We are excited to announce a recent partnership with Johnny’s Pizzeria of Whippany. This partnership developed through our Work Based Learning Program (WBL), has provided internship opportunities for students interested in the food service industry. Calais upper school and 12 plus students participate in WBL internships – gaining experience and exploring career paths at various local businesses. 

Angela Manuzzi, owner of Johnny’s Pizzeria, explains why she chose to partner with Calais, “Our decision stemmed from a desire to provide meaningful opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in a professional setting. This partnership was established to create internship opportunities that would allow students to develop essential skills while contributing to our business. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Calais School to provide more students with similar opportunities in the future.”

Jacob M.,  a 12 plus student began interning at Johnny’s last school year and picked back up with his internship again this fall. Jacob has grown to play an important part in the operational efficiency of the restaurant. His role includes front and back of house responsibilities from greeting customers to bussing and supporting the staff with food preparation, kitchen sanitization and organization. Jacob is learning the ins and outs of food service while also gaining several transferable skills, such as working effectively in a fast-paced environment, collaborating as part of a team, time management, and problem-solving.

Ms. Manuzzi shared her hopes for Jacob’s internship: “Ultimately, we want Jacob to leave this experience with a greater understanding of the workplace and a sense of confidence in his abilities.”

The Calais School Work Based Learning program is a robust program offering students a variety of industry specific internship opportunities. Students benefit from hands-on work site experience, career exploration and resume development. The school provides transportation and job coaching for all student interns.

If you are a local business owner or store manager interested in helping students with disabilities explore career opportunities and gain employment skills please contact The Calais School at 973-884-2030.