On Friday, Oct. 28. Students from J.A. Williams High School culinary program were presented with an honorarium form the Stuart McPherson Library board in special thanks and recognition of their volunteer success at the library’s grand opening at the Bold Centre.
The grand opening of the library was catered and organized completely but the students of J.A.W.S and as a result, the library board gave the class and honorarium of $250 for their efforts to be used for supplies and to further the development of the program.
“On behalf of the board, we are honoured and please with potential to enter into collaboration with J.A.W.S and in particular with this class and what you did for the community,’ said library board member Ted Langford.
J.A.W.S principal Terry Moghrabi established the program, which has been in effect since 2006, in an effort to bring in healthier choices for the lunch program.
“I saw opportunity and went for it,” Moghrabi said. “It’s less profit margin but you can’t put a price on learning,”
. Once in place, the new culinary program at J.A.W.S. began as a basic foods course, similar to home economics. Over the years it has grown and developed and currently follows CKA modules which are more oriented to industry and commercial cooking, notes program coordinator and executive chef and educator, George Buchanan.
“I worked as a chef for over 30 years in hotels and restaurants, mainly as a consultant, but the transition to teaching here was really easy,” Buchanan said. “The kids are much better behaved and more enthused and really care about what they are doing here.
Buchanan adds that so far, the program has shown a lot of success, both in and out of the kitchen and the library grand opening is just one of the more recent success. He notes that a lot of the students are what many would consider at risk or problem students who would normally skip classes, but no one ever skips his class and he enforces a rule that in order to maintain standing in his kitchen, his students must attend all there other classes. He believes in empowering the students and giving them life skills, including a professional attitude.
“I tell them that if they are not going to be able to come to class, they have to call me directly. Their parents still have to call the school to inform them that the kids won’t be there, but they6 also have to call me and let me know. It’s a matter of professional courtesy,” Buchanan said.
The students from the program also run the lunchroom on their own time, something that Buchanan notes is really special because they are taking their own free time to make something good for others and a feeling of success and accomplishment. They don’t get paid in money, however those who volunteer do get a free lunch at the end of their shift. Although a student must be in Grade 10 to participate in the class, many younger students often ask to volunteer at lunch times as well.
Merrissa Foster, one of the student organizers of the library opening event thinks this program is worth it for all students.
“This program is very beneficial for sure. And it’s a huge part of a lot of people’s lives,” Foster said. “You definitely mature a lot doing it.”
Buchanan couldn’t agree more and believes that empowering the kids is what makes a big difference.
“I don’t believe in giving things away for free. There are students who don’t have the money to pay for lunches and we offer them a meal but they have to do a little work for it,” Buchanan noted. “They have to clear a few tables or collect all the recycling. It empowers them and makes them more appreciative of the food afterwards.”
“It makes them feel good about doing something that is successful
The program itself offers the student real experience in large scale setting including the Systems Day that recently occurred where the students catered to 700 people in the morning session alone. This is something Moghrabi thinks is something to be very proud of.
“I have a great sense of pride in our community and the students in the program. I’m proud of our connection with the library,” Moghrabi said. “We see the students succeeding in and out of class.”
Because of his pride for both the students and the connection to the library with hopes of further collaborations, Moghrabi thinks that a great way to spend of the honorarium given to them by the library board would be to invest in chef hats for the students with logos representing both J.A.W.S and the library.
-30-
The grand“Your work was very appreciated and as a result, the library board would like to present to the class, teacher and the school, $250 for use for supplies and to further this important program
did for the community
ted raising money library board fund opening event countless praises . hard to find that kind of volunteer work.
merissa, very beneficial and a huge part of a lot of ppl’s ;ives you mature a lot doing it
bryce every school should have it
cole a great expreince
george
been running this program for 5-6 yrs after terry decided to take over the food operations andmake it healthier, 2006-2007
private operation before and terry wanted to make food healthier
programs tarted under general foods, like home economics, but now CKA moduls and commercial cooking, more industry related
hgas red seal so can provide credits for class
worked as a cheft for over 30 yrs at various hotels and restaurants, mainly consulting for mac
really easy transition, kids are better, more enthused, really cared abaout whate we are doing
so far success rate has been pretty good, even if they don’t go on to do cooking afterwards, they learn life skills
many are problem kids who would skip class but never this one and they have to go to the other classes in order to stay in this class
have to be in at least grade 10
the students are the ones who run the caff/lunch room on their own time, volunteer. A lot of gr 9 kids ask to do it also, volunteer at lunch. Makes them feel good about doing something successful, empoweres them, I really believe in empowering kids and they get lunch
we feed kids who don’t come to school with food but not for free, they have to clear a few tables aor collect reclycning. Don’t give away for nothing
first yr with logo on jackets because ppl kept asking what catering company from and now they klnow the ppl are highschool students, makes them feel like they belong to something
real experince int his program, systems day with 700 ppl in just morning aprt alone, used to do football banquets, has to be school related
terry moghrabi
pride of community and proud of connection with library
seeing success in and out of school
“healthy choices at a reasonable price”
saw opportunity, less profit margin but can’t put a price on learning