Palm Beach and Monroe Counties Continue as Partners for
the VPSC Grant
Article Submitted by: Liz Shapiro, Palm Beach County School Board
On September 16, Marathon High School Freshman Culinary Academy students travelled to West Boca Raton High School to “ buddy-up” with the freshman Culinary Academy students. Upon arrival at the high school, the students, along with the West Boca culinary students, visited each of the four academy areas; Drafting and Design, Information Technology, Medical Sciences and Culinary Arts. After the tour, all the students met in the culinary lab to participate in ice-breaking activities lead by Chef Linda Pearson, West Boca Raton High School Culinary Arts Academy teacher. The upper level Culinary Academy students prepared a menu of Meat / Vegetarian Calzones, Caesar Salad and Chocolate Brownies. The upper level students demonstrated the preparation of the calzone for the freshman students. After lunch and farewells, the Marathon students headed back to the Keys.
The VPSC Grant partners, Chef Anthony Green, teacher Marathon High School Culinary Academy; Jeff Arnott, Director of Adult Education and Career Education, Monroe County School District; and Liz Shapiro, Support Specialist, School District of Palm Beach County, attended the Florida Public School Choice Consortium’s Annual Conference in Orlando at the Doubletree Hotel on November 18 and 19. At the VPSC Grantees’ session, Liz presented a power point on Palm Beach County’s Best Practices, and Chef Green discussed Sustainability Strategies for the Marathon High School Culinary Academy.
One of Chef Green’s Sustainability Strategies is to raise money for the school’s student lab, Dolphin Bistro. On Friday, December 4, the first of four fund raising dinners was scheduled. The menu included Pasta with Meatballs or Grilled Chicken or Steak; Lasagna; Black Bean or Lobster Bisque; Chef Salad with Italian or Ranch Dressing; Garlic Bread; and Red Velvet, Chocolate Almond or Chocolate Vanilla Cupcakes. The tickets were $10 for adults and $5 for students. Over four hundred customers were served which included parents and community supporters.
Field trips are being planned for second semester to tour a hotel/resort/conference center in Miami, to observe the Pro-Start Competition in Orlando and to participate in ACF Career Day in Palm Beach County. Curriculum Parent Night is being planned at Marathon High School for January.
For students from Marathon High to communicate with West Boca Raton High students in a 2-way communication platform, equipment is being ordered to provide video conferencing between the two schools. Students will be able to explore, communicate, analyze, and share information and ideas with one another.
