September 11 this year dawned as clear and blue as the original day. The Bridge Way School students had the opportunity to attend a memorial service to commemorate the day at the Schuylkill River Trail. They observed many people come together, “…people who wouldn’t normally get along. It was kind of cool to band together…” said Trevor. Until the memorial service that day, Bree had avoided seeing the images. “It was upsetting and sad,” she said. Matt thoughtfully summed up the students impressions of the memorial. “It brought the country together. Every 9/11 we come together .”

The White House Visits

On Friday September 21st, TBWS hosted a symposium entitled, “How Should we Support Adolescents in Recovery?” David Mineta, Deputy Director of the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy, was the keynote speaker at this event attended by over 50 represent-atives of state and city offices, including Secretary Gary Tennis and Deputy Secretary Kim Bowman of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for the state of Pennsylvania, as well as many area treatment providers.

Senior student Matt W. spoke about the need for a recovery high school. “I stopped going to my old high school because it triggered me. Without Bridge Way–a school where there are other kids working to be sober and going through the same thing as me-I was a drop-out. And now I’m graduating a year early.”

Other speakers included Roger Oser, principle of William J. Ostiguy High School, a recovery school in Boston; Kathy Meyers, senior research scientist with the Treatment Research Institute; Mary Doherty, Director of Community Services Division at CORA Services; and Lucia Williams, Director of Development and Planning at Shalom, Inc.

Welcome New Staff members

Victoria Guidi is our Special Education Coordinator, a newly created position at the School. In addition she will be our Language Arts instructor. She joins us most recently from the American School in San Salvador. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education. Please join us in welcoming her.

GPARE Welcomes Two New Board Members

Mike Blanche has been a clinician for adolescents and their families for over 15 years. He is currently in private practice in the West Chester area.

Pamela Roberts is one of the founding members of the Caron Parent Group and is active in the New Leaf organization. She is employed by Pfizer.

Students Visit NYC!

In early October, the students had the opportunity to visit New York City to attend a film festival sponsored by Writers in Treatment. The Reel Recovery Film Festival was a multi-day event celebrating recovery.

While the students were initially disappointed in not being able to see a live performance of “Pass It On” due to the illness of one of the actors, the film they watched instead was a pleasant surprise. Unguarded, an ESPN documentary, tells the harrowing tale of Chris Herren, a young basketball star’s fall from grace: from bright promise to heroin addiction through his college and then professional career in his hometown of Boston.

The students all agreed what a terrific film and story it was. As they were getting ready to head home, they bumped into Chris Herren himself! They had a lovely conversation in which Chris mentioned his Project Recovery work and took the time to have this photo, too!

Al-Anon Meeting Starts at TBWS

A new Al-Anon meeting, designed for parents led by parents, has started here at TBWS. Meetings are held every Tuesday on the 2nd floor of Mishkan Shalom, 4101 Freeland Ave, Manayunk. Your support of our new group is greatly appreciated! Hope to see you here.

Additional Parent Resources

Caron Parent Meetings

When: Mondays and Thursdays (Newcomers)
Time: 7-8:30pm
Where: Plymouth Meeting
Interchange Corporate Ctr.
450 Plymouth Rd., Suite 301.
For more information: Contact jhoner@caron.org, 800.678.2332 x6156

Parent-Facilitated Group at New Leaf

When: Wednesdays
Time: 7 – 8:30 pm
Where: 1225 Montrose Ave., Rosemont
For more information: Contact Pam Roberts at pamela.h.roberts@gmail.com

How you can help

Tuition covers approximately 70% of program costs at The Bridge Way School.

Breaking News

Are you with a business that is looking for a BIG tax benefit that will also help future students at TBWS?

Bridge Way just received word that we have been approved as a participating school in the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit fund. This fund allows businesses to donate up to $400,000 in scholarship funds to our school, and in return they will get a 75% tax credit, a 90% tax credit if a business commits for two years.

Please contact Rebecca Bonner, Head of School for more information.

Aaron Moselle writing for NewsWorks movingly interviewed Bridge Way graduates, while photographer Bas Slabbers snapped intimate portraits of students and teachers.

Bridge Way music students performed in their first public concert at Westgate Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing Center under the able direction of teacher Tom Hank.

Rebecca will receive the Brian H. Early Community Leadership Award for her efforts on behalf of young people in recovery and for raising public awareness of youth drug addiction.

Sam talks candidly with students about what it’s like to be sober attending a small recovery school and interviews Head of School Rebecca Bonner about the history and opening of the school.