Hole in the Wall is Rockin’ & Rollin’

There are great vibes at the GABC consignment and thrift shop Hole in the Wall. Donations and consignments of clothing, household goods, and jewelry help support the whole program.

Donations of items that can readily be sold, are gently used, clean and in good working order are accepted Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10-3 and Sundays 12-3.

To consign fall items, appointments begin August 1. Call (203) 453-2088 now to secure a consignment appointment in advance.

The shop’s general manager Patty Sullivan says farewell to a valued manager. “We’d like to wish long-time manager Joan Simonetti all the best in her retirement. Joan has been a pivotal member of our dedicated staff and will be sorely missed. One of the hardest working women we’ve had the pleasure to know. Enjoy every one of your future days doing, well... whatever you want to do! Well deserved!”

Hole in the Wall
Consignment and Thrift Shop
31 Boston St, Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 453-2088

GABC Scholars Excited about High School Life

Kyra is finding her junior year exciting! “I’m more involved in things that really interest me, especially chemistry and music,” she said with a big smile.

Kyra sings with Voices, the Guilford High School select vocal ensemble, open to students grades 10-12 by audition only. The high school website describes the ensemble as it “focuses primarily on advanced, a cappella repertoire. In addition to regular school concerts, Voices performs extensively in the community and for a wide variety of special events, particularly during the holiday season. Members of Voices also serve as musical leaders in Concert Choir.”

Kyra is also taking voice lessons from Dani Howard, who has a vocal studio and is co-owner of Breakwater Books on the Green in Guilford. Kyra has sung in choirs since the third grade and will be in Advanced Placement Music in her senior year.

Katie has found her groove in the second semester of her freshman year. “It’s exciting, even though it’s been a new environment, a contrast from my big-city home town of Bridgeport. Everyone is closer here in this small-town Guilford. Everyone knows each other, and I’ve made friends. Everyone is really nice.”

She praises Christine Dokko, her Academic Advisor. “She’s definitely helped me by introducing me to different programs and discussing what to take in the future. She’s helping me get organized for the future, and she’s really nice!” Katie’s volunteer math tutor, Amanda , “helped me do better than I expected.”

Sophomore Jazhira known as “Jazzy” is finding chemistry “really easy” because she likes science. She’s pleased to report that she’s “already doing well in classes” and enjoys shopping for clothes at the shop, Hole in the Wall. Her biggest challenge is writing, so she’s focusing on her English classes. (Dani Howard is Jazzy’s host mom and was host mom to Andrea who graduated in 2024.)

Irene is glad to feel “more comfortable” in her sophomore year. She has friends now in and out of school. “I’m in the groove, academically. I’ve found out how much time to put in and I feel more well-rounded than last year as a freshman.”

She loves having more options for classes. “I decided on chemistry instead of biology and thought it would be hard. But it’s much easier because my teacher is very patient. She breaks things down that I don’t understand.”

Irene also applauds her Academic Advisor, Judy Wright. “She’s been so helpful in finding projects and motivating me to do better.”

For Tamojah, junior year is filled with excitement in three International Baccalaureate classes: psychology, history, and Italian. She is also taking an Advanced Placement course and other courses in the regular curriculum.

“IB Psychology is a fun class, even though it’s a lot of work, but very interesting,” she said. “We study ethics and conduct experiments that involve applying theories to the real world.” She hopes to visit Italy one day. Tamojah has found her GABC tutors help keep her on track and remember to practice what she’s learned in order to retain the material.

Managing the Expanding Needs of Guilford ABC

FROM CO-PRESIDENT NANCY PATTON

Eight months into my first year as Co-President alongside Laura Berkowitz Gilbert, I am gaining a greater appreciation for the hard work— by the scholars, program staff and volunteers— that goes into making Guilford ABC such a resounding success. For the past 50 years, the program has benefited from a growing source of funding from Hole in the Wall thrift and consignment store, as well as the continued support from the community. This support has allowed the program to increase its offerings, which include private tutoring, academic and social advising, college counseling, group activities, summer enrichment opportunities and stipends for our alumnae during their college years.

