Arete Scholars Provides Hope for Twins

When Ava enrolled her twin sons, Grayson and Hayden, at St. Alphonsus, she was searching for more than just a new school. She wanted a place where her boys could be nurtured, challenged, and encouraged to grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally. Thanks to an Arete scholarship, that hope became reality.

For Ava, the word that comes to mind when she reflects on her boys' journey is gratitude. Their path wasn't straightforward. In the early years, Grayson and Hayden attended a local charter school where Ava herself was teaching. At first, it seemed like a good fit-but once the boys reached kindergarten, the cracks began to show.

"The curriculum was inconsistent, and I started to see real gaps in what they were learning," Ava recalls. Concepts weren't building the way they should, foundational skills were being missed, and the boys began to struggle keeping up. Their academic performance started to slip, and Ava noticed them becoming frustrated and discouraged. "They were trying, but they didn't feel confident in what they were doing," she says. "That was hard to watch as a mom-and as a teacher."

Those academic struggles quickly affected their confidence. School became something they felt uncertain about rather than excited for. Ava could see her sons second-guessing themselves and losing pride in their work. At the same time, Ava was stretched thin, teaching at the school while trying to fill in learning gaps at home. "I felt overwhelmed and heartbroken," she admits. "I knew something had to change, but I didn't know how we would make it work."

She made the difficult decision to leave her teaching position before the year ended, determined to find a better path for her children.

That better path came through St. Alphonsus and the helping hand of an Arete scholarship. "I told the principal I didn't think I could afford it," Ava remembers. "I was transitioning jobs, and it just didn't seem possible." But instead of closing the door, the principal said, "Hold on-let's see what we can do." That's when Arete stepped in, and everything changed.

Ava still remembers the emotion of that moment. "I was in tears when I brought them to St. Alphonsus," she says. "I didn't want them in public or charter schools anymore. I just wanted them somewhere safe, supportive, and consistent." From the very beginning, she felt reassured. "The principal told me, 'This may be the place for you,' and she was right. It's been the biggest blessing."

From the start, St. Alphonsus felt different. "It's like a family," Ava says. "The administration, the teachers, even the secretary, it's all love and support." That sense of belonging quickly translated into growth for Grayson and Hayden.

Grayson, an avid reader, began to thrive academically and emerged as a confident leader in the classroom. "He enjoys school again," Ava says. "He loves being challenged, and he carries himself with confidence now." Hayden, who once struggled more with his schoolwork, found encouragement instead of discouragement. One teacher in particular, Ms. Jackson, made a lasting impact. "She doesn't let him give up," Ava shares. "Even when his scores aren't where they need to be, she keeps pushing him-and now, when he succeeds, he's so proud of himself."

What once chipped away at the boys' confidence has now been replaced with resilience and self-belief. "Their teachers don't give up on them," Ava says. "They nurture the whole child, and that has made all the difference."

That "whole child" approach includes faith, which Ava deeply values. "They go to Mass, and the boys are excited about it," she says. "We already attend church as a family, but this has deepened their faith. It's shaping them into well-rounded young men."

Looking ahead, Ava hopes her sons will continue through St. Alphonsus and eventually attend a Catholic high school. "I can already see how this education is benefiting them," she says. "They carry themselves differently. They respect themselves and others. They're growing into young men with strong morals and values."

Grayson and Hayden's growth is exactly what Ava dreamed of when she imagined a better future for her sons. She sees Arete's impact every single day. "The scholarship didn't just cover tuition," Ava says. "It gave us stability, peace of mind, and hope. It cut our stress level and opened a door that wouldn't have been possible otherwise."

Today, Grayson and Hayden are thriving; academically stronger, more confident, and excited about what lies ahead. For Ava, St. Alphonsus is more than a school. It's where her sons learned not only how to succeed, but how to believe in themselves. And with Arete's support, their future is filled with possibility.