1. Words from Our Students to Home Schools “Point out if you believe a student is using and try to talk to them about it.” “My Guidance Counselor helped me the most at my home school.” “I went under the radar for a long time. I would use in school and on school property. It wasn’t pretty. There was one Social Worker who helped me out when I got caught.” “Be open to dealing with addiction. Maybe help them find help (treatment, counseling, therapy, etc.). Help support them and act upon rumors. Look into it.” “My Social Worker who was educated in recovery helped me the most at my home school. They really talked to me when he caught me and he acted correctly on that.” “The biggest disservice to me at my home school was being suspended and getting a sports suspension because I shouldn’t have had consequences for being addicted.” “I want to tell my home school that I’m sorry for my behaviors, but it really wasn’t my fault. To best support us and treat us is to listen to us and just love us and offer the support.” “The biggest disservice to me at my home school was enabling my not going to class or coming to school, and not sending me work when I was in treatment.” “Kids who are in active addiction are hurt! They need help with school and their home life. Tell them detox isn’t bad and recovery high schools are the best schools I have ever been to.” “The School Officer was the biggest disservice to me at my home school.” “Being kicked out of my home school was a disservice to me.” “Quick judgments and being treated like a criminal was the biggest disservice to me at my home school.” “Discipline doesn’t work when it comes to addiction.” “I was high the whole time at my home school. Teachers and counselors should learn the signs of how to spot an actively using student.” “No one understood what I was going through at my home school. I would tell them that suspending students and yelling at them doesn’t change them, it only gives them another excuse to use drugs and alcohol.” “Don’t get mad at us, just try to help us and be understanding.” “Being an addict doesn’t mean we’re bad people or any less people than sober students. I struggled at my home school due to my using and I thank all who helped me, reassure students like us, me, that you are there to help and eventually they will take it, slowly though.” “I was declining physically, academically, and I was doing many stupid things, and none of the staff seemed to notice and/or care. Look for the student(s) that are struggling the most. Talk to them and support them, not discipline them.” “Being ignored was the biggest disservice to me.”

2. What Our Students Consider to be Their Biggest Accomplishments Since Starting at Recovery High School Going back to school. Getting clean. Staying motivated. Being sober. Going into treatment willingly. Applying to college. Having almost a year of continuous sobriety. Being able to walk through fears. Getting my license. Coaching basketball. Getting a job. Getting my family back. Being happy. Honor Roll. Finding good people. Looking forward to the future. No grade lower than a B. I care about my life. Focus on life. On track for a diploma. Increased self-esteem. Survival skills. Being the student I should’ve always been. Enlisted in the Army. A clear head. Changing behavior. Noticing life. More positive. Feel smarter and more hopeful. Getting opportunities. Getting trust back. Having a life.