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45 Highland Avenue
Whippany, NJ 07981
Call Us
973-884-2030
Visit our Website
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THE CALAIS COURIER
Winter/Spring 2015
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The last few months have been particularly exciting here at The Calais School! Since our Fall 2014 issue, we have launched a new school website and a "parents-only" website called the Parent Portal. Please check them both out here:
www.thecalaisschool.org.
We apologize that it's been so long since the last newsletter. In between newsletters, you can always visit our school
blog and
Facebook page to see what's going on
here at Calais...
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Twice Exceptional students show off their award with Principal Dr. Diane Manno and Lead Teacher Adam Maturo.
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Twice Exceptional Gifted & Talented Program Awarded NJSBA Innovations in Special Education Award
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| Steve Sokolewicz and Adam Maturo On May 11th, The Calais School was recognized by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and ASAH for its innovative Twice Exceptional Gifted and Talented Program in technology. The program allows students grades 7 through 12 Plus to work together on creating an app that will eventually be used by the entire Calais School community. The Calais School was honored to be recognized along with only nine other New Jersey Schools for innovative instructional programming at the "Innovations in Special Education" Awards luncheon in Princeton. The ceremony was part of Special Education Week, a New Jersey education tradition since 1985. In this year's Special Education Week Proclamation, Governor Chris Christie called upon the people of New Jersey:
...to recognize the achievements of New Jersey's special education students and the outstanding contributions made by educators, school board members, schools and agencies for the disabled, and their parents. The Twice Exceptional Program at The Calais School is a groundbreaking opportunity for students with special needs, who often excel at video games and technology while they are challenged socially or emotionally. At The Calais School we have recognized our students' unique talents and are striving to give them real-world skills in competitive and emerging industries such as video game and app design.
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Lead Teacher Adam Maturo demonstrated the app at the Innovations in Special Education Awards luncheon.
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This program cultivates the strengths of our students by developing programming skills using professional-grade app design software suite. Students use an innovative online course from Youth Digital, which is geared toward middle and high school students and teaches app design in a fun and interactive way. The course teaches students the basics of app and game development using the program Clickteam Fusion 2. The program guides students through the process of creating a game similar to the popular iOS game Angry Birds. All aspects of the game, including sound effects, background design, level design, the behavior of obstacles and hazards have been programmed by students. As students have found out, designing a game is not as easy as placing enemies and hero characters on a background. In order to make the game function, behind the scenes programming rules have to be identified and created. The real work comes into play when students are taught the basics of programming by using simple if-then
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The Calais School was one of ten schools honored as Innovators in Special Education.
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statements such as, "if the hero collides with an enemy, then the enemy is destroyed." The App Design 1 course has built-in quizzes that are used to evaluate students as well as troubleshooting scenarios where students must fix a broken version of their app. The students currently enrolled in the Twice Exceptional Program range from grades 7 to 12 Plus. This range of ages has allowed for a peer mentoring environment as they cooperatively develop a fully-functional app. We are excited to expand the program beyond technology. We have seen its success throughout the 2014-2015 school year and will expand the program in the future to offer students gifted in language arts, music, and art a Twice Exceptional Program that will cultivate these talents and encourage personal growth. |
| ANIMAL ADAPTIVE THERAPY IN THE NEWS |
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| Christine Sloan relaxed a bit after the interview with Mrs. Ferment, Cleo, Cali, and Ms. Butler |
Animal Adaptive Therapy? Program Featured on CBS News
CBS 2 News at 5 o'clock recently featured The Calais School's work with institutional service dogs. Students, staff, and service dogs Cali and Cleo were interviewed about our Animal Adaptive Therapy? program. This initiative, which incorporates full-time service dogs into the therapeutic and educational program at Calais, is unique in the state of New Jersey. CBS reporter Christine Sloan interviewed four students as well as our Executive Director, Principal, and certified service dog handlers Casey Butler and Lara Ferment.
A dog lover herself, Ms. Sloan became interested in the program after seeing a story about our program in the Daily Record. Cali even checked Christine's cortisol level to see if she was nervous about our network television debut!
Watch the interview here and see our students shine!
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Cali and Ms. Butler work with a student in Upper CRC.
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Calais Wins Animal Assisted Therapy Award
The Calais School is proud to announce we have been awarded the Partlow Insurance Risk Management Award for Best Practices in Animal Assisted Therapy. Our project, "Behavioral Interventions with Animal Adaptive Therapy ? in the Special Needs School Environment," was presented at a webinar in April to members of the special needs school community. The webinar focused on Cali's work as a cortisol detection institutional service dog. Cali detects the stress hormone cortisol and then signals to her handler, Ms. Butler. Ms. Butler and the counseling team can then provide
a behavioral intervention and therapeutic support based on the student's needs.
