The Calais School has enhanced its in-house Work-Based Learning (WBL) program to offer student-led initiatives that foster work readiness.

Ms. Jennifer Ferguson, Calais’ Transition Teacher, works with upperclassmen and 12 Plus students to teach and reinforce work readiness skills both in and out of the classroom. With the help of Ms. Ferguson and the Transition team, Calais has reimagined our in-house WBL program. This school year, students worked in groups to develop business plans for three school-based work opportunities: a school store, a cafe, and a student newspaper. The student-led initiatives give students exposure to real life work experience and a chance to develop various job skills and soft skills.

For the entire first quarter of the school year, students worked with job coaches and Ms. Ferguson to develop strategic plans. “Both the high school and 12 Plus students have risen to the challenge of creating successful school-based business ventures.” Ms. Ferguson explains. “Every step of the process has been initiated and completed by the students themselves, and they have collaboratively built [these businesses] from the ground up.” 

Students fine-tuned their plans, from mission and vision to operational procedures, and everything in between, which included:

  • designing floor plans and layouts;
  • determining employee responsibilities;
  • seeking staff and student feedback on desired products to be sold at the cafe and school store;
  • creating and maintaining documents and spreadsheets pertaining to their business’s operations;
  • making lists of tasks and delegating them among the team; and 
  • setting and meeting deadlines.

The program operates around a workplace metaphor, in which students are employees, job coaches and paraprofessionals are supervisors, teachers are bosses, and administrators are upper-level management. Prior to executing any business plans, students had to advocate for their needs by communicating with the Calais Administration to request supplies and support. Additionally, students are benefiting from opportunities to reinforce communication, customer service, workplace safety, and social-emotional skills. These soft skills are transferable to any job or career position our students may hold throughout their entire lives.

Overall, the business endeavors have increased student creativity and enthusiasm and improved their work ethic and collaboration skills. Additionally, 12 Plus students are now transferring these skills to off-campus work sites. 

To learn more about our Transition Programs, reserve a spot for our next Virtual Open House, which will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 1:30 PM.