Letter to Parents

This letter was written by a grateful parent to other parents who were considering Serento Academy for their child. It's one of the reasons we've pledged to bring it back. It says much about the despair of parents who love their children, but feel powerless in the face of the drug addiction that is slowly killing them.

Dear Parent;

    I'd like to take a moment to tell you a little bit about how drugs, alcohol and a school system ill equipped to deal with children and addiction problems nearly destroyed my son's life. Ours is a story of hope.

    My son is fourteen. He began experimenting with drugs and alcohol at age eleven. By the time he reached the eighth grade, his addiction was causing many problems at school His grades were failing, he was either depressed or angry and he was isolating from the family. I tried desperately to work along with the faculty at the school he attended. They were uneducated as to how to help my child cope with the stress, frustration and addiction problems he was going through. I disagreed with the method of intimidation, humiliation and punishment that the staff utilized. This approach caused his self-esteem to plummet.

    He was willingly admitted to a drug and alcohol in-patient facility and completed the thirty day program there. This child had found recovery. He became willing to change. However, I sincerely doubted that this would be possible if I returned him to his former peer group or to the methods of Ateaching", and I use that term loosely, that had been applied at the school he had attended. I began searching for an appropriate alternative. The school I found gave my child a new outlook on life.

    Serento Academy is the brain child of a visionary. A man who saw the need for society to take a second look at the children who had become, "throw a ways." His name is Edward Pane, President and CEO of Serento. He decided to create an environment, along with a staff that believed as he, that these children could and would thrive in an atmosphere where you gain respect by giving it. He and the staff connect with the students via praise and recognition rather than belittlement and criticism. In taking this self-esteem building stance, the faculty at this school has taught my child that he can move mountains.

    The staff is educated on the effects of alcohol and addiction. The curriculum requires students attend NA meetings and participate in group counseling. The faculty here is always ready and available to discuss my child's progress. They are open and willing to listen to ideas or concerns that I as a parent may have. The staff treats the students as individuals with potential, as opposed to children being limited by their disease of addiction. They teach the whole person.

    Serento Academy has broadened my child's view of the future. My child had once been hopeless and unable to see himself as being a success in school. Today my son is an honor student looking to further his education beyond that of high school. Serento has helped to bring about this dramatic change. I am glad I made the decision to enroll my child in Serento. It was the best thing that could have happened for us.

Gratefully yours,
Joan S.