Every parent hopes for the same thing: that their child is truly understood, fully supported, and given every opportunity to thrive.

For Daniel and Christina Salvaterra, finding that kind of support for their son, Niklas, was anything but simple. Their journey began in their local public school district, where they found themselves constantly advocating for the services and placements Nik needed to succeed. As the family prepared to transition into a large regional middle school, they knew the road ahead would only become more challenging.

Determined to find a better fit, the Salvaterras explored seven or eight different schools. Some programs offered support but lacked academic challenge. Others provided challenge but not enough individualized care. None felt quite right. They weren’t simply searching for a school — they were searching for a place that would truly see Nik for who he was. A place that would nurture his strengths, build his confidence, and encourage him to reach his full potential.

Then they found The Calais School. From the very first visit, the Salvaterras felt something different: warmth, compassion, and genuine care. After returning for a second visit, they knew they had found more than a school — they had found a home.

Nik enrolled at Calais in seventh grade and today continues in the 12 Plus program. What the family has witnessed during his time at Calais, his father says, has been “nothing short of remarkable.” At Calais, Nik didn’t just grow academically — he learned to believe in himself. With the support of Calais’ dedicated counselors, he developed tools to manage stress, navigate challenges, and approach difficult situations with confidence. His teachers recognized his potential, his peers encouraged him, and little by little, Nik began to flourish.

“I think The Calais School staff can verify what we’ve seen at home,” Mr. Salvaterra shares. “Nik is now able to navigate stressful situations on his own, appropriately, using the tools Calais gave him. We’ve seen it — and I know you have as well.”

Along the way, Nik created memories that shaped his experience and his future. He worked alongside Mr. Kells in Media Arts & Technology, stepped both in front of and behind the camera for the student-run newscast Cougars on the Clock, and discovered a creative side of himself he had never fully explored before. He performed in school musicals, met a World War II veteran, and proudly sang the national anthem at graduation — a moment that left the room filled with emotion and pride.

But perhaps Nik’s greatest transformation didn’t happen on a stage or in a classroom. It was found in his growing independence, maturity, and self-confidence.

“Calais understood our child as he should be understood,” Mr. Salvaterra reflects. “They understood Nik as a child who deserves the chance to get the most out of his abilities — not as a ‘round peg in a square hole,’ and not simply as a child with a disability. They care — and it shows.”

Because when a child is truly seen, supported, and believed in, remarkable things can happen.

This spring, Daniel and Christina Salvaterra, along with Nik, shared their family’s story at The Calais Foundation Annual Gala. We are honored to celebrate Nik’s journey and can’t wait to see what comes next.