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Calais School Videos
Exceed Your Possibilities at The Calais School
An inside look at the innovative programs, methodologies and philosophy that sets The Calais School apart. Hear from parents and students sharing their personal stories and experiences with The Calais School.
Welcome to The Calais School
Here’s a brief video on what to expect at your first day of school! It describes the things that will happen: The bus ride, being met by friendly staff and teachers, going to your new classroom, meeting your teacher, being shown your new desk and cubby, meeting other kids and learning their names, having a yummy lunch with new friends, taking new classes and learning new things, working with counselors and service animals, and more!
Animal Assisted Interventions
The Calais School is home to a dedicated team of handlers and dogs that provide Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) designed to meet the challenging needs of a special education school environment.
Celebrating Calais Cougars – We Miss you!
The Calais School Counseling Team, upon the recommendation of Mrs. Karen Liberato, decided to create the video “Celebrating Calais Cougars – We Miss You!” to inspire students. The video also shows students that the school’s staff is proud of how well students are handling the remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
Animal Assisted Therapy & Social Skills
Calais School students learn important social skills with the assistance of our Animal Assistance Intervention dogs and their handlers. The handlers work with their dogs, counselors, teachers and staff at the school to help students develop important social skills. During the pandemic, handler Susan Greenbaum used a laptop to work with her dogs and the students virtually with the help of staff and some helpful toys.
Animal Assisted Therapy & OT
Integrating our Animal Assisted Interventions dogs into occupational therapy can create much more fun and stimulating experience for students. A positive interaction between dog and student can translate into a successful OT session. Students find encouragement, support and motivation for achieving their goals when participating in an OT session with one of our dogs.
Animal Assisted Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy is a form of Animal Assisted Interventions designed to help students reach their behavioral and therapeutic goals. The Calais School has reinvigorated the traditional speech and language therapy experience through the integration of Animal Assisted Therapy.
Bright, Not Broken
Students at the Calais School participate in academically-challenging curriculum designed to meet each child’s individual needs, and encourage their unique talents and strengths. Our students are bright, not broken, and excel in many areas including: math, science, art and technology.
Calais High School Experience
An inside look at the daily experience of our high school students. Learn about the curriculum, programs, electives and extra curricular options available as well as our Transition & Career Services.
Twice Exceptional (Gifted & Talented) Program
Students in The Calais School’s Twice Exceptional Game Design class worked diligently to code their very own video games. Our Twice Exceptional Game & App Design program expanded after the pilot program was recognized by the New Jersey State Board Association as an Innovator in Special Education in 2015.
Extended School Year Program: Upper School
Our Upper School ESY Program provides students with a safe and nurturing environment where they can continue developing work readiness skills, reinforce academic and social skills development, build friendships with their peers, and most of all have fun!
Extended School Year Program: Lower School
Our Elementary School ESY Program prevents the academic regression that can occur in the summer months by providing students with a safe and nurturing environment where they can build friendships, attend field trips, continue learning, and most of all have fun!
Structured Learning Experiences
Structured Learning Experiences or SLE is a component of our robust Transition & Career Services offering which serves to prepare Calais students for the workforce. To learn more about the SLE experience at The Calais School check out this video!
C.O.R.E. Transition Program
C.O.R.E. (Community – Opportunity – Responsibility – Employability) was developed with a public school student with an IEP in mind. In most cases, C.O.R.E. Program participants are graduating high school students that have completed all or most of their academic requirements but need a little help transitioning to adulthood.
The Calais School Science Fair
Ever wonder which brand of spearmint gum lasts the longest? Want to know how to grow your own crystals? Do you think fruit can generate electricity? Our students at The Calais School have run the experiments, crunched the numbers, and presented their findings to their peers!
Performing Arts at Calais
The art experience makes a significant contribution to the mental, emotional and social growth of our students. Opportunities for performing arts include choir, concert band, and theater. Each year the Calais Music Department performs a Winter and Spring Concert as well as a school play.
Extracurricular Activities at Calais
The Calais School offers various extracurricular activities during the school day which have included basketball, spirit squad, robotics, lego club, cooking club, girls group, chorus, band, and drama.
The Calais School’s Anti -Bullying Anthem
In honor of October being Anti-Bullying Awareness Month and for the general promotion of kindness, acceptance and unity, Ms. Polles’ high school creative writing class wrote and recorded an anti-bullying rap song.
Here Begins My Future- School song
The Calais School Song written and performed by our students.
NJTV Feature on Mary Alice Williams, 1.12.2017
Special Education Schools Worried about DOE Proposal
CBS 2 News Feature
Media spotlight on The Calais School’s Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) team which consists of three facility dogs and two highly trained handlers. The AAT program integrates the use of facility dogs into various educational and therapeutic programs.