|
"On behalf of the School Council, the Junior School Council,
the community and the staff of North Fitzroy Primary School,
I would like to nominate our canteen manager Jo Bush as a
candidate for the 2010 VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards.
"Jo runs a non-profit canteen at North Fitzroy Primary
School. In particular, she has created a strong community
network around the work of the canteen and established a close
rapport with the students, parent volunteers and staff. Her
efforts not only contribute to the cohesiveness and overall
high morale of the school community, but also provide our
busy working parents with a valuable service: healthy lunches
delivered on time and hot, where appropriate, to the children's
classrooms.
"Jo is proactive and shows a genuine commitment to the
health and well being of the students. She invests many hours
of her own time in sourcing healthy, delicious and exciting
menu items such as vegetarian pasta dishes, sushi, frozen
milk popsicles, yoghurt sticks and fresh seasonal fruit. She
has cooked treats for the children herself, made of nutritious
and healthy ingredients.
"Jo's weekly 'Tutti Frutti' (fresh fruit) promotion
has been particularly successful and beneficial for the whole
school student population. She has also enlisted the support
of classroom teachers to further promote the importance of
healthy eating habits in their classroom programs. Please
refer to the photographs and documentation.
"Jo also works closely with the Junior School Council
to raise money for disadvantaged students, both nationally
and internationally.
"In addition, she leads her volunteers and members of
her own family, who donate their time and expertise unstintingly,
to organise fundraising and specialty days to keep the canteen
viable. While healthy foods are promoted as the daily fare,
these events help teach the children that the occasional celebration
is also quite alright. Examples of these events include:
- Easter mystery boxes that contained
a hot cross bun, cheese portion, sultanas, baby carrots,
small chocolate eggs and a fruit drink
- Beautiful Mother's and Father's
Day breakfasts and gift boxes which she decorated herself,
that contained delicacies such as wholemeal berry muffins,
love heart chocolates, cereal bars, herbal teas, coffee
and fresh juice
- Italian Carnevale Day lunches that
included Hawaiian and Margherita pizzas, Italian nectar
pear drinks and gelati
- Hot chocolate and pyjama day in
winter
- Lunch box treats which contained
chicken drumsticks or quiche and strawberries
- A special Anzac Day box which contained
vegemite, salada crackers, Anzac biscuits and cheddar cheese
"Jo voluntarily opens the canteen each year for the
annual school fete to raise money for North Fitzroy Primary
School. She also supports the staff and enhances morale by
contributing to the catering for special occasions such as
births, engagements, marriages, milestone birthdays and other
significant celebrations.
"Jo is generous of spirit and always acknowledges the
support of all of the volunteers who work at the canteen by
writing personalised letters and giving them small gifts to
show her appreciation at the end of every school year. In
return, her rosters of volunteers are always filled with parents
happy to give their time to such activities as sandwich making,
slicing and freezing fruit and serving over the counter.
"The magnitude of Jo's achievements and lists of her
ongoing efforts continues to grow while her commitment and
enthusiasm never waver.
"I firmly believe that our canteen manager Jo Bush from
North Fitzroy Primary School is an outstanding one, and worthy
of recognition for the 2010 VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards."
- Linda Codognotto, Teacher and School Councillor
"We believe that our canteen is one of the most healthy canteens
in the state.
"We would also like to nominate our canteen as the healthiest
in the state, and Jo Bush for running it.
"Here are some reasons why we believe so and what we
think is good about our canteen and Jo.
- We don't have any junk food.
- As well as fruit we have only little
treats that will keep us satisfied but not unhealthy ones.
- Jo in our canteen has set up many
fundraisers such as Fathers day and Mothers day stalls,
hot chocolate/pyjama day, Italian day, etc. Jo uses the
money to buy things to help other international causes.
- We asked some people for their favourite
foods in the canteen and here are some of their answers:
- One said a Juicy (Juicies are
a healthy 100% apple, orange or blackcurrant frozen
juice made into a great healthy treat.)
- Another said meat pie. You may
think that's unhealthy but we have light and low fat
pies in our canteen. Kids can buy lunches from the canteen
so their parents don't have to worry about making lunch
and having it being unhealthy.
- Jo in our canteen has made categories
of what food is good to eat on a regular basis and some
foods that you should only eat occasionally.
- Our canteen might have stuff that's
a teeny weeny bit unhealthy but almost all our food is healthy
so the food that's a bit unhealthy is OK to have sometimes.
- Since our canteen is a very healthy
canteen, it keeps our bodies healthy and our minds healthy
for work.
- If our canteen doesn't provide food
to boost the mind, we won't be able to work at our very
best.
- Jo provides the kids with a Tutti
Frutti Tuesday where she gives the children a variety of
fruits.
- Poppy and Ben, Junior School Council Executives
|
\
