WA Governor visits Cassia PS

Kitchen Garden Program students at Cassia Primary School, in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, put their cooking skills to the test last week when they hosted a very special guest.

The Governor of Western Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, visited the South Hedland school on 24 August and was treated to a three-course meal prepared by the students!

Cassia Primary’s Kitchen Garden Program Coordinator Jenny Neale said a lot of preparation had gone into the visit.

Jenny said in the lead up to the event all Year 2-6 students wrote ‘persuasive texts' to apply for the jobs of head chef, chef or waiter.

“This tied in with our literacy program and copies of their applications were given to their teachers as work samples,” Jenny said.

Jenny said all classes - from pre-primary to Year 6 - pitched in to make food served during the meal, so that the whole school felt involved.

She said the food preparation was a great chance to include cross-curricular activities during kitchen garden lessons.

“Pre-primary classes have been learning about where butter comes from in technology, so they mixed cream, salt and thyme in a jar and all took turns of shaking it until it turned into butter,” Jenny said.

“Lower primary classes have been looking at man-made (created) products coming from natural products in technology, and made pasta, using the pasta maker, for the meal.

“Upper primary classes have studied traditional and contemporary tools for gardening, farming and cooking in technology and used an ice-cream and frozen yoghurt maker to make frozen vanilla yoghurt for the visit.

“Middle primary students made dill and parsley quinoa bread for the visit, after looking at the origin of products (e.g. flour from wheat, dill from seeds etc.) during technology lessons.”

Jenny said the students were all very excited to be given the opportunity to cook for the Governor and put in a long day in the kitchen, working from 8.30am-2.30pm.

She said they were also thrilled to welcome the Governor into the dining room, and all lined up to shake her hand and introduce themselves.

“I was very proud of the way they cooperated, shared jobs and were respectful to the Governor and her party,” Jenny said.

“They cooked and served a delicious 3-course meal, plus drinks and accompaniments for 16 guests.

 “They also presented the Governor with a hamper which included tomato relish cooked two days earlier, bread, a recipe book containing photos and all recipes from our Kitchen Garden Program lessons, a notepad with recycled paper covering, plus information about the Kitchen Garden Foundation, which she was delighted to receive.”

To share some of the excitement of the Governor’s visit scroll through the gallery of images above.

Congratulations from the Kitchen Garden Foundation team to all the staff and students at Cassia Primary School who did such a fabulous job of showcasing the great skills learnt in the Kitchen Garden Program!