The Partlow Insurance Agency, the endorsed insurance agency of ASAH, will present the award at the 2015 Fall Conference of the Association.
Partlow Insurance Agency established a "Risk Management Award" to recognize the importance risk management practices in individual schools. This year's call for submissions focused on
Animal As
sisted Therapy and the use of therapeutic animals for
individuals with
disabilities.
The Calais School's Animal Adaptive Therapy? program is a unique partnership with Janice Wolfe and her nonprofit organizations Merlin's KIDS? and United K9 Professionals?. Merlin's KIDS? has trained our service dogs to adapt to the needs of each and every one of our students. Service dogs Cali and Cleo work with students to learn the social, emotional, and behavioral skills today that they will use for the rest of their lives. Our institutional service dog handlers are certified in Natural Canine Behavior Rehabilitation? through United K9 Professionals?. They are also certified teachers who teach our students Health and Reading.
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| Student Maintains Correspondence with White House |
Jake B. advises President on ISIS and the drought in California
Seventh grade student Jake B.'s persuasive letter to the President caught the attention of the Commander in Chief himself! At the suggestion of Ms. Perillo, Jake sent his letter-a persuasive essay assignment for class-to the White House.
His letter offers the President advice on a number of problems facing the United States. He offered tips for deterring White House fence jumpers, strategies for defeating ISIS in the Middle East, and irrigation techniques to alleviate the drought in California.
Jake's letter caught the eye of the President with its strong, clear language and call to action:
Those people that jump the White House fence are not only invading one of the most historic places in American history, they are invading your home, as well. What I think your security should do is line the fence with trip wire so fence jumpers can be stopped much quicker. I always thought that modern technology and old fashioned technology would work quite nicely together, maybe you can prove it.
The President responded with a letter, signed photograph, and a packet of interesting information on the history of the White House and the Office of the President. He urged Jake to "always remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you are willing to keep dreaming, creating, and innovating." We are all so proud that Jake's hard work has been recognized not only by his teachers, but by the President as well!
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Jake shows off his correspondence from President Barack Obama.
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Read Jake's letter to the President here...
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SLE Students Work in the Community
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tudents work in placements designed to match their interests and skills.
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Lisa Marie Vallo and Sue Brenner
The Structured Learning Experience (SLE) program is designed to help students explore possible career options. Students participate in a variety of community-based volunteer work experiences including work at Marshalls, Parsippany-Troy Hills Library, Cottage Flowers, and Sunnyfields Daycare Center. Placements are carefully matched to each student's strengths and interests, affording them the opportunity to develop valuable career-readiness skills.
In addition, the school-based SLE program is responsible for providing students and faculty with tasks throughout the building. SLE students often mentor and read to younger students in class, complete office work, design school bulletin boards, work the school store during lunch, and oversee the student library.
Together, both sides of the SLE program serve to enhanced skill development, build a sense of responsibility and allow students to explore post-high school options. In the words of a veteran student,
...the program has given me the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to experience the real life world of work while improving my social skills.
Through a grant from
The Calais Foundation, SLE students may be eligible for a stipend during the summer Extended School Year program. Many programs at The Calais School are made possible by our generous donors from the Foundation, including psychiatric services, Animal Adaptive Therapy,? and the Touchdown for Success Field Day. The SLE summer work study program is no different. We wish to send a big thank you to The Calais Foundation for starting this innovative work study program for SLE students!
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Wizard of Oz Musical Wows Audience
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Students Take Audience Down the Yellow Brick Road
Margaret Mutchler
Dorothy and Toto landed in Whippany last week and what an adventure they had! The Calais School's production of the Wizard of Oz was a success.
The cast and crew did a magnificent job of putting all the pieces together. We had some very creative staff members make costumes and alterations for our students. Mr. Catalano and Mr. Amaya worked diligently with our stagecraft students to design, build and paint some beautiful sets to bring Kansas, Munchkinland, and the Land of Oz to life.
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| Students journeyed down the Yellow Brick Road in April. |
This truly was a group effort to bring this story to the stage. It was quite a road traveled to get to Oz and home again, but what fun we all had in the process. From the costumes to the scenery to the ACTING, everything was wonderful.