Managing the expanding needs of Guilford ABC has required continual reevaluation of the program’s volunteer and staffing model. Lately, as people’s lives have become busier than ever, it has become more challenging to meet the demands on the all-volunteer Board. Consequently, Board leadership is considering adding 1-2 part-time paid staff positions to handle program coordination, administrative and development roles.

The program stands to benefit by increased continuity and efforts to institutionalize the knowledge, experience and procedures of these key roles. The experience of other ABC community school programs is informing our inquiry. We hope to bring recommended candidates to the Board for approval by the end of the school year.

Thank you for your continued support of our scholars and the program.

Academic Advisors Help GABC Scholars Thrive

Success in high school courses can be challenging, especially for students who enter Guilford High School from another environment. The Guilford A Better Chance program provides volunteer Academic Advisors who work with individual GABC students to ensure their successful completion of high school coursework.

Judy Wright, chair of the Academic Advisors committee of the GABC Board, shared the many aspects of the advising process. “The volunteer Academic Advisors are usually Board members who are familiar with high school education and/or Guilford High School. They may have had a child in the system and therefore know the curriculum, but that is not a requirement,” she explained.

Each Advisor interacts regularly with the individual scholar, depending on the student’s needs and grade level in school. “It could be weekly or every few weeks. Maybe it’s checking in with a text message or phone call,” she added.

At the beginning of the school year, the Advisors send emails to all the students’ teachers, introducing the GABC program. Advisors could meet with students more frequently at the opening of the high school year.

“During the year, the Advisors monitor the student’s grades, class registration, absences, and course selection. They guide the student with course selection for the following year and encourage them to meet with their teachers for extra help or with their school counselor if things are bothering them related to classes,” Wright said. She described the many ways the Academic Advisors work with the scholars to ensure their successful completion of high school.

The Advisors communicate with the scholars’ parents, including them in teacher conferences, and scheduling other meetings that can be helpful to both parents and students.

If a GABC scholar needs extra help with specific subjects, the Advisor finds tutors. There are volunteer tutors who come to the GABC house or meet with the students at the library.

The Advisors help students discover summer opportunities and apply for participation. Some students may do summer study trips abroad for academic or personal enrichment.

The Academic Advisors work with College-Matters, an educational consulting firm that offers its college counseling services pro bono to GABC students in their junior year. The Academic Advisors work with College-Matters to help the students complete the college application process and encourage them to apply for scholarships. The Academic Advisors may take the GABC scholars on college visits. The GABC annual spring banquet honors the graduating seniors and celebrates their college acceptances and scholarships. Wright is a past co-president of GABC and currently also serves on the GABC Executive Committee, Student Selection Committee, and chairs the Nominating Committee. The Academic Advisors on her team are Christine Dokko, Melissa Dayton, Nancy Patton, and Christa Florea.

Are You Ready for The Great Give?

Guilford ABC is excited to be participating in this year’s Great Give on May 7-8. This 36-hour, online, community-wide giving event was created by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to raise visibility and resources for nonprofits serving Greater New Haven.

Your donation to Guilford ABC will allow us to continue providing exceptional educational opportunities and life experiences for talented young women of color, including our current scholars: Irene, Jazhira, Katie, Kyra, and Tamojah.

HOLE IN THE WALL: Supporting the Guilford ABC for 50 years!

Visit, purchase, and donate or consign your treasures at Hole in the Wall.

Supporting the Guilford A Better Chance program for 50 years!

35 Boston Street, Guilford
203-453-2088
Across from Guilford Savings Bank in the Boston Commons shopping center.

Freshman Katie Welcomed to GABC

Katie, a new Guilford ABC freshman, has quickly settled into the house with sophomores Irene and Jazhira, and juniors Kyra and Tamojah. Katie loves to sing, with “Shine on Me” one of her favorites. While English is her first language, her Ecuadoran family speaks Spanish at home. She’s excited to work on Spanish writing skills. Katie got involved with the Model U.N. club and will be taking up tennis or track soon. She learned of the ABC program from her principal at Bridgeport school and has already found lively friends at Guilford High School.

