Dec 12

EMCS Culinary Class Cooking with Top Chefs!

In a follow up to a post I did a couple weeks ago, guest bloggers, Pia Carroll & Marion French- Culinary Arts Teachers at EMCS– tell us about their adventures. 

Last week, our Culinary Arts students took a fantastic trip to explore the food world
In Vancouver.  We set out and visited Terra Breads (an organic baker that has been in business for 20 years) and the students were thrilled to be given a baguette as a gift!

From there to Fable Restaurant where we had mini workshops with Curtis Luk and an invaluable talk from Trevor Birdon what life is really like working in a restaurant!

Curtis Luk shows EMCS students how liquid nitrogen is used in the kitchen.

 

 

After a delicious lunch at Fable we headed over to Granville Island where the students
were left to explore (in groups) the food and cultural artistic aspects of life in a busy
downtown city!
 

 

 

 

 

 

Our bus driver Jim Black graciously returned us to Sooke! Our chaperone Barb Cottingham took photos on the trip- thanks to her!

Yours truly Marion French and Pia Carroll.

Dec 07

Ruth King Gets 30 Guitars!

Christmas came early for the students at Ruth King. Parent, Troy Lindsay from Ledcor Construction strummed up enough donations ($5,000 worth) from business partners that he was able to deliver 30 brand new guitars (from Tom Lee) to the kids at Ruth King.

Read the entire story in the Gazette online. And take a look at this great video of the kids in action.

Students at Ruth King Elementary learning to play their new guitars.

Thanks Troy and all the donating partners from H&L Demolition, Rada Resurfacing, Dalcon Construction, Houle Electric, West Bay Mechanical, Ramida Enterprises and Hold Fast Metal Tab!

Dec 05

Get Ready for Belmont’s 10,000

Don’t be surprised if you get a knock on your door next Wednesday night. Belmont students and volunteers will be out collecting food donations as part of their annual 10,000 Tonight campaign for the Goldstream Food Bank.

Photo courtesy of Goldstream Gazette, December 2, 2011.

Date: Wednesday, December 12th

Time: 4:30 – 10 p.m.

Location: North Gym, Belmont Secondary School

This year’s goal is to go over and above 10,000 non-perishable food items. So start putting non-perishable food items together and either wait for someone to knock on your door, or bring it down to the North gym at Belmont!

Students & volunteers try to reach as many houses as they can on the West Shore, but it’s not easy to do in only five hours!

 

Nov 28

Culinary Students Cook Alongside Top Chef Canada Finalists

Liz- a big supporter of EMCS’ culinary arts program, Pia Carroll- Teacher and Chef of the culinary arts program and Roberta Kubick – Assistant Superintendent, pose with Curtis Luk at Granville Island Market.

This Friday, students in the culinary arts program at EMCS will head over to Fable Restaurant in Vancouver to cook alongside Top Chef Canada finalists, Trevor Bird & Curtis Luk! Trevor & Curtis are the masterminds behind Fable which focuses on bringing food “from farm to table”.

 

Thinking “local” is a major focus for students in the culinary arts program at EMCS. Like Fable Restaurant, they tailor their recipes and menus around what is available seasonally.

EMCS Culinary arts program chef & teacher- Pia Carroll poses with Top Chef Canada Finalist, Jonathan Korecki and Winner, Carl Heinrich.

 

We know the EMCS culinary arts program is one of the best in the country. After all, it’s where the winner of Top Chef Canada, Carl Heinrich graduated from!

 

Big congratulations to Carl who just opened his own restaurant, Richmond Station, last week in Toronto!

Writing about this is making me hungry…is it lunch time yet?

Nov 27

Savory Elementary Sends Supplies & Support to Haiti

Good luck and bon voyage to Savory Elementary School Prinicipal, Jane Penn during her trip to Haitian orphanage this week. Mrs. Penn joins the team of Langford Firefighters and other community members on their annual trip to the orphanage.

Read more about this exciting adventure in the Time Colonist or the Goldstream Gazette!

Langford firefighter Steve Adams and Savory Elementary School principal Jane Penn unpack some school supplies at Savory Elementary school last week.
Photograph by: Adrian Lam , timescolonist.com (Nov. 2012)

 

Nov 15

TIX on Sale for Movember’s Mo’Show 2012!

 

Tickets:

Family of 4 – $30
Adult – $15
Students & Seniors – $10
4 & under – Free

 

Tix available at EMCS

– or-

The Stick in the Mud

Nov 09

Paying Respect by Remembering

On Sunday (Monday in many schools) we will bow our heads and think about all the men and women who have fought to to give people like us such an amazing country to live in. The stories that are shared by veterans’ are instrumental in how we live our lives today, and for that, we must pay our respects.

There are some great activities you can do all this week leading up to Remembrance Day on Sunday. Head over to the Veterans Affairs site for fun ideas.

This Sunday, please join me in saying thank you to those who have courageously risked or lost their lives fighting for peace.

Nov 08

November 15th: Eat Local, Eat Gourmet for H2O Abroad

Sooke News Mirror, Nov. 6, 2912

 

Students in EMCS’ Culinary Arts program are hosting a delicious buffet Thursday, November 15th in the hopes of providing clean drinking water for people in Kenya.

The buffet features locally sourced meats, seafood and veggies. In collaboration with Positively Africa, money raised will go towards the purchase of large water tanks for areas in and around Narok, Kenya.

 

 

Date:Thursday, November 15th

Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Edward Milne Community School

In addition to gourmet appetizers, sides and deserts, guests will choice one of the following the entree’s:

  • Citrus brined roast turkey,
  • rolled pork loin roast,
  • individual squash filled with feta.

All entrees served with rosemary roast potatoes, baked vegetable gratin and home made sourdough bread.

Tickets: $25

Reservations recommended. Call EMCS Office (250) 642-5211, or the EMCS Program Office (250) 642-6371 (after hours).

Nov 06

EMCS Students in November Issue of What’s Up Magazine!

We’re excited to see that the November edition of What’s Up magazine showcases two current students and one graduate of EMCS.

Click the image to open a full-size readable pdf

← Grade 10 students Emily and Jessie  describe their amazing experiences at UVic’s Indigenous Student Mini University Summer Camp.

→ Read how Keelan Porter graduated from both EMCS AND Camosun’s Welding Program in the same year!

Oct 31

Group Grief Support Session Tomorrow

We understand that many of the students in SD62 might be dealing with a lot of confusing emotions right now.

Parents are urged to talk openly to their kids about the recent tragedy and encourage them to attend this group grief session tomorrow if they feel their child could use some extra support. Please speak to your school’s Counsellor for more information.

Students will have the chance to speak about their feelings in a safe environment and write on a Memorial Wall. PCFSA will also be supplying snacks for the students.

2 for 1 bus tickets are available through PCFSA.