More Than a School: How Opportunity Changed One Family's Journey

When Alisha looks back on the decision that changed the course of her family's life, she remembers that it wasn't an easy one.

In 2020, as the world was adjusting to the challenges of the pandemic, her family found itself searching for something more than just a different school. They were searching for an environment where their children could learn, grow, and thrive.

That search ultimately led them to Calvary Day School and, with the help of an Arete scholarship, opened doors they never imagined possible.

For Alisha's son, Chad, the need for change became clear during fourth grade. Like so many students, he struggled through remote learning. Sitting in front of a computer for hours each day wasn't working.

"We just felt like he couldn't handle the distraction of being sat in front of a computer for so many hours," Alisha said. "I was always having to be there over his shoulder, making sure he stayed focused"

The academic challenges were only part of the story.

"Being away from peers - [it] wasn't enough just to see them on the screen," she said. "He just kind of really sank into a dark place."

Although Chad and his sister, Kaitlyn, had attended a K-8 public school, Alisha knew her son needed the structure of in-person learning. At the same time, her family had begun longing for a school where faith wasn't simply respected; it was woven into everyday life.

They had heard of Calvary Day School but didn't know much about it until a family friend shared her own experience. She had transferred to Calvary during her senior year after facing her own challenges during COVID-19. Her enthusiasm was contagious.

"When she was telling us about it, she was so on fire and so alive and so happy there," Alisha recalled. "The things she had to say about the environment and the ways that she was learning and growing really got us thinking, 'This might be something we want to explore, too.'"

After Chad completed a shadow day at the school, the family knew they had found the right fit. The only obstacle was tuition. While searching for financial assistance, Alisha came across Arete Scholars. Receiving the scholarship brought immediate relief.

"It just gave us so much peace of mind," she said. "We're still financially putting forth a significant contribution ourselves, but getting it down to a more manageable chunk really gave us a lot of peace of mind. It wasn't as daunting financially knowing we had that extra support."

Chad entered Calvary as a fifth grader. His teachers didn't simply assign work. They taught him how to stay organized, manage responsibilities, and become accountable for his own learning.

"I started seeing a shift," Alisha said. "I didn't have to remind him to do his assignments. He started just doing them and knowing he had the accountability of turning them in on his own."

The school also challenged him academically.

"He was a pretty smart kid," Alisha said. "He needed to be in classes where he would be more challenged."

A year later, the family faced another major decision.

Kaitlyn had earned admission to a prestigious public arts high school after completing a competitive audition process. It had been her dream. But after much prayer, Alisha and her husband felt God leading them in a different direction.

"She had her heart set on an art school," Alisha said. "She actually did get into it, but as we were praying it over, we just really felt that the Lord was tugging us to point her toward Calvary as well."

It wasn't the obvious choice.

"I feel like, in Kaitlyn's case, Calvary maybe wasn't as obvious a match as it was for Chad," she admitted. "But I do see so much growth that happened in her journey."

That growth became evident in the classroom.

After previously working through Algebra independently because there weren't enough students to offer a class, Kaitlyn found herself learning alongside classmates with the guidance of an in-person teacher.

"Things began to click with her," Alisha said.

Her love for writing also flourished. Alisha credits Calvary's English teachers with nurturing Kaitlyn's natural talents.

"They just brought that out in her, nurtured it and fostered a love of literature."

Outside the classroom, another unexpected opportunity rekindled a passion. When Calvary launched a small chamber strings ensemble, Kaitlyn rediscovered her love of the violin after music programs in the community had slowed during the pandemic.

The impact extended beyond one child.

Inspired by the school's music teacher, Chad, who had nearly given up playing violin altogether, picked the instrument back up and joined the ensemble as well.

Music has since become an even greater part of both siblings' lives, not only through school but also through their church. For Alisha, one of the greatest blessings has been watching her children grow academically while deepening their faith.

She describes a school where students worship together through a praise band, hear testimonies during weekly chapel services, sing hymns at Christmas concerts, study Scripture beyond simple memorization, and are prayed over by coaches and teachers before games and performances.

"Our desire was for both children to transition to an instructional model that embraced their faith," she said.

There have been challenges along the way, she admits, but the growth has far outweighed them.

"I think they've both taken it to heart," she said of receiving the scholarship. "They've both really tried to work hard and own up to their end of the bargain. They've put 100% into their classes and pursued opportunities beyond the classroom."

Looking back, Alisha believes the Arete Scholarship did far more than make tuition affordable.

"It helped open this world to us that we wouldn't have been able to be a part of. We are just incredibly appreciative of everyone that's contributed and made this possible for us," she said. "To continue to be recipients is a tremendous blessing for us. We're very grateful for it. It's changed our lives. It's changed our kids' lives."

Today, Kaitlyn and Chad are thriving in ways their family could only hope for when they first began searching for a new school. Thanks to the generosity of Arete donors, their story is a reminder that the right educational opportunity can shape not only a student's future, but an entire family's journey.