Irene is loving chemistry because “…we figure out the chemicals in a mix and only communicate with other classmates through the computer in this investigative approach.” An alto, Irene is in the choir class and likes songs like “Lunar Lullaby.” “It’s fun to learn the songs and how the voices fit together,” she said. She’ll be running indoor track this winter and “looking forward to the excitement of it.”

Jazhira is finding herself “more adjusted” to high school challenges as a sophomore. She’s very excited about her chemistry course – “I like sciences,” she said with a big smile. She’s also interested in civics, “especially after watching the debates.” Due to a hurt foot, there’s no more playing soccer this year, but she’s attending all the games “…to support my team!”

Tamojah’s favorite junior year courses are part of the International Baccalaureate program. She’s immersed in IB psychology and IB Italian – “a fun class that moves fast, and we study the Italian culture as well as converse, using new words every day!” she said. As with all the GABC scholars, she volunteers to help at the Hole in the Wall consignment/thrift store that benefits GABC. She’s often found at the register checking out purchases. (Quality clothing, housewares, jewelry, shoes, books and more are found at the store just off the Guilford Green on Boston Street.)

Junior Kyra is taking three high-level classes: IB literature, IB math, and Advanced Placement physics. She loves how the literature class “encourages creative thinking and considering different perspectives. We explore cultural identity and what society was like at the time. It gives me a broader understanding,” she said. Kyra is performing with “Voices” and is very excited about it. “I feel more fulfilled with the more complicated songs and how parts work together.” t

HIGHLIGHTS: Guilford ABC 50th Anniversary Benefit Concert

Guilford ABC 50th Anniversary Benefit Concert

Featuring Mo Pleasure
GHS Music Department Students
GHS Voices directed by Special Guest Angela Clemmons
Emcees Stephanie Simoni & Roger Susanin from WFSB/3

PRESENTING SPONSOR
The Eveland Family
Rogers Family Foundation

LEAD SPONSORS
Marie Landry & Peter Aronson
Guilford Foundation/Guilford Savings Bank
Larry Dowler/Ellen Rosand
Withers Bergman, LLC

PATRON SPONSORS
Robert Jaeger
Sue & Matt Kornguth
Watering Pond Foundation
West Hartford Lock

FRIEND SPONSORS
Campaigne Kestner Architects
Guilford Racquet & Swim Club
Robert Leitze, Esq.
Salon Zena
Yankee Equipment Systems & Eileen & Peter Limoncelli

SPECIAL GUEST SPONSORS
Christopher Balestracci
Jonathan & Nancy Bishop
Gene & Jane Bishop
Attorney Lou Federici
Jerry’s Transmission
Jan Brissette & Albert Kraus
Cindy Metrose & Joe Mirrione
Robert & Deborah Montenegro
Leigh Whiteman/Raveis
Carol Wright
Chatice Yarborough

IN-KIND SUPPORTERS
Bishop’s Orchards
College Matters
The Estate Artists
Folklore Flowers
Guilford Racquet & Swim Club
Kerry Schutz Photography
Elizabeth Kozarec Architect
Legacy Theatre
Mary’s Culinary Classes
Soundview Family YMCA
Wilber & King Landscaping
Zuse Inc.

SPECIAL THANKS
GHS Music Department
Mark Gahm
Rachael Allen
Chris Jones
Guilford High School
Nick Ripa
Ben Copleman
Joel Rebhun
Elisa Milano
Herman Solivan & the Facilities staff at GHS
Cara Mulqueen Teasdale
Anniversary Committee
Laura Berkowitz Gilbert
Jeff Zeitlin
Judy Wright
Georgia Cosgrove
Marie Berry
Lori Harris
Cheryl McPherson
Maria Brown

WITH SUPPORT FROM
Abby Goodman
Jen Payne (Words by Jen)
Jennie Frost
Kathy Geyer
Matt Lebow
Tara Sanders
TAPS (Theatre Arts Parents Support)
Frank Yantorno
Mikayla Zeitlin