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| Robert S. found his courage playing the Cowardly Lion. |
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Puppy Love Photo Fundraiser Raises Money for Senior Prom
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Casey Butler
In celebration of Valentine's Day, Cleo and Cali arrived photo ready to pose for pin a "Puppy Love" photo booth created by our high school students. Students worked very hard at designing a Valentine's Day themed backdrop to use for the photos, and provided props to hold while taking the puppy love pictures! Cali and Cleo were decked out in their Valentine 's Day gear and posed for over 60 pictures with students and staff! The money raised was donated to The Calais School prom.
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| Iris C. strikes a pose with Cali. |
Cali and Cleo certainly enjoyed this fundraiser, and they hope all of their kids did as well! They wanted to send a special thanks to all of the high school students who helped them create the photo booth They couldn't have done it without you!
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| Darrin's pencil drawing will tour the state through September 12th. |
Students Receive VSA Student Art Excellence Awards
Three Calais School students received Excellence in Art awards this year. Darrin C. was recognized for his artwork, which was displayed at the opening for the VSA Art Par Excellence Exhibit on May 9th. It will also be featured as part of their Art Par Excellence tour and be featured at Artworks in Trenton, the Mason Gross School of the Arts, and Middlesex County College.
12 Plus students Carlie C. and Christina G. were recognized for their creative writing and have been selected to receive a distinguished Governor's Award in Arts Education. Both girls have been asked to read one of their creative writing pieces at the awards ceremony.
All three students are very talented individuals who have worked very diligently for their accomplishments. It has been a joy to watch them expand their skills and mature. Mrs. Liberato shared that each girl "has shown advancement and maturity both as a person and an artist." We are so proud of our student artists and know there are great things in store for them as they continue to grow as artists! A special thank you to Mr. Catalano, Mrs. Polles, and Mrs. Liberato for nominating and inspiring our students!
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Parachute Activity in Mrs. Tacinelli's Class
Michael Cudia and Angela Territo
Mrs. Tacinelli's class had a fun time with Mrs. Territo and Mr. Cudia using the parachute as part of our Positive Behavioral Support Program. This exercise was designed to teach the importance of playing together as a team while strengthening the relationships student-to-student and student-to-staff. The activity facilitates cooperative play and encourages students to follow directions while promoting trust and mutual respect that will carry over into daily classroom activities. The Elementary Counseling Team utilizes exercises like these to build upon social skills using an activity-based
format to facilitate increased cooperation and communication skills.
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| Class 201 Earns Platinum |
I would like to congratulate my students in Class 201 for all achieving a Platinum Level. The class has been working very hard as a team on their behavioral contracts and encouraging each other to make good choices.
Platinum Level means the students have a proven work ethic and demonstrate respectful and courteous behavior. Students receive special privileges when they reach the Platinum Level in our levels system, which is incorporated into each student's education plan and rewards positive behavior.
All eleven students were rewarded with a class party and special time together in the Platinum Lounge. This was a huge accomplishment and I am very proud of them! Congratulations to all students on their achievements!
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| Everyone enjoys a meal when students cook! |
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CTE Gets Cooking for Calais School Events
Patti Russo
The Science of Cooking students have been learning about food safety, sanitation, nutrition and different methods of food preparation. By putting in to practice what they have learned in class they have prepared simple meals and desserts such as pancakes, grilled cheese, pasta, cookies, and cupcakes.
They also prepared our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for the entire school. The students came up with a menu and the associated tasks to help them complete this grand project. The students created a timeline, shopping list and recipes to complete their project by our deadline. They prepared turkey, brown gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and mixed green salad with homemade salad dressing. For dessert the students prepared Oreo cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, apple crumb bars and pumpkin roll.
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Read Across America Week
Maryann Braen
The National Education Association's Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.
Motivating children to read is an important component in student achievement. In honor of Read Across America week, a variety of Calais staff members enjoyed reading stories written by Dr. Seuss to our students. A wonderful time was had by all! Thank you to all staff members who volunteered!
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| Special guest readers like the Cat in the Hat read to classes all week. |
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The school year may be winding down, but our students have been busier than ever! Between now and June, our students will present their Spring Concert and will participate in the 2015 Touchdown for Success Field Day with the Gridiron Gang.
We are particularly excited to partner with Microsoft for
Calais Week at Microsoft for special STEM, gaming, and app design workshops at their stores in Bridgewater and Paramus.
Thank you to The Calais Foundation
for organizing what promises to be a great week!
There is also still time to enroll in our
Extended School Year program. This innovative summer program offers academic, social and therapeutic programs for children ages 3-21 with multiple learning disabilities. Call (973) 884-2030 today to make sure your student is enrolled for a summer of fun.
We look forward to a happy and productive rest of the 2014-2015 school year!
Sincerely,
Megan LoBue
The Calais School
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