Past Newsletters

2010-2011

Past updates from our previous resident directors

March 9, 2011

Dear Parents:

Just a quick note to let you know what has been going on at the ABC House... Our two week break from sports and practices was short lived. We are happy to report that once again, we have 100% participation as a house in sports or some other outside activity! Ben, "D", George and Jose are going out for track. Andres and Lenny are both trying out for baseball, and Oneil, Andres and Patrick are still playing indoor soccer. (Oneil scored a goal this past Sunday). Matt is finishing up hockey, and Danielle is busy with the high school musical, "Carousel" which is slated for this weekend. This past Friday, Ben, D, and George helped to organize a charity basketball game. The team raised over $75.00 which was donated to our local "Habitat for Humanity" chapter. The boys relaxed and took it easy over the weekend. Sunday night we were hit with what we hope is the last major snow storm of the season. We had almost 2 feet of snow! Schools everywhere were shut down -- even the College. The boys spent the day playing video games, badminton and working on homework. Academically, we have had some good reports. They are working hard to bring up their grades in certain subject areas. Hopefully the momentum will continue! Next weekend, the board has planned for a day at the slopes. Saturday, March 19th, the boys will be treated to a lesson in snowboarding or skiing at Woods Valley Ski Center in Rome/Westernville. (They do have a web site and a live web cam -- maybe you can log on and get a good laugh!) In the meantime we are focusing on good study habits and getting enough rest, esp. since we lose an hour of sleep this weekend! Take care, and please don't ever hesitate to call us with any concerns -- Patty & Don

February 14, 2011

Dear Parents:

Happy Valentine's Day! Just wanted to give you an update on what your little sweethearts have been up to... Things continue to go well at the ABC House. Most recently, the varsity basketball team had one win and two losses. George, Ben and "D" have all seen more playing time. Friday was senior night, and members of the team were honored with a dinner and pre-game ceremony. The season has officially ended, and now the team is preparing for sectional playoffs. Andres, Patrick and Oneil had a win on Sunday for in-door soccer.(Don is assistant coach and commented that they all played hard!) Jose spent last weekend at St. Lawrence University for his last in-door track meet, and Lenny continues to work out at the Hamilton Field House getting ready for the upcoming baseball season. Danielle is getting ready to compete in a few horse shows this spring, and Matt is still involved in the never-ending hockey season! We seem to cover all sports -- there is never a dull moment! Some of the boys continue to fulfill "service hour" requirements. Lenny and Oneil are volunteering at the Utica Refugee Center. They help teach the English language to people of various cultures. Both boys feel that this experience has been very rewarding and look forward to continuing. Ben, "D" and George volunteer on Saturday mornings at the "Biddy Ball" basketball clinic for elementary kids. "D" has also earned some hours tutoring other students. And, Patrick is busy building "sets" for the upcoming musical "Carousel" in which Danielle has a whole three lines in! We are very proud that the boys are giving back to the community.

Academically, we feel that some could be doing better. Typically, the second marking period does tend to drop due to mid-term exams. We have spoken with the tutors about making sure that the boys are taking study hours more seriously. We are also urging them to seek the help of the tutors and Mrs. Carbone. Please speak to your child about what they need to do to bring their grades up -- reinforcement from home is always effective!

On a less serious note, we continue to try to fill the gaps with some fun activities. The boys don't go out much on the weekends. Unfortunately, the Valentine's dance that they were so looking forward to on Saturday night was canceled. So, we had a heated game of "UNO", and created our own TV version of "Minute to Win It". This week, we are going to celebrate Jose and Oneil's birthdays prior to leaving for break by having a "fondue party"! Some of the boys were skeptical until I told them it involved cheese and chocolate. They are so funny about my cooking -- they never complain, even when I know they just moved the food around their plates. Some have even tried and liked new foods, and are even willing to eat peppers and onions now! I hope they are enjoying this experience as much as we have! Have a great week and enjoy the February break -- Patty & Don

January 24, 2011

Dear Parents:

As many of you already know, it is mid-term week. The boys are busy studying in preparation for their exams. To help them along, we have implemented a no cell phone/texting/personal computer ban during study hours. It was not a very popular decision, but the boys have been really good about it -- especially since we have also implemented a 15 minute snack break half way through the study session!

