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"Sharon is being nominated for this award because she is
a great Canteen Manager.
She approaches her work with enthusiasm and is always seeking
to improve the food for the students and staff, and to find
balance in what is being offered.
She manages a team of 200+ volunteers and is responsible
for catering for numerous school functions.
She is always approachable and ever willing to help and provide
for anyone who presents to her."
- Bruce Wallace, Director Property, Personnel & Services
Some facts about St. Bernard's College and the canteen:
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St. Bernard's College is an all boys' college with
a population of 1324 students from Years 7 to 12.
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The College operates as two campuses - Years 7 - 9
called 'The Strand' and Years 10 - 12 called the 'Clairvaux'.
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Students start arriving at school from 7.45 am each
day and Homeroom begins at 8.45 am. Classes conclude
at 3.00 pm each day.
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The running of the canteen is a shared position where
Sharon works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and
Mandy works on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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Sharon and Mandy are ably assisted by an army of volunteer
mums, mainly, numbering around 250.
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The canteen predominantly heats and serves food as
we do not have the facilities to cook food from scratch.
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The canteen provides an opportunity for parents to
meet and interact with one another and an opportunity
to meet staff in a less formal environment.
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Only amber snack products are sold at the canteen
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The canteen sells a variety of juices, milk, water,
PowerAde and diet drinks.
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Some statistics on what food items have been introduced
and the numbers sold:
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Up to 350 hot chilli chicken strips are sold on a Friday
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120 containers of fried rice each Thursday
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150 large sushi roll per week
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100 containers of yogurt each week
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150 'heart tick' pies per week on average
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180 steamed dim sims per day
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Sharon's typical day is as follows:
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Arrival before 8.00 am when deliveries start arriving
at the canteen
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Immediate start of preparation of breakfast items with
the help of a senior student
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8.20 - 8.40 am: Serving breakfast consisting of croissants,
cheese and bacon rolls, milk and juice
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9.00 am: Volunteers start arriving and preparation
of food commences - chicken and salad rolls, ham and
salad rolls, containers of yoghurt, fruit salad, fried
rice, sweet chilli chicken strips in rolls, burgers.
Pie warmers are stacked and fridges topped up. Sharon
works alongside the volunteers and supervises their
preparation of food.
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10.35 - 11.00 am: The Strand Campus recess - boys tend
to eat more during this session with the canteen selling
significant amounts of food
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11.25 - 11.50 am: Clairvaux Campus recess
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11.50 - 12.20 pm: Lunch for the volunteers. Re stock
the pie warmers and fridges
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12.40 - 1.20 pm: The Strand Campus lunch
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1.30 - 2.10 pm: Clairvaux Campus lunch
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2.00 - 4.00 pm: Clean-up of the canteen, counting of
money, ordering for the following day or week, restocking
shelves etc
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All in a day's work!
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On a Wednesday all 1324 students are out at recess
and lunch.
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Each Wednesday the Canteen provides morning tea for
a staff of around 140 Teachers and School Officers consisting
of hot food, sandwiches, fruit platters and slices.
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The Canteen would receive weekly requests for morning
tea or supper to be prepared for meetings and parent
gatherings.
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The Canteen caters for staff in-service days, student
retreats and evening functions.
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Amongst all of the items listed Sharon would have to
be aware of the needs of staff and students who have
allergies and special dietary needs.
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Most days Sharon would not leave school before 4.30
pm or later.
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Above all nothing is ever too much trouble for Sharon
- she is always willing to help and cater for the needs
of staff and students.
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The canteen would serve between 600 and 800 students
a day.
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Sharon believes in providing boys with choice in what
they eat and they really respond to the great variety
she offers each day.
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Sharing the workload:
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The job share position requires very good communication
skills and a good understanding between the two ladies.
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Sharon has the lead role as Manager.
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Both ladies would be involved in the communication
with families for volunteers and in the preparation
of rosters at the end of the year.
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Each holiday they spend time cleaning and preparing
for the start of the following term.
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Both ladies are required to place orders for food.
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Sharon engages with suppliers to set up the initial
buying agreement with them.
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Sharon and Mandy host a dinner for all the volunteers
and ensure that all those who are finishing at the College
are recognised for their work and they present them
with a gift of appreciation
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Sharon's attributes:
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An amazing capacity for work and always delivers with
a smile even when the cool room has malfunctioned, a
delivery is late, 6 classes have gone on excursion instead
of 1, the fuse has blown for the 16th time that day
and the heavens have opened up
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Does not panic when things are not proceeding well
or she has only one volunteer mum for the day
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Constantly explores ways to encourage boys to make
a healthy choice of food
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Always looking for new and innovative ways to improve
the canteen
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Keeps up with current thinking about canteen matters
and what is and isn't good for the boys
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Always listens to ideas from administration, students,
HPE teachers and parents
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Is a great organiser
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Is a member of the VSCA, has presented at some of the
gatherings of this group and is on the organising committee
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Is a good listener to the many conversations she hears
amongst the volunteers
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Sharon's motto is 'All things in moderation'.
- Bruce Wallace, Director Property, Personnel & Services
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