A Place Where Chandler Can Thrive: Building a Foundation for Lifelong Success

When Christina began searching for the right school for her daughter, Chandler, she wanted more than just a classroom. She wanted a place where her daughter would be known, challenged, encouraged, and given every opportunity to succeed.

Today, thanks to an Arete Scholars scholarship, Chandler is thriving at Good Shepherd School, and Christina says the difference has been life-changing.

"My baby is being exposed to different things that I know for a fact she would not be exposed to at a public or charter school," Christina shares. "If it wasn't for you guys, she would not be at that school."

Now finishing her kindergarten year, Chandler has quickly fallen in love with learning. Every afternoon, she races home excited to share what she discovered that day.

"She comes home every day and talks about what she learned that day," Christina says. "She loves school."

For Christina, hearing her daughter speak so enthusiastically about school is a blessing she never takes for granted.

When Chandler was preparing to enter kindergarten, Christina knew she wanted her daughter to attend a school that would provide a strong educational foundation. Her mother encouraged her to apply for an Arete Scholars scholarship after seeing the impact similar educational opportunities had on Christina's younger brother years earlier.

At the time, Christina was facing her own challenges. Determined to create a better future for her family, she had stepped away from work to pursue nursing school. Private school tuition would have been impossible to afford on a single income.

"I'm not working right now," Christina explains. "I'm in school trying to become a nurse, so I had to put working to the side for a little bit. This program has made it possible for my baby not to miss a beat. If she didn't have this scholarship, I wouldn't have been able to afford private school."

The scholarship opened a door that Christina feared might otherwise remain closed. What she could not have imagined was just how much Chandler would grow during her very first year.

"My little six-year-old is almost reading," Christina says proudly. "Her sister didn't learn to read until almost third grade. My baby is leaving kindergarten and already knows the basics of reading."

Chandler's academic progress has amazed her mother.

Before attending Good Shepherd, Chandler was enrolled in an early learning center. While Christina appreciated the care she received there, she quickly noticed the difference after Chandler started kindergarten.

"I am just so amazed at how much she understands and how much she has learned this school year," Christina says. "Again, if it wasn't for Arete, she would not be at that school."

Her report card reflects that growth. Chandler has earned straight A's throughout the year, but Christina believes the school's impact goes far beyond grades.

One of the things she appreciates most is the personalized attention Chandler receives each day. With smaller class sizes and a supportive environment, Chandler can stay focused, build confidence, and develop skills that will serve her for years to come.

"The classroom sizes are perfect," Christina says. "There aren't too many distractions for her. Even though Chandler is very smart, she gets distracted easily, as any child would. The smaller class sizes help a lot with her actually staying on task."

Just as importantly, Chandler feels genuinely known and cared for.

"Every teacher, every administrator, everybody in that school welcomes my baby, and they know her," Christina says. "They don't just know her as 'hey little girl.' They know her by name."

Each morning, school staff greet Chandler with smiles and conversations that make her feel special. Teachers remember her interests, encourage her goals, and celebrate her successes.

One staff member regularly asks Chandler if she's planning to have a "blue day," referencing the positive behavior system she works hard to achieve. Her former art teacher continues to encourage her creativity and remind her of her talent.

"She comes home and says, 'Mommy, they just love me,'" Christina laughs.

One day, Chandler proudly told her mother, "I know I'm going to be an artist because my art teacher says I have the best art in the class."

Those small moments of encouragement have had a lasting impact.

"She loves that people actually take time to get to know her," Christina says. "She told me, 'I love going to a school that cares.'"

The nurturing environment at Good Shepherd has also helped Chandler mature emotionally. Christina has watched her daughter become more confident, more thoughtful, and better able to express herself.

"She used to be a whiner," Christina admits. "Now, when she gets upset, she explains why she's upset. She uses her words. She's very vocal, and they've really helped bring that out in her."

Teachers and parents work together as partners, constantly encouraging students to persevere through challenges.

When Chandler began showing signs of hesitation when faced with difficult tasks, her teacher reached out to Christina. Together, they reinforced the same message at home and at school: don't give up.

"I always tell her, just because something is hard doesn't mean you can't do it," Christina says. "You have to keep trying."

That collaboration has strengthened Chandler's confidence and resilience, qualities Christina hopes will guide her throughout her educational journey.

Looking ahead, Christina hopes Chandler will remain at Good Shepherd through middle school and continue building on the strong foundation she has established.

More than anything, she wants her daughter to continue believing in herself.

"I just want her to always continue to try her best," Christina says. "Just because something is hard doesn't mean she can't do it."

As Christina reflects on everything her family has gained through the scholarship, gratitude fills her voice.

From academic growth and meaningful relationships to confidence and opportunity, Chandler's first year has demonstrated what is possible when students are given access to the right educational environment.

To the donors who make scholarships possible, Christina has a simple message:

"Thank you all so much," she says. "Without the donors, my child wouldn't have this opportunity. The funding that you support helps this school do all it can for the children in the community, and I feel like that is what's making all these children successful."

Because of generous supporters, Chandler is not only succeeding in kindergarten, but she is also discovering a love for learning, building confidence in her abilities, and developing the foundation for a bright future.

And every day when she comes home excited about what she learned, Christina is reminded of the opportunity that changed everything.