It hasn't been "all work no play", however. Ben, Dametris and George are participating in Varsity Basketball. Their practice and game schedules are quite demanding, but they all seem to be able to balance basketball with school work. Andres and Jose have just finished the regular in-door track season. Jose qualified for regional sectionals and finished nicely in third place for the 800 relay (4x around the track in a sprint)! Oneil, Patrick, and possibly Andres are looking forward to another session of in-door soccer, and Lenny has been working out at the Hamilton gym preparing for the upcoming baseball season. On Saturday, he attended a batting camp courtesy of Mr.Taft (host family), hosted by NY Yankees hitting coaches. Also on Saturday, the rest of the boys made history by being part of record attendance for a college basketball game at Syracuse vs. Villanova in the Carrier Dome. Following the game, we had a snowball fight (which Mr. Hunt got the worst of) and dinner at "Quaker Steak and Lube". Mr. and Mrs. Gressler, and Mr. and Mrs. Hunt kindly helped to provide transportation to and from Syracuse. On Sunday, prior to going to their host families, the boys helped Ms. Humphrey's write thank-you notes to those in the Clinton community who have so generously donated to the ABC Program. We are always stressing the importance of "community involvement and responsibility" to the boys --how they conduct themselves in and out of school can have an impact on the very existence of the ABC Program. Rest assured, we only hear positive feedback from the community about how well-mannered and wonderful the ABC students are! On that note, the little "darlings" will be arriving home shortly, and they will be HUNGRY! Ha! Ha! We will continue to keep you updated! Patty & Don

P.S. Their rooms still look like crime scenes for the most part. Glad it isn't just my own boys! It could be worse, right?

December 5, 2010

Dear Parents:
Hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving break! Prior to their limo ride back to the city, we had our own Mini-Thanksgiving feast complete with turkey, sweet potatoes, squash, stuffing, cranberries, etc... Everyone enjoyed dinner and leftovers! Also, a few days before the holiday, the boys were treated to a shopping spree at American Eagle, courtesy of one of the host families. The items chosen have been set aside and wrapped. When we get our tree, they will be delivered in time for Christmas!

Speaking of the holidays, the house has been decorated outside with garlands and white lights. It looks very festive. On Monday, we are going to start making holiday cookies (they probably won't last until Tuesday!) Some of you have inquired about travel arrangements and sports schedules. The boys should plan on leaving after school on December 21st. The coaches I spoke with are very understanding and feel it is more important for them to go home than to attend a practice.

Once again, everyone is participating in an extra-curricular activity. Lenny, Andres and Jose are on the indoor track team. George, Dametris and Ben are playing basketball, and Patrick and Oneil are on an indoor soccer team. Matt is playing hockey. We will be very busy spectators in the upcoming weeks! The winter will fly by at this rate!

This past Friday night, we were all treated to a prime rib dinner at the Taft's home (they are one of George's host families). The boys played pool and we ate like kings! We really appreciate the Taft's involvement in the ABC program. The boys have made such a wonderful impression on many people in our community. You should be very proud of them!
Saturday afternoon some of us decorated, drove around and looked at the lights, and went to dinner at a local restaurant, Cafe Bennu. Don't be surprised if they have put on a few pounds this season - we know we have!!! Enjoy the Holidays! We will keep you updated! Patty & Don

October 31, 2010 

Dear Parents:

Happy Halloween! The month of October flew by and went out with a bang! As you know, the boys have been planning an after-the-school-dance Halloween costume party -- and what a party it was! We estimated that around 150-175 kids showed up! The boys really took the initiative by asking local vendors for donations such as candy, apples, soda and baked goods. They cleaned out the basement, decorated and transformed it into a dance hall, complete with huge sound system, strobe lights and revolving disco light. The outside doors opened up under a huge tent (donated) where bobbing for apples and other games took place. Jose did an awesome job as D.J. The boys dressed in black t-shirts that read "security". Several adults helped to chaperone this great event. The school even donated half the proceeds from the cover charge at the dance, to the ABC House! Speaking of the school dance, Dametris won 1st place in the costume contest. He wore a short, blonde wig, huge sun glasses and his leopard snuggy backwards like a dress. He looked like Mary J. Blige, but some thought he was Dennis Rodman! He made a very attractive woman!! George wore his power ranger suit, Ben went as "Dametris" with his Dunkin Donuts uniform on, and Danielle went as an 80's exercise infomercial girl. Matt went to the middle school dance as a rock star. The rest of the boys wore the "security" shirts. It really was a great night!

In other news, Ben was elected class president! We are really happy for him. Lenny has been moved up into an advanced math class, and his parents surprised him with a visit to his last football game of the season. Jose's varsity soccer team won their first game in sectional playoffs 4-0 against Cazenovia! Andres, Patrick, Lenny and Oneil dragged Patty to the theater to see "Paranormal Activity". (Not sure what was scarier, the movie or some of the people at the movie!) Last, some of the boys have offered to help out in the kitchen with dinner -- last week, George breaded and baked pork chops, and Andres made the stuffing! Bet you didn't know they had such culinary talent! As you can imagine, they are very funny to cook with!! We have a lot of laughs. The clean room challenge continues. It officially ends tonight at 11 p.m. We will post the winners in next week's letter. Your kids are such a source of laughter and joy and we are truly enjoying this experience. They are polite and considerate and they look out for each other. We will continue to keep you informed. Please call if you have any concerns. Thanks! Patty and Don

October 18, 2010

Dear Parents:

The weeks seem to be flying by! Everyone is working hard and settling nicely into their routines. JV soccer will be winding down this week after a very respectable season given that this year's team is somewhat young. Andres has been very successful at defense, and his speed shows great potential for the upcoming track season! Oneil is a true team player, often passing the ball to teammates giving others the opportunity to take shots on goal. Varsity soccer for Jose won't be ending anytime too soon, as they are in first place in their division beating long time rivalry New Hartford! Lenny is on the starting line for modified football, and the Varsity team saw a big loss to Frankfort, but not without a nice touchdown by Ben! Sunday's game was a good win over Sauquoit, and George had the game of his life with several key tackles and an interception!

Last Wednesday, a delicious dinner was provided courtesy of our cousins, Linda and Hannah McHarris. Thursday, "Middle School Open House" was worked by Dametris and Andres, where they continued to promote the ABC House and enlisted the help of about 15 additional volunteers. On Friday, Lenny and Oneil carpooled home for the Columbus Day weekend. Dametris stayed with his host family due to work obligations, and the rest of us headed up to our camp in the Adirondacks early Saturday morning. The days were fairly warm, but the nights saw temperatures in the low 30's. The boys kayaked, split firewood for a rip-roaring camp fire, and played cards. On Sunday we drove to Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics, where we took a gondola ride up White Face Mountain followed by another trip along the Veteran's scenic highway to the actual summit of the mountain for some great pictures and breathtaking views! Once back in town, the kid's spent a couple of hours along main street in the souvenir shops. By then, if you can imagine, they were HUNGRY!!! We ate dinner at a famous little place called "The Lake Placid Pub and Brewery" known for it's "Ubu Ale" that has made it's way to the White House. On the 1 1/2 hour ride back to the camp they tortured us with their music and singing!! Ha! Ha! That night we played more cards and had a lot of laughs -- who knew that you could still have fun without TV, computers and cell phones??!! The next day the kids all pitched in and helped to close the camp for the season and pull the boat out. We have some great memories and pictures - the leaves were peak. Fortunately, we went last weekend because by the following Friday they had 3-4 inches of snow!

The clean room challenge continues... Andres, and Jose and Ben are neck and neck for first place. George has earned the "Most Improved" - we can actually see the floor now! He is really working hard. The other boys have remained steady -- stepping it up at inspection time.

Yesterday, swimming was canceled to the disappointment of some, as the college was on a short break. The kids continue to work hard at school, and you should have received a copy of their 5 week report. Overall, we are very pleased with their progress so far. We will continue to keep you updated. Please feel free to call us at any time if you have any concerns -- Patty & Don

Monday, October 4, 2010

Dear Parents:

A lot has been happening at the ABC House in the past two weeks. As many of you may have already heard, our Sophomore student Derek, will not be returning to the program. Unfortunately, ABC is not a good fit for him and the decision not to return is really in the best interest of us all. That being said, here is what has been going on in the last two weeks...

The Varsity soccer team has had a couple of wins. JV Soccer had two losses and a win in the last minute (3-2) against Cooperstown. The football team lost to Canastota on Friday 9/24 under the lights. And, on Saturday night we all went to dinner at a local restaurant. On Sunday, the boys attended swimming lessons at the college pool where some reported that they have graduated to the deep end, while others are going off the diving board (and doing flips - George!). Thursday evening was very busy - it was Open House night at the school. According to Mr. Hunt, it is tradition to invite a few of the teachers over for dinner prior to Open House. We think he made that up when he heard that Oneil's parents were coming into town and cooking dinner for the house! We were all treated to a delicious dinner -- thank you Oneil and Nadine! At Open House, some of the boys earned service hours by promoting the ABC program and signing up volunteers. Ben and George spent two hours setting up a table, handing out flyers, and talking to potential volunteers with one of our board members. Next Wednesday, Dametris and Andres will be representing the program at the Middle School Open House. We appreciate their time and help!

Finally, as many of you know, it was Homecoming Week at Clinton. This consisted of "spirit days" - Batman, Spiderman, Captain America, Super Big D in tights and cape, and many other crimefighters were seen leaving the house on Monday morning. Tuesday was "Disney Day" - no one had any Disney wear, but Wednesday, the beds were stripped and turned into togas for "Toga Day"! Thursday was "jersey day", and Friday was "Maroon and White Day", followed by a Pep Rally and bonfire. On Saturday, senior football players and parents were recognized before the game, and we had the honor of representing Ben. After the game it was a mad scramble to get haircuts, shirts and pants ironed, and showered before the big Homecoming Dance. We have to admit, we had the best looking group of boys (and one girl) !! You all would have been very proud as they take great pride in their appearance, have made some wonderful friends, and shown so much school spirit. A good time was had by all at the dance.

Academically, the boys have been working hard at school, and during study hours. Soon, the five week mark will be up, and we will all have a better idea of where the boys stand. Until then, have a great week and we will continue to keep you updated. Patty & Don

P.S. We are having a cleanest room contest (winner gets a sweatshirt and dinner out) - so far Jose is in the lead, and there is little hope for George! Ha! Ha! We're working on him, though!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Dear Parents:

Another successful week at the ABC House! The boys seem to be doing great. Monday night we were granted permission by the ABC board to host a Halloween Costume Party fundraiser. The boys came up with the idea on their own and have a very well-thought-out plan in place. It is great to see them advocating for themselves and promoting the ABC program. We already have invitations that were donated by a local gift shop. I'll let you know more as time goes on. It was also "pay day" - allowances were given out -- Don and I were really popular that night!

Also, as another way to promote the ABC program, and a chance for some of the boys to earn "service hours", we are going to have an informational booth at the High School Open House on Sept. 30th, and another at the Middle School Open House. This is a great way for the kids to become more actively involved in the community!

On Tues., former R.D. Ed Gudlauski came to dinner. He is taking on the role of "Student Affairs" chairperson. From our understanding, he acts as a go-between for the ABC students and the R.D.'s, and helps to problem solve any issues in the house. Other than that, everyone is busy with their studies and afterschool sports. Our JV and Varsity soccer teams both had big wins this week. Our football team lost to Westmoreland in a real heartbreaker! (we had a touchdown taken away due to a penalty -- actually we lost the game due to penalties). On Thursday, Danielle, Jose and Dametris took a semi-private tour of Colgate University. It is amazing how similar the town of Hamilton and the Colgate University campus are to the village of Clinton and Hamilton College. Lastly, there were some very good-looking kid's seen leaving the ABC House for the bus on Thursday and Friday morning as it was "picture day" for the high school yearbook. They clean up nice!!

Today, they are currently attending swimming lessons, and will return home soon to get ready to go with their host families. So far so good! If there are any concerns, please don't hesitate to call us

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Dear Parents:

Just thought we'd give you all a quick update as to what's been happening at the ABC House. On Saturday, our new freshmen, Lenny Ortiz and Oneil Campbell arrived. Sunday was our first official night as an "ABC family" as we welcomed back all returning ABC students. We had a nice spaghetti dinner and for an ice-breaker, we played Bingo for various gag gifts. At the end, the kids all won "Snuggies" and posed for pictures (they looked like a mismatched choir!). The boys all have a great sense of humor and seem to get along so far! They really pitch in around the house and are always very polite. Study hours and tutoring have begun and everyone is adjusting to their new routines. We are also happy to say that everyone is participating in a sport this season. Jose is playing Varsity Soccer; Andres, Patrick, Oneil, and Derek are playing JV Soccer; Lenny joined the Modified Football team, and Dametris, George and Ben are on the Varsity Football team. In an effort to support the boys, we try to attend their home games. This past weekend we had a movie/popcorn night, and cards and take-out on Saturday night. Today, they go with their host families. Several of our friends and family have stopped by to meet the boys and they have all brought treats like cake and cookies, and even dinner! We hope that they feel at home and part of the Clinton community. Your children have been wonderful influences on our children, and we couldn't ask for a better group of kids! We will continue to keep you updated. Thanks! Patty and Don