Healthy Schools News & Events

Healthy food means tasty food

Our healthy food is going down a storm at two other local schools this term. Franche Community Primary School has joined with St Ambrose Catholic Primary School and Wilden All Saints C of E Primary School to supply them with their hot lunches and the numbers taking hot lunches is already growing after just a couple of weeks back at school.

The meals are prepared from fresh food and cooked at our Franche Community Primary School kitchens and transported in purpose built units keeping the food at the right temperature until it’s served. As a Food for Life Flagship School we are totally committed to offering high quality lunches using fresh produce which is local where possible.

Mrs Joy White, Headteacher at Wilden Primary School said “The standard of our school meals from Franche is exceptional, giving children variety, and nutritious choices which sustains them for afternoon learning. The daily meals and salad bar offers an excellent choice with the opportunity to try something new’”

Cook Victoria Forrester added “we introduced healthy lunchtimes at Franche 12 months ago and it’s fantastic that we’ve got the opportunity to reach out to other local schools and offer them the same healthy and tasty meals. The children have wide and varied tastes and our menu ranges from roasts to curries, chocolate puddings to freshly prepared yoghurts. We also offer all children a salad bar in addition to whichever lunch they choose and it’s always really popular.” She added “there’s been a lot of bad press about healthy eating but our families have really embraced the idea and the children really enjoy the choices we offer them.”

The menu includes a wide variety of meals with a roast every Wednesday and Fab Fridays where the children’s choices such as homemade burgers, chicken curry, and homemade chips are incorporated into the choice.  There are also baguettes and salads to choose from.
Katie Joyner aged 9 from St Ambrose Catholic Primary School said that “the meals are really really nice and I think that it’s good that we can choose what we eat on the day. I’m really excited to try the pudding today as I haven’t had Bakewell Tart before”.	Mitchell Joslin aged 6 from Wilden Primary School said that his favourite meal was the curry as “it’s really tasty”.

Strawberry Stories

A group of Year 6 children from Franche Community Primary School went strawberry picking this week to supply their school kitchen with local fruit for summer puddings and to use in their smoothy bar throughout the autumn. The outing was arranged as part of their literacy project and they'll be writing about their experience and the fruit that they picked.

Although it was a grey day it didn't dampen the student's spirits and they were extremely excited to be out in the beautiful countryside at Gorst Hill Farm, Rock.

The children picked both strawberries and blackcurrants and were interested to hear about the different types of strawberries available at the farm whilst tasting the difference!

Catherine Barker a Year 6 teacher at Franche Community Primary School who accompanied the children said it's been a lovely morning for the children. They have thoroughly enjoyed being out in such a lovely part of the countryside and have come back with lots of thoughts for their literacy group. she added one of the highlights of the trip was a walk through the farm and encountering a herd of cows and from the children's reactions I expect that will be a popular feature of the stories.

Gorst Hill Farm PYO is open throughout July, Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 6pm. For more information please call 07773 751880 or see www.gorsthillfarm.co.uk.

Fathers Day Lunch

Father's and Grandfathers were celebrated on Wednesday 18th June with a special Fathers Day Lunch for the Upper School. Fathers, Grandfathers and Carers were all invited to a roast dinner celebration.

These are just some of the Fathers/Grandfathers/Carers that joined us and here's what they had say:

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Victoria our School Cook who was runner up in the Worcestershire County Council School Cook of the Year 2008 competition .

The cook off took place at the Three Counties Show on Friday 13th June when three schools took part in the final.

Victoria wowed the judges with Pershore Summer Chicken Pie with seasonal steamed