Rhubarb, Rhubarb...

This is the first review of our in house catering service here at St Wilfrids by the School Nutrition action Group, SNAG.

Queues in the dining area were minimal and service was quick and efficient. The menus were displayed clearly and excited the taste buds as the menu had become more adventurous. The menu featured such dishes as stuffed peppers with couscous and rhubarb and rhubarb sausages. I opted for the rhubarb sausages, served with roast potatoes, garden peas and gravy. Lee had the stuffed peppers served with potatoes and garden peas. At first the thought of rhubarb and pork was daunting, but as soon as it touched the palette it was clearly apparent that the butcher knew what he was doing. I would even go as far as to say he was a culinary genius when it comes to locally produced meat. They were cooked to perfection as well! The garden peas changed my whole perception of school canteen vegetables and the gravy and the roast potatoes were fine.

It was good to see rhubarb on the menu this week as it is rhubarb week in Wakefield and as I am sure you already know, we are part of the rhubarb triangle and to see this locally produced food clearly on the menu was fantastic. I was also impressed by the responses from the catering staff when pupils asked about all the rhubarb on the menu. I liked the adventurous stuffed pepper on the menu, it was nicely presented but the rhubarb was slightly bitter alongside the pepper, however it was a great idea with thought and passion which is fantastic to see.

For desert we had the crumble I’m sure you can guess which fruit….. yes rhubarb! It was great and the accompanying custard was hot, full of flavour, smooth and fresh. The dining environment is yet to be improved, however the addition of the LCD screen and music added more of an atmosphere to the room. Overall it was a good experience. I must say that over the last year or two the catering has improved dramatically. Well done to all the catering staff. Keep up the good work!

Josh Angell

Down on the Farm

Recently students from St Wilfrids visited two organic farms, Swillington Organic farm on the 25th of February & Clever Cow Organic farm on the 4th of March. The trip was taken by post-16 BTEC Science students as part of one of their Task investigating the physical and chemical properties of different soil types.

Swillington Farm

Swilington farm is an organic farm which raises cows, goats, ducks, pigs, chickens and sheep. Students collected eggs from the farms chicken sheds, a few lucky people got to play with the farms goats and everyone was able to buy delicious organic ice cream and chocolate from the farms shop, whilst one unlucky teacher narrowly escaped an over-excited goose! The class spent the morning touring the farm site used for a range of activities including farming animals, growing Christmas trees, fishing, and nature works. In the afternoon students carried out an investigation into different soil types across the farms site, using scientific techniques to determine different types of soil.

Clever Cow

Clever Cow farm is a diary farm located near Thornhill. The farm is run by the Rawson family and currently 3 generations of the family live on the farm. The farm is currently run by the family’s son, Tom, who uses a range of cutting-edge farming techniques to ensure that the far m has most efficient use of land for feeding their cows. The farm not only makes it own milk but it also bottles and sells its own brand of organic milk and cream, which are used by St Wilfrids in the school canteen. The farm uses a cross bred of black & white and Jersey cows (seen on the left) At the farm students got to see the farms herd of cows, as well as a tour of the whole of the farms site which involved team working skills because SOMEONE let one of the cows escape and the group had to conjure up and implement a recapturing plan! Pupils also got to see the milking shed and the bottling plant at the farm. As a special treat pupils were able to see newly born calf’s and had the chance to play with them. For lunch the family put on an assortment of cakes and scones with tea, all using the Clever Cow farms produce. They were delicious. In the afternoon pupils carried out soil tests across the farm site and found a range of different soil types.

Special thanks to Mr Lee who drove the mini-bus to Swillington and Mr Larrington who drove the mini-bus to Clever Cow Organic. For more information about farm trips contact Miss Sanderson in the Science department.

Article by Miss Sanderson

WOW! That's a mouthful Episode One

Wow! That’s a Mouthful is a short film made by a group of 7, 6th form students from St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School. It was funded by the Food For Life Partnership. In the film 6th form student Tara, sets off to find out what has happened to her school meals? Why have they got rid of all the chips, burgers and fizzy drinks. She discovers that it is not just to make the school healthier. By tracing the beef in a bowl of spaghetti bolognaise from field to plate she discovers that they (the school) are support the local community and help save the environment. Episode Two to follow.

Food For Life

St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School is selected to become national leader on school meals and food education

St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School has been selected by the new Lottery-funded Food for Life Partnership to become one of 180 Flagship Schools and Communities across England that will be recognised as national leaders on food quality and food education.

Taking up the challenge laid down by Jamie Oliver’s school dinners campaign, the Food for Life Partnership has been funded by the National Lottery over five years from 2007 to help transform food culture in schools across the country.

Building on St Wilfrid’s achievements to date, the Food for Life Partnership will now help put more fresh, local & organic food on the menu and get our pupils – and interested parents and community groups – cooking and growing food and visiting local farms.

