Since January, students in The Calais School’s 12 Plus Program have been working hard on designing and publishing the school yearbook while reinforcing key communication and collaboration skills along the way.

The 12 Plus class was responsible for the entire process from start to finish. Each student chose a job to reflect his or her interests and strengths, whether it be in design, photography, or writing. Calais’ Speech and Language Pathologist, Ms. Samantha Helfer, oversaw the project and provided extra support when needed, while 12 Plus student Devin W. served as Editor-in-Chief.

One especially exciting part of the yearbook is the staff and student superlatives section, which is new for 2022. The students exercised their creativity as they worked together to come up with ideas for these pages. Alongside the traditional “Best Dressed” and “Most Athletic” were some unique and funny superlatives, including “Most Likely to Have a Show on Food Network” for the students and “Most Likely to Put Grading Off Until the Last Minute” for the staff.

As students shared these and other ideas, they practiced receiving feedback from classmates and staff. Accepting constructive feedback has been a major  focus for 12 Plus students during group counseling sessions and classroom discussions, so this was an excellent opportunity for them to apply what they have learned.

Additionally, students demonstrated professional written communication skills as they corresponded via email with staff and administration. They shared important information, advocated for necessary materials, and decided to whom the yearbook should be dedicated. 

Overall, students greatly honed their interpersonal skills during the design and publication processes as they worked together to bring their ideas to fruition. This project encouraged students to go out of their comfort zones while working with peers that weren’t necessarily in their own friendship circles. Moreover, students practiced resolving conflicts and being open to others’ ideas and techniques. This collaboration, along with all the other transferable skills reinforced through this project, is an essential skill for the workplace and will be helpful for our students throughout their lives.

We are very proud of our 12 Plus students for their hard work throughout the year and for making Calais’ 2022 Yearbook perhaps the best one yet!

Learn more about the 12 Plus Program on our website!

The Calais School 12 Plus Program was created for students with special needs ages 18–21. The program offers students the skills they need to move successfully from school into the adult world.