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"…Verna has been a dedicated parent member of the school
community over a period of 12 years, having had four children
pass through our school.
Verna became Canteen Manager in 1999 and throughout this
time she has been a significant contributor to our school
not only in her formal role, but also as a Community Rep on
School Council and a member of the Finance Sub Committee.
Verna has an impeccable work ethic, she is approachable,
and friendly, and most importantly a wonderful role model
for all students. Nothing flusters Verna, she has a calm and
methodical manner and is very reassuring to all parent volunteers
who assist her in her work.
Verna is keen to continually develop the canteen as a way
of extending student learning about health and nutrition.
Through this award opportunity we would like others to learn
from our innovation and success and also recognise the outstanding
achievement of Verna.
Innovative Thinking and Actions
- Our canteen menu has been reviewed and re organised into
the 3 levels of the healthy food pyramid. This review was
done in consultation with a rep from community health. When
students elect a menu item they know which level of the
pyramid they are eating from. It also allows them to be
more conscious of balance and select items from across levels.
- When students receive their orders at lunchtime each order
is labelled with a coloured dot - the dot represents the
food pyramid level the food comes from. This simple system
reinforces food choices, a balanced diet and a practical
understanding of the food pyramid which is linked to daily
school life.
- Verna provides School Council with annual sales updates
which show a movement in student choice away from the 'red'
items to the 'green' items.
- In 2007 Verna investigated the 'slushy' market and found
a 100% fruit option. This was then presented to school council,
endorsed and subsequently added to our item list for lunchtime
sales. Portions sold were especially selected to ensure
value for money while not being excessive in size.
- Apple Slinkys Initiative: Apple Slinky Days/Weeks promote
fruit as a healthy and fun food option. Verna appreciates
that food needs to be attractive, interesting and appealing.
These days are some of the busiest for the canteen. Senior
students work with Verna to keep up the slinky production
while students queue up to buy.
- Meal Deals Initiative: We have borrowed the concept from
a successful fast food chain and turned it into a highly
popular weekly event at our canteen. Every week a new meal
deal is available, publicised to students and families via
a meal deal order form that goes home every Tuesday with
all students. Verna uses her creative thinking to come up
with some wonderful combinations all for the very reasonable
price of $2.50.
- Linking in With Learning: The most recent example of
this was our Olympic Multi Age Day where all students from
year P-6 were mixed into new learning groups and rotated
through a range of Olympic learning activities. To complement
this, Verna prepared homemade Fried Rice, served in individual
boxes, with chop sticks, prawn crackers and a juice.
- Fruit and Veg Week: In launching this event in our school
community, Verna worked with the school's health coordinator
to prepare vegetable platters and dips for all 14 of our
classrooms to share for morning tea.
- Weekly Fresh Fruit Platters were introduced to our school
a number of years ago as a result of the Federal Government's
Healthy Foods grant. The school has continued to fund these
platters in term 1 and term 4 when fresh fruit is plentiful
and there is lots of choice and opportunity to try new fruit
tastes. Verna has supported this initiative by assisting
parent volunteers in the canteen.
- The school has developed a policy to support students
with anaphylaxis. In the development of this policy, Verna
was instrumental in providing advice. She is involved in
our school wide approach to managing food allergies including
anaphylactic reactions.
- Healthy Food Option: Verna has put together a wide range
of healthy food options for students to choose from.
- Documentation: Verna has been a central figure in the
development of school documentation related to food handling
and our canteen policies. Our easy reads have been particularly
successful in ensuring correct food handling and food management
by volunteers.
- Community feedback about our canteen range, quality and
service is outstanding. A real sense of teamwork can be
seen and felt when you call in to say hello to Verna and
the volunteer helpers on any day.
This range of innovation demonstrates why we are so proud
of Verna and the work that she does. You can see through this
diverse range that being at our school and managing the canteen
is more than a job for Verna, she is an integral part of school
life and an exceptional contributor."
- Heather Odgers, Principal
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