The Calais School’s innovative College Bridge Program, in partnership with County College of Morris, gives 12 Plus students a taste of college life.

In preparation for the Spring 2022 semester, students worked with Calais’ Guidance Counselor and Work-Based Learning Coordinator to select courses based on their interests and career goals. Class enrollments this semester include Personal Health and Wellness, Animation, Network Security, and Digital Media Production. However, students are also building skills in a variety of areas beyond course topics including time management, managing the rigors of college life, and self-advocacy.

For Jasmine C., a 12 Plus student, learning time management has proven especially helpful. Currently in her second semester at CCM, she used her newfound skills to successfully complete a large final project for her multimedia class last semester. Jasmine says that the staff at Calais has helped her develop time management skills and has given her “tips such as using weekends and time after school to complete any assignments.”

Since the beginning of this semester, Jasmine’s confidence has increased after having completed the major milestone of finishing her first college course. Without the support from Calais, she believes that she would be doing “only half as well” as she is currently doing. She goes on to explain: “Since I had the help and guidance of The Calais School, choosing classes and getting myself more adapted to college life has been much easier and less stressful.”

As part of Calais’s counseling services, students in the College Bridge Program receive specialized therapeutic support pertaining to college responsibilities and stressors. Our School Psychologist and other staff work with students in both individual and group settings to promote social-emotional awareness and ease anxiety. During these sessions, students have also developed techniques to balance their college coursework, activities at Calais, and responsibilities and leisure time outside of school.

Another key component of the College Bridge Program is self-advocacy. This crucial skill is reinforced with all students but is especially important with the added independence and challenge of attending college. Teachers and staff from Calais stay up-to-date with students’ progress and well-being while also giving space for students to build independence. This semester, a major emphasis of our College Bridge Program has been on students’ reaching out for academic or emotional support as needed, rather than waiting to be asked if they need assistance. By building self-advocacy skills, students are becoming more aware of their learning styles and needs. They have also been demonstrating increased independence as they manage their own assignments, grades, and communications with professors.

Overall, all of our College Bridge students have been greatly enjoying their new courses and benefiting from the program as a whole. Some of the highlights of this semester so far have included:

  • using state-of-the-art 3D modeling software in Animation class;
  • applying stress management techniques learned in Personal Health and Wellness class;
  • demonstrating self-advocacy skills by requesting assistance in obtaining needed software and hardware for technology classes; and
  • gaining confidence in navigating the campus and, for some of our students, taking in-person classes for the first time.

Learn more about our College Bridge Program and partnership with County College of Morris on our website!