Students cook up skills in the kitchen

THE pupils at Buninyong Primary School’s Scotsburn campus are gaining an even better understanding of growing and cooking food after the renovation of their kitchen classroom.

Scotsburn campus head Jarrod Morgan said what was a small, dated, un-safe space has transformed, with help from the community.

“The campus had raised some funds through prior fundraising efforts, however the Community Bank Buninyong were major supporters in funding the project and bringing our plans to life,” he said.

“Through their community grants program, they were able to provide us with the necessary funds to employ the services of a local joiner, electrician, and plumber, as well as purchase new appliances.

“We worked with a local joiner to fully renovate the kitchen, including larger bench spaces for students to work, new ovens and dishwasher, uncreased cabinet space and a new servery area for students to use.”

With a focus on sustainability and paddock-to-plate, the kitchen program sees students of all year levels working together to cook dishes with home-grown eggs from the school’s chickens, and other ingredients from the veggie patch.

“The cooking and kitchen program is an essential element to the running of the campus, as it provides our students with the opportunity immerse themselves in the themes of sustainability, health and wellbeing, and cooperation, as well as developing some wonderful life skills,” Mr Morgan said.

“Students absolutely love to cook and learn new skills with other students from different year levels, in particular the old students helping and mentoring the young students.

“They also love the process of starting with raw ingredients, to being able to sit down and enjoy their meal together at the end of the session.”