Collaboration and leadership skills were forefront as All Hallows Preparatory School Year 7 and 8 pupils were rewarded for their amazing online efforts this term by being set ‘Come Dine with Me’ and ‘Ready Steady Cook’ challenges to feed their families.
Grab five ingredients; look in your store cupboard; cook up a storm! All Hallows Years 7 & 8 deserved a break from the well-trodden online path and threw together cheesy lasagne, aromatic tiramisu, souffle pancakes, sweet mango and raspberry crumbles and all manner of manna!
Year 8 were challenged to rustle up a three-course evening meal for their families, complete with table settings and menus for their guests. After collaboration with tutors, the menu choices were agreed and presented by the Year 8 children to their families to make their choice all based on an Italian theme – the most popular combination being bruschetta to start, followed by beef lasagne with tiramisu for dessert.
In the All Hallows boarding house, and no doubt across the county, the smell of garlic lingered in the air as the Year 8 boarders rustled up a juicy beef lasagne all from scratch. They followed a series of video tutorials from various members of catering and teaching staff during the day. Tables were then decorated, mocktails devised, flowers arranged, and napkins designed, before the three courses of delicious Italian food were ready to be served.
To kick the evening off, families joined the senior leadership team on zoom for a welcome to the evening including a rousing speech from the Head pupils. It was then time to tuck in and enjoy! Staff in the boarding house were pleasantly surprised with the scrummy results, especially as many of the children hadn’t picked up a spatula in quite some time. Entertainment for the evening was devised by the children with an online quiz and playlist proving popular.
Not to be left out, the next day the Year 7s had their own challenge which started with a revolting consultation about the nasties that live in the kitchen and how to defeat those beastly bacteria. Our ‘Red Peppers’ and ‘Green Tomatoes’ set to work creating paper chef hats of all designs before going away to chat, chop and challenge their inner Ainsleys, to produce some top-notch nosh! Roll over Raymond; grab your hat Gordon, Year 7 have got cooking skills! Although these wasn’t an overall winner, we did all enjoy a scrumptious feast of homemade goodies which was the best way to end the week.
The idea was the brainchild of All Hallows’ new Deputy Head Academic, Victoria Stocking, who said, “Preparing and cooking their own food was a great way to help our children understand more about nutrition and to try something new. After mastering their way through the recipes, with the help of their teachers and the video tutorials, the children were hugely proud to share their delicious creations with their families.
“As well as providing a challenge and giving time away from screens, it was a great way to reward our Year 7s and 8s for all they have achieved with their online learning. We can’t wait to repeat the exercise when restrictions have been lifted! We are so proud of their collaboration and leadership skills they demonstrated alongside the obvious enjoyment had by all.”