BONAVISTA, NL – For Discovery Collegiate high school students, learning has recently become a little more hands-on.
College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Bonavista campus recently welcomed 18 Discovery Collegiate students and their teacher, Melissa Jacobs, as they study food and kitchen safety, food preparation and cooking portions as part of their high school Nutrition course. The partnership between the two educational institutions aims to provide students with an opportunity to learn skills they can apply in their own lives and careers.
Katie Hayes is their instructor. She is the owner and chef at Bonavista Social Club, and is from nearby Upper Amherst Cove, where her acclaimed restaurant is located.
“Katie is a great role model for the young aspiring women as she brings exceptional skills from the real world to the classroom,” said Jamie Best, Bonavista’s Campus Manager.
Aiming to help students transition smoothly into the professional atmosphere at college, Best says CNA looks forward to strengthening the 25-year strong working relationship between the campus, the high school and the community.
“We believe this will further motivate and empower women participation in trades,” he said.
The high school’s Nutrition course also helps aspiring students take a sneak peek into the career prospects of the food and service industry.
“Our students come from a high school atmosphere, and with this collaboration they get an excellent opportunity to observe and participate in the college environment and learn to cook nutritious meals,” said Gordon Broderick, Principal of Discovery Collegiate.
Delivering the complete experience on how ingredients are transformed into healthy meals, the Nutrition course’s curriculum is divided into two segments - learning the theory portion at their own school, and working hands-on in CNA’s kitchen. Bringing the students a step closer from the classroom to the real-world working environment in a state-of-the-art culinary setting also has its precautions.
“Focusing on the hands-on experience, students also learn about safety procedures and safety gear used in a professional kitchen. The classes consist of two-hour sessions in which students choose a dish and work in teams to produce a finished product, while understanding how to spruce up a simple dish with local ingredients on a budget,” said Hayes.
For more information about programs offered at Bonavista Campus, visit www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media Contact:
Minal Abhange
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.7870
minal.abhange@cna.nl.ca