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Client Base:
Currently, the Cafeteria caters to some 1400 students and
150 staff. Operating hours are 7 am to 3 pm each school day.
Added to this is the provision of catering for school functions
and ad hoc events as requested. The Victorian Space Science
Education Centre (VSSEC) is in the final stages of construction
within the College grounds and it is anticipated that the
Canteen will be required to provide an additional 70 meals
a day from the start of the 2006 school year. In 2005, with
this in mind, Canteen staff considered ways in which to increase
their capacity to meet these new demands.
Equipment:
Over the past 12 months, they have worked toward the purchase
and installation of improved equipment. An example of their
efforts is the new multi-use warming oven. Designed by Jenny
and her staff, this oven can be used to handle lunch orders
and as a holding oven for the additional food requirements
next year. Of course, it serves a myriad of other purposes
in a busy Canteen. Recently, an additional granita machine
that holds both traditional and fresh fruit ice drinks was
installed and they are also endeavouring to purchase an industrial
focaccia press to meet demand.
Environment:
The Canteen is open planned, with seating both inside and
out. Food preparation and cooking is clearly visible and the
highest standards of hygiene are applied. There are 3 counter
areas - one specifically for year 7 students, the main counter
inside where the seating area is housed, and another that
caters to those outside the building.
Education:
The Canteen is not only meeting its charter to provide healthy
food for students and staff. Students who have expressed an
interest are given the opportunity to work with staff on-site,
receiving practical experience in food preparation and handling
procedures. This includes dealing with customers and handling
cash. As the Canteen also responds to requests for other types
of school catering, the students are able to learn waiting
and service skills. This program has been evaluated as extremely
beneficial and popular with the students and faculty alike.
Menu:
The menu is reviewed regularly and the principle of providing
fresh healthy food is always at the core. There is a new menu
each day for both breakfast and lunch. All food is prepared
and cooked fresh each morning on the premises. Fresh fruit
is always available.
To cater for the greater numbers of students who have breakfast
at school (commencing at 7 am) the morning menu includes,
for example:
- Cereal, muesli & yoghurt fruit cups
- Fresh fruit salad
- Scrambled eggs on muffins
- Thin crepes with fruit
- Fruit toast
- Toasted sandwiches
- Milk, fruit juice, water
(There is no food served before 10 am that is not considered
to be suitable for breakfast.)
From recess on, there is a wide selection of snacks that
also alter daily, for example:
- Fresh sandwiches & rolls
- Nachos
- Chicken and basil meat balls
- Fruit salad
- Tomato & low fat cheese pin wheels
The lunch menu has changed and more lunches are served as
meals, for example:
- Roast beef served with assorted vegetables
- Chicken served with assorted vegetables
- Cannelloni served with garlic bread
- Freshly made pizza
Asian food has become very popular and the following items
are big winners:
- Stir fry
- Noodles
- Sushi
- Vietnamese rolls
- Middle Eastern breads and salads
- Pita bread rolls
- Interesting salads eg. roast vegetable, avocado & chicken,
Thai beef, etc
The Canteen has also planted a fresh herb garden that includes
some vegetables for use in meal preparation.
Summary:
We are convinced that the Strathmore Secondary College Canteen
has achieved a standard of excellence that mirrors one of
the Federal Government's stated objectives of assisting children
to improve their intake of nutritious foods. It has been demonstrated
that the Canteen has developed healthy menus (including breakfast)
and that in some respects contributes to curriculum resources
by offering a low level training opportunity to students.
Pivotal to school life at SSC, our staff are professional,
energetic members of our Community. Our Canteen works on continuous
improvement and this is achieved through a strong consultative
process and constant monitoring of Government Health Policy
and the level of client satisfaction.
- Communications Officer
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