Students in the Calais School’s high school and 12 Plus program are learning important skills to help them accomplish everyday living tasks on their own.  In a recent life skills lesson, teacher Irene Bellott taught students how to sew a seam and sew on a button.

Students each used a needle and thread and a piece of fabric. “I am showing students how to repair a hole in their sweater,” Ms. Bellott said. “We are learning to thread a needle and then make a stitch to repair the opening.”

Afterwards, Ms. Bellott demonstrated how to sew on a button. Students used their threaded needles, a piece of fabric and large buttons to complete the task. First, she showed students how to make a knot and then started to sew on the button. “Make sure to pull the need through,” she said. “Pull the needle through the buttonhole. Then you go through the other hole and see how close I can come to the knot.”

The overarching goal of the Calais School’s Transition Program life skills unit is to help prepare students for independent living. The sewing lesson gave students hands-on step-by-step instructions on how to take care of their clothes, Mrs. Bellott said. “Students are learning to wash and iron their clothes and now to fix a ripped seam and sew on a button.”

The Calais School offers a robust Transition Program that helps prepare students for independent living, higher education and/or employment. Students receive support from a collaborative team consisting of a 21st century life & careers instructor, work based learning coordinator, guidance counselor, learning disability teaching consultants (LDTC), and job coaches. Offerings under the Calais Transition umbrella include 12 Plus, College Bridge Program in partnership with CountyCollege of Morris, Work Based Learning and Community Based Instruction.

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