Quick look: Trabuco Hills High School recently opened Monty and Millie’s Exchange, an on-campus thrift store designed and operated by students. The store teaches retail and customer services skills while giving students a unique shopping experience.
Shopping just became a whole lot easier for students at Trabuco Hills High School.
On Sept. 25, THHS celebrated the opening of Monty and Millie’s Exchange — an on-campus thrift store for students, by students. School staff and community partners commemorated the day with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by students getting the opportunity to shop for the first time.
The store will be fully operated by students, giving them valuable retail and customer service experience.
“The store will provide students with valuable opportunities to develop workplace and interpersonal skills in a supportive, real-world setting,” said Trabuco Hills High Principal Alicia Foulk.
Turning this project into a reality was a team effort, with multiple students and teachers taking the lead. THHS students Shelby Kwon, Olivia Kwon, Chloe Park and Sofia Kim spent the summer designing the layout of the store, carefully deciding how to sort and where to place each item of clothing — always keeping customer convenience in mind.
Special education teacher Kara Johnson and foundational teacher Ammecy Smaler were instrumental throughout the process. Together, they led students through each stage of planning and setup — from organizing volunteers to coordinating donations — while keeping the focus on hands-on learning and collaboration.
The project also received strong backing from the community. Home décor retailer At Home contributed racks, shelves and other store fixtures, while students and community members helped stock the store with donated clothes, transforming an empty classroom into a true thrift shop. The Trabuco Hills PTSA spread the word among families, and school administrators provided the space and resources to make the exchange possible.
With the store now open, THHS believes the project represents much more than just a place to shop.
“This initiative reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every student can learn, grow and contribute,” Foulk said.