Calais School students are enjoying School Choice Week, with many activities celebrating the reasons students love Calais.

And there are so many reasons! When asked what they enjoy about Calais, students say their friends, the caring staff, clubs, the support they receive from counselors and the Animal Assisted Interventions Program. Students are writing about and drawing pictures showing what is special about Calais to them and why they enjoy attending the school. The students’ work will then be featured in a special school display titled the “I Love My School Wall” in the Calais gymnasium.

Other special events for School Choice Week include a “School Choice Dance” performed by four high school students, (Carly S., Chris D., Matthew O.,  and Paula D.), which will be videotaped and then shared with the school during lunch in February, said Calais School Counselor Marjane Vitaletti. Students will also receive stickers and bracelets and will be encouraged to wear Calais School spirit apparel. The Calais theme for School Choice Week is “my school is a nurturing sanctuary, into which I feel safe and calm, at all times.”

School Choice is the process of allowing families to choose the right educational option for their children in grades K-12 which best fits their children and meets their needs. Each child is unique and learns differently. School Choice Week recognizes that while some kids may learn well at their neighborhood public school, others may be more successful at a private, charter, magnet or online school or at a home learning environment. “And, because each student has their own unique set of talents, interests and challenges, having a variety of options in education is crucial,” according to the School Choice website. “What works well for one child may not work well for another child! In short, school choice ensures that each student can find a learning environment that allows them to be inspired, successful and happy.”

The Calais School is a state-approved provider of special education for students with special needs. It is our goal to help each, and every child realize and build on their strengths and gifts. We are committed to cultivating the potential of every student, making a difference, one child at a time.

It is our mission to nurture and empower at risk students and young adults with multiple learning disabilities to become gainfully employed and socially engaged.

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