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"We are very pleased and proud to submit this nomination
for Deb Belsar, our canteen manager, who we believe to be
most worthy of this award. Please find enclosed specific information
outlining Deb's skills, talents, kindness and commitment which
contribute so positively to our whole school community and,
in particular, to our students."
- Lou Maroulis, Assistant Principal
"Strathfieldsaye Primary School would like to nominate Deb
Belsar, our Canteen Manager, for the 2009 VSCA Canteen of
the Year Awards.
Deb is much more than a Canteen Manager. She is our friend,
mentor, teacher and a valuable member of the School community.
It is the small extra details, personal touches and the high
standard she sets for herself that we believe sets her apart
from other Canteen Managers.
Few people know what goes on behind the scenes in a healthy
food canteen. It is much more than preparing, cooking and
serving food.
Deb needs to source products, food items and suppliers that
meet our healthy food guidelines as well as meeting the strict
requirements for students who have allergies. All foods are
to be egg, nuts and seed free. As you can imagine, this is
no small feat in itself.
Deb strives to provide a menu that is fun, nutritious and
cost effective. This applies to the main lunch menu as well
as recess sales. Deb changes the menus according to the seasons
to make use of ingredients that are seasonal.
Deb has exceptional communication skills, organisational
skills, time management skills and has many systems in place
to ensure all food is produced at the highest quality and
is served at the desired temperature.
Deb needs to maintain records regarding the delivery of foods,
temperature control logs, cleaning schedules, pest control
and tracking dishes for quality control. Information needs
to be logged daily, weekly and monthly. These records need
to be up to date in case of a spot audit.
On any given Friday, Deb would have up to 200 lunch orders.
Of these, it is not uncommon to have 80 requests for variations
to the main lunch menu. This could mean no cheese in a chicken
sub, tomato sauce on dim sims or avocado not beetroot in their
sandwich. All requests are catered for.
Deb also takes the time to respond to notes from children
or parents on their lunch order bags. It could be a simple
hello, thank you or Happy Birthday. These personal messages
to the children mean a lot and Deb happily takes the time
to do this.
One area we believe deserves a special mention is that parents
of children with allergies have the confidence in Deb to provide
food to their child even though they may have a severe food
allergy. Deb is diligent in ensuring that food for children
who have allergies is prepared with no risk of contamination
from other foods. It is important for all children at school
to be able to order their lunch and share in the experience
with their other classmates.
It is a credit to Deb that she has a constant stream of Mums,
Dad and Grandparents to help out in the canteen. Helpers don't
just wash dishes or stock shelves, they are actively involved
in preparation and cooking. Younger siblings are also welcome.
Deb is of the belief that no child should go hungry. We always
have children who forget their lunch or don't hand their order
in on time. Deb always has extras. This may just mean a vegemite,
cheese or banana sandwich. As long as they have something
to eat.
Deb not only provides lunches for children. Deb caters for
visitors to the school, staff on curriculum days, the school
fair and the Strathfieldsaye Community Art Show. She is a
dedicated and important member of staff.
Something else that deserves a mention is that we have quite
a few parent helpers who have worked with Deb who have gone
on to work in the food handling industry. We have also recently
had a lady who has successfully applied for a job at another
primary school in the area as a Canteen Manager. As well as
this, Deb trains a parent helper fill in for her when on sick
leave or annual leave. On these days, the canteen runs smoothly
and to the same high standard that she sets. …
So, based on all these exceptional qualities, we proudly
nominate Deb Belsar for the 2009 VSCA Canteen of the Year
Awards. All of us at Strathfieldsaye Primary School believe
Deb is a worthy recipient … Having said that, Deb will always
be number ONE in our eyes."
- Children, Parents, Staff and Canteen Helpers, Strathfieldsaye
Primary School
"I am the president of our primary school Parent Club and
have held the position for six years, during which time the
school's size has almost doubled.
Without Deb and her dedication to providing the children,
staff and volunteers with freshly cooked and well chosen packaged
meals, we wouldn't have the wonderful menu choices that we
do. Our menu is changed a couple of times a year to provide
the children with many choices and to enable us to take advantage
of seasonal fresh ingredients.
Deb also works to support our school in our community activities
like our art show and our popular school fair. Our art show
has its official opening on a Friday night for which Deb has
spent many hours planning, shopping for and preparing the
menu. So, after a very busy canteen service on a Friday, Deb
then turns her talented hands to helping in making sure that
everything is ready for a successful art show. Our fair is
another event that requires many weeks of planning on top
of making sure that all runs smoothly for the normal four
day canteen service that is provided to us. Our children are
also lucky enough to be provided with a special treat once
or twice a term of a special lunch order. Once again, extra
care and planning is required in order to do this.
I am very pleased to be able to volunteer with canteen duty
as it is a pleasure to work with Deb."
- Kim Mayer, President, Strathfieldsaye Primary School
Parent Club
"When I was first appointed to Strathfieldsaye Primary School,
Deb had the canteen running 2 days per week and was producing
lunches that fitted in with the Healthy Canteen Guidelines.
Four years and ten months later, the canteen runs 4 days a
week and offers a range of delicious foods. I order my lunch
through the canteen because of ease, nutritional value and
because it tastes nice. Deb is a great resource person for
our students when they participate in 'shops', an enterprise
activity where students produce snacks for their classmates
using reward tokens. Deb advises students on health standards
and will check their food choices so they fit in with the
Healthy Canteen Guidelines."
- Sue H, Grade 6 Teacher
"From one Canteen Manager to another, Deb is the best. I
worked with Deb as a volunteer for many months and she taught
me a great deal. I have just started a Manager's job at Kennington
Primary School. Deb is a fantastic friend and excels at her
job and is liked very much by the School Community. She inspired
me and gave me the confidence to apply for the position that
I am now in. Last, but not least, I hope I turn out as good
a manager as Deb."
- Jane Clymo, Canteen Manager, Kennington Primary School
"Dear Mr Bowen and the awesome canteen staff
A few weeks ago, during the kaos of getting myself ready
for work, and my preppie packed and ready for school, she
asked if she could have some money to buy something at the
canteen. I replied 'yes".
Later that night, I asked my preppie how her day was. She
said that she cried because she lost her canteen money, but
a lady in the canteen gave her a gingerbread man. I felt terrible!
I had forgotten to give my preppie her canteen money.
I cannot thank the wonderful lady in the canteen enough!
Enclosed is $5 to go towards the canteen, I wish it was
$500.
From a very embarrassed, yet grateful parent. We love Strathfieldsaye
Primary School!"
- Parent, Strathfieldsaye Primary School
"Dear Canteen Helpers
Thank you for our healthy lunch orders. We really like them,
especially the moon rocks, salad rolls, pizza and yoghurt
ice cream."
- Prep/One H Students
"What we love about lunch orders and Deb in the canteen:
- She has good food/healthy food
- She is nice
- She changes the menu and sends it home for us
- She is a good cook
- She organises the right change
- The food is delicious
- She helps us to work out if we have enough money and what
we can buy with our money
- She gets lots of our Mums, Dads and Nannies to come in
and help her
- She feeds us on time
- She organises the food we will order
- She makes sure there is enough for everyone and extras
as well
- She gives spare forks etc if we need one
- If you forget your lunch, Deb will make you a sandwich
and you can pay the next day
- She makes us feel happy
- She gives us a hand when the basket is heavy"
- Grade 2 Students (Home Groups 019, 020 and 021)
"What we love about canteen and Deb:
- Deb helps us - when we forget our lunch she will take
our orders and we can pay later
- Once a term we have special lunch order days
- Deb gives up her time for the School Fair and the Art
Show
- Deb supports the extra cooking programs for students in
class time, gives 'shop owners ideas for their food', students
can run their ideas past Deb, and can borrow accessories
and equipment from her if they forget
- We love that the canteen is open for recess sales
- Deb is always friendly
- Deb provides us with healthy food choices
- We absolutely love 'Pizza Moon Rocks'
- Deb has food choices for those who are vegetarian
- We love her salad choices
- We also have a healthy alternative of ice-cream and icypoles;
frozen milk and frozen juice
- Grade 6 Students (011 and 012)
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