Inspire students with special needs to dream big!
Your donation will give students at The Calais School the chance to realize their fullest potential.
Your donation will give students at The Calais School the chance to realize their fullest potential.
Together we can help students with special needs stay on track and exceed their possibilities!
Turning Loss Into Achievement...Calais School Alumna Heather McGuire's Path to Self Discovery
Prior to attending The Calais School, Heather experienced significant loss with the untimely passing of her father and her beloved chocolate lab Claire shortly thereafter. While visiting her father in the hospital, Heather witnessed first-hand the benefits that therapy dogs can bring- it left a lasting mark.
In 2016, Heather began attending high school at Calais where she received the counseling support she needed to work through her father’s passing and manage her anxiety. She credits Calais for teaching her the coping skills that ultimately helped her to get back on track and build up her confidence.
During her four years at Calais, Heather took a special interest in the school’s therapy dog program after observing the positive effects it had on both her and her peers. When Heather was given a Golden Retriever named Bella, suddenly all the pieces came together: “In 2017 Bella became a therapy dog and we began our journey. I loved seeing how Bella helped the students-I knew it was something I wanted to continue doing.”
In 2022, two years after graduating, Heather was asked if she would like to return to The Calais School as a therapy dog handler on the school's Animal Assisted Interventions team- she accepted. “Calais helped me be successful throughout high school and especially gave me the confidence and skills I need to thrive in the world. I knew I wanted to give back.”
Heather says Bella loves coming to work and they both love seeing all the different ways the students can interact with the dogs. She recalls, “It is such a rewarding experience to work alongside such an amazing team.”
At the Calais School many essential programs like Animal Assisted Interventions are not covered by tuition alone. Your gift helps bridge the financial gap between the cost of tuition and the actual cost of the programs that Calais students depend on. Please make a donation today so more students like Heather can reclaim their self-esteem, build their confidence and thrive.
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