Work Based Learning (WBL) offer students supervised activities designed to assist them to explore and define career goals, build workplace-readiness skills, and gain career area field experience. Students are introduced to WBL activities on-campus starting in the 11th grade. When ready, students will be placed in unpaid internships alongside job coaches at a variety of job sites within the community. The end goal is to provide students with the training they need to confidently seek employment within their home community with minimal or no support.

WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM DETAILS

Starting in their junior year, students are introduced to WBL through various on-campus work experiences. Student interest plays a significant role in guiding job skill development areas and career exploration. This introduction to WBL includes intensive one-on-one instruction as well as group based activities. Students build interoffice skills including: organization, planning, written and verbal communication, strategy development and execution, and critical thinking. Students also participate in light office work, fundraising, taking and delivering staff lunch orders, food preparation, and conducting career based interviews of faculty and staff.

Once a student reaches 12th grade, WBL will  introduce him or her into the workforce through unpaid internships. Working in the community 2 to 3 days a week through the WBL program gives students the opportunity to identify & explore career interests, skills and abilities while developing employability skills and good work habits. These internships take place in local retail establishments, early childhood development centers, healthcare facilities, food markets, animal shelters, graphic design shops and libraries as well as other opportunities. An accompanying job coach encourages students to work on skills related to performing specific job tasks and also helps with other skills necessary in the workplace such as interpersonal skills, employment training, compliance and job performance.

Students continue to develop workplace readiness with a combination of Work Based Learning and Community-based Instruction through our 12 Plus Program. Internships at local businesses give students real world experiences that create a strong foundation toward independent adult lives. Students gain an understanding of employer expectations, cultivate appropriate workplace behavior and build a resume all at the same time.

PARTNER PROGRAM

Each year, The Calais School partners with an increasing number of local businesses. While partnerships are subject to change below is a list of local businesses with which we have partnered or are actively partnering with:

  • CareOne
  • Crunch Fitness
  • Fast Signs
  • Marshalls
  • No Fuss Lunch
  • PetCo
  • PIP Printing
  • Riccardi Brothers
  • ShopRite of Greater Morristown
  • Sunnyfield’s
  • The Parsippany-Troy Hills Library
  • The Morris Museum
  • TJ Maxx
  • Tons of Toys
  • Walgreens

If you are a local business owner or store manager, and are interested in partnering with The Calais School’s Work Based Learning program, please contact Vincent Femia, Work Based Learning Coordinator, at 973-884-2030 ext. 356.