Rochester Primary School Hands On Learning cafe participants enjoyed a taste of their hard work on Thursday, May 8, cooking up pancakes for the school’s Mother’s Day breakfast. Photos: Jordan Townrow
The Rochester Primary School Hands On Learning program is going from strength-to-strength.
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Inspired by the HOL cafe at 208 Echuca Primary School, staff Debbra Wright and Bridget Murray are guiding students through the program.
“Bridget and I went up to 208 to have a look at their hands-on learning program, and they were showing us around,” Ms Wright said.
“We were mentioning how good their outdoor kitchen looks, and they decided to make one for us, so they made us an outdoor kitchen.”
The new mud kitchen in the Rochester Primary School playground, built by the 208 team.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The school now has an outdoor mud kitchen thanks to 208.
Indoors, they are in the second week of cooking through the cafe program.
On Thursday, May 8, participants took on the challenge of catering the school’s Mother’s Day breakfast.
The 10 Hands On Learning cafe participants were tasked with making and flipping 250 pancakes.
“Last week, we just did wraps,” Ms Wright said.
“This week, we decided that we’d try something a bit ambitious.”
Shyla Murray.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Every Thursday, the program supports 10 students to come in after recess and develop their cooking skills.
HOL is based on learning outside the classroom, with a focus on learning by doing.
Teacher Debbra Wright cooking up a storm.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Other programs include the Kyabram Fauna Park Junior Rangers, along with a painting group.
“It’s been brought about by the idea that not everyone learns best in a classroom,” Ms Wright.
“(They are) doing some skills along these lines, where they’re still learning, they’re still doing school work, they’re still learning to measure... just in a different way.”
While there are 10 spots in the cafe program, there were 85 applications from students.
Jack Keenan is thrilled to join the program.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
One of the 10 is Jack Keenan, who is happy to be on board, hoping to be able to cook independently by being involved.
“I enjoy that we get to learn how to cook,” he said.
“So that means at home, if our parents aren’t home, and you have older siblings, but you don’t want to annoy them, this program can help you by being able to cook for yourself.
“It’s only the second time ever... we’ve got to take little steps before we reach the big goal.”
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