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.