“It’s second lunch,” said one of the sixth-grade students, about to take his first bite of just off-the-griddle French toast. The aroma of vanilla and cinnamon fills the room. “I’m going to make this for a midnight snack!” said his classmate.
French toast is officially the first item to be prepared in John Jay Middle School’s newly renovated Family and Consumer Science classrooms, a project of the District’s Capital Improvement bond.
The wing includes two culinary classrooms featuring cooking stations with induction cooktops, sinks, ovens and shared refrigerator space. In the standard classroom next door, seventh graders are currently working with Dr. Christina Connors on their own relationship to food and how their cultural identity is reflected in the foods they eat.
One of the most exciting aspects of the wing is still under wraps: a greenhouse, which will foster interdisciplinary learning in biology, ecology and environmental science.
The sixth graders work in teams to follow the French toast recipe, moving from breaking the eggs and preparing the pan, to flipping the toast and enjoying eating together. Teacher Laura Woelfel checks in with the students, answering questions and keeping them on track.
“French toast is a delicious way to learn kitchen and food safety and build essential life skills,” said Woelfel. “Collaboration is built into cooking, garnishing and cleanup.”