St Wilfrid’s will now receive hands-on support from Food for Life Partnership staff to achieve a Food for Life Partnership GOLD Mark, which will put us at the top of the league table on food culture in school. This will mean that:

· Our catering team will get help sourcing at least 75% fresh, 50% locally sourced and 30% organic ingredients for our school meals.

· For one week we will host the Food for Life Partnership Cooking Bus, which will welcome, staff, parents and community groups on board alongside pupils to teach useful cooking skills in practical hands-on sessions.

· A garden education officer will help the school community [further] develop an organic growing area in which pupils can grow food for school meals and cooking.

· We will build stronger links with community food businesses and one or more local farms.

· Pupils will be given some of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences of their school lives, cooking and growing food and linking with a local farm.

One Planet Food

On May 21st 2008, 27 year 7 students took part in the One Planet Food workshop, run in association with the schools Food For Life Partnership. During the day, the pupils were split into groups and researched various food related issues including investigating where our food comes from, how we could get locally sourced produce at school and how food can be seasonal and organic. They spent the morning gathering information and preparing presentations and in the afternoon presented their findings in assembly to the whole of year 7. The presentations varied from using powerpoints to role plays and were very successful. The pupils worked hard developing their knowledge and skills and worked brilliantly under pressure to finish the presentations on time. Well done to all who took part.

National leader on school meals

St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School has been selected by the new Lottery-funded Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) to become one of 180 Flagship Schools and Communities across England that will be recognised as national leaders on food quality and food education. St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School is one of the first 6 schools to be chosen in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Taking up the challenge laid down by Jamie Oliver’s school dinners campaign, the Food for Life Partnership has been funded by the National Lottery over five years from 2007 to help transform food culture in schools across the country.

Building on St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School’s achievements to date, the Food for Life Partnership will now help them put more fresh, local & organic food on the menu and get pupils – and interested parents and community groups – cooking and growing food and visiting local farms.

St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School will now receive hands-on support from Food for Life Partnership staff to achieve a Food for Life Partnership GOLD Mark, which will put us at the top of the league table on food culture in school. This will mean that:
1. Our catering team will get help sourcing at least 75% fresh, 50% locally sourced, and 30% organic ingredients for our school meals.
2. For one week we will host the Food for Life Partnership Cooking Bus, which will welcome, staff, parents and community groups on board alongside pupils to teach useful cooking skills in practical hands-on sessions.
3. A garden education officer will help the school community further develop an organic growing area in which pupils can grow food for school meals and cooking.
4. We will build stronger links with community food businesses and one or more local farms.
5. Pupils will be given some of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences of their school lives, cooking and growing food and linking with a local farm.

Headteacher Mr J McNally said: “I am delighted St. Wilfrid’s has been selected to work with the Food for Life Partnership on this project. The partnership recognised our achievements in providing healthy food for our pupils and raising awareness of healthy, sustainable lifestyles but this support will help us take this to a new level. I very much hope and expect our partnership will provide new opportunities for the whole of our local community to learn more about all aspects of food, including its production. I know our pupils will really enjoy the extra experiences we will now be able to offer. ”

Quote from Catering Manager…..

“This gives the catering team a great opportunity to change the food culture of St Wilfrid’s.

The staff will have the opportunity to work with the Food for Life Partnership organisations, and build on their knowledge and skills around food and nutrition.

We already embrace giving our students some locally sourced food and we look forward to developing this provision with the help of the Food for Life Partnership”.

Amanda Donnelly, FFLP Yorkshire and Humber regional co-ordinator, says: “St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School has been selected as a Flagship School because they are committed to giving food the priority it deserves as part of their commitment to the life-long welfare and skills of their pupils, and are willing to share their learning with other schools. Other schools wanting to get involved should visit www.foodforlife.org.uk

It is more important than ever before that young people learn in school about the impact of food on their health and that of the planet. On current trends, by 2020 over one quarter of children will be obese and children will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. A fifth of our climate change impact comes from the food we eat.”

Notes
1. The Food for Life Partnership is a five-year Lottery-funded initiative, led by the Soil Association, to transform food culture in schools and communities across England, bringing together the practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.

The Soil Association is the UK's leading environmental charity promoting sustainable, organic farming and championing human health.

The Focus on Food Campaign is the leading food education support programme for the teaching of cooking in the UK’s primary and secondary schools.

Garden Organic is the UK’s leading organic growing charity dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food.

The Health Education Trust is the national charity dedicated to initiating and supporting work with children and young adults to encourage the growth of healthy lifestyles.

The Food for Life Partnership works to transform school and community food culture across England, by harnessing the ideas and initiative of young people and community leaders. Our mission is to reach out through schools to give communities access to seasonal, local and organic food, and to the skills they need to cook and grow fresh food for themselves. We want a new generation to explore how their food choices impact on their health and that of the planet, and to rediscover the pleasure of taking time to enjoy real food.

2. Other schools wishing to become Flagship Schools should go online and join the Food for Life Partnership at http://www.foodforlife.org.uk/
6 schools in Yorkshire and Humber have been selected this time round – 14 more will be selected from 2008 onwards.