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"Paul and Kate have been co-managers of our Kid's Café
for two years now. Paul is a full time chef and Kate runs
her own business, but they have together done wonderful things
in our canteen.
Our canteen is open 3 days per week. On Mondays, it serves
both play lunches and hot lunches, and volunteers are scheduled
from 9 am to 2 pm. On Wednesdays and Fridays, play lunches
are served and volunteers are scheduled from 10.45 am to 11.30
am.
Since Paul and Kate started, the canteen has been officially
renamed the Kid's Café, to let the children know that
this is a special place for them and that their needs have
priority. Café menus are updated each term, with new
items being added to each new menu. These items have included
pasta with fresh sauces, sushi, homemade muffins, scrolls,
and pizza foccacias. A slushy machine was introduced last
year and is a firm favourite.
Paul has been known to don his chef's hat at recess and lunch
hours and offer free samples of new menu items to stimulate
interest and to overcome that 'new food phobia' that we all
know young children can have! They think that having a real
chef cooking for them is fantastic.
He has also visited classrooms to talk about healthy eating
with the children.
The Kid's Café sends out a newsletter to update parents
with menus, recipes and ideas.
We have had a healthy menu focus for three years now, having
phased out lollies, chips and other junk foods, but in 2008
the Kid's Café achieved its Healthy School Certification.
The Kid's Café is not only nut-free, but all menu
items are egg-free as well, to make it accessible to several
of our children who have food allergies. Egg substitute is
used in all baking. Paul and Kate have also introduced a bright
orange 'Allergy Basket' for children who have food allergies
or sensitivities to use to deposit their lunch orders. This
avoids accidental inclusions of citrus or dairy or wheat products
for children who have these sensitivities.
For the 2008 school year, Paul and Kate have organised a
Kid's Café Team of four parents. This team assists in rostering,
banking, menu development and the training of other parent
volunteers. At least one, and usually two, of the team members
will work on our Monday Hot Lunch day. This has encouraged
other parents to volunteer in the Café, as they know they
will be working with experienced senior volunteers. It has
eliminated the 'too hard' factor from the volunteer schedule
and has been a milestone in bringing new parents in to volunteer
in the Café.
The positive focus and upbeat attitude that both Paul and
Kate bring to the Kid's Café cannot be ignored. They
make the volunteer's day fun, productive and positive. Their
quality focus and innovative menus have energised our canteen.
In the 6 years that I have been involved with the school and
the Parents & Friends, I have never seen such a positive vibe.
As well, although the canteen is provided as a service to
our school by the P&F, they have to run the Café at
a profit, through careful management and pricing. Paul's professional
experience has also streamlined the ordering process, and
a communications book that volunteers can access and leave
messages in, has ensured that issues are dealt with promptly.
We are very lucky to have both of them involved in our school
and our Kid's Café."
- Pam McGuinness, President, Parents and Friends
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