Bondi Public School

Today's trek to Bondi Public sadly marked the last of my visits to Australian primary schools. Bondi is new to the SAKG program, just opening the doors to its cozy kitchen cottage in December 2009. The only school in the greater Sydney area, Bondi is forging its path with less support than the schools in the Melbourne network. Thus said, the students in Ms. Brown's 3/4 class are getting quite skilled in the kitchen and in their food knowledge. Kitchen specialist Diane provides an experience that blends sensory exploration, problem solving and higher level thinking...the students are most definitely rising to the expectations! During our session, three students with autism joined in the making of vegetable barley soup and spinach dumplings. I paired up with Katrina, a young non-verbal student and together we sliced mushrooms, stripped spinach stems, then rolled and cut spinach leaves. I didn't get out into the garden class today, but found it plentiful with greens, broad beans, herbs and citrus trees....oh, and garden art that included a surfboard (what else can you expect in an Australian surf town?).

Worth mentioning: Five students from Bondi have been chosen to take part in a master class taught by Stephanie Alexander herself. These lucky students (Years 3-6) will showcase their culinary talents as sous chefs on Australian TV...cheers to the achievement!