our students cherish their memories at FFS and keep in touch with other alumni as well as with us.  We are always glad to hear from our students and love to see them return to our campus.  Even today, we have alumni that are here to support our graduates – another form of service. Graduates, we are looking forward to seeing you again in these halls.  Please, do not be strangers, give us a call, pay us a visit!

And, as you leave here today, remember what Dr. Seuss once said:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the one who’ll decide where to go.”

Yes, graduates, as Dr. Suess says, you WILL decide, but please do not forget the role that God plays in your life.  Congratulations, and may God be with you!

We believe that when at-risk youth repair relationships with parents and sibling they will find happiness and success.

While it is true that we can choose our friends but not our family, it’s also true that friends will come and go, but family is the one constant in our lives. Strong family bonds are a refuge, a safe harbor, an assurance that someone’s always going to be there for us, to care for, comfort, and support us, whether we’re a frightened toddler or an adult facing the storms of life.

As children come into their teen years and begin to detach emotionally from their families, they often lose sight of the importance of family ties. At-risk teens can sever the bonds completely through behavior that’s destructive to themselves and to their families.

One goal of a therapeutic boarding school is to repair the broken bonds between teens and their parents and siblings. At The Family Foundation School, it’s our primary goal. We believe that family is where our roots take hold, where our spirit can either blossom or wither. It’s where we learn to believe in ourselves and trust the world around us, and where our best chances for happiness and success in life are determined. Building and maintaining strong family bonds can be difficult, but few things in life are more important.

By Ileana A.

Every New Year is a new beginning. This year is no different. Here at The Family Foundation School, new beginnings are lessons learned from mistakes we made and the decision to become a better person. On December’s last night, every student was invited to a New Year’s Eve bash to welcome 2012 with hopeful and grateful hearts.

The gym was decorated by Paul Geer, Chris Scott, and several students to look like an expensive ballroom. In fact, everyone received a ticket that guaranteed him or her admittance to this “VIP lounge.”

Each House had beautifully set tables complete with candles, weighted balloons, and a different fork for each entrée. In the middle of the floor, was a giant cupcake tower surrounded by four balloon pillars. To walk in, you would not believe that you were in the Falcons’ gym.

With Paul Geer as our host, the community participated in a murder mystery. Different people were assigned characters and alibis and others had to figure out who was murdered and “whodunit.” We also had a mini version of “So You Think You Can Dance,” a fashion show, improvisational skits, and live music played by Sean D. and Ron R. At midnight, balloons and confetti fell from the ceiling and we greeted 2012 with noisemakers and glee.

There seems to be hope and a sense of purpose in the air around here. God Bless and Happy New Year!

Winters at The Family Foundation School can be tough. However, this year it has been easy on us… so far. There is no reason to worry though, because we are always prepared. Maintenance has scheduled snow-shoveling crews. The families take turns shoveling snow early in the mornings for two weeks and then rotate crews. Maintenance also makes sure to salt the walkways so that the chances of students or staff members slipping are lessened.

All of this coordinating and physical labor is tiring, but maintenance work-study, Raymond V., says, “I don’t mind snow-shoveling because I like doing my best to ensure that my friends and family are safe.” Ray is on call to help salt and shovel during the day in case of heavy and dangerous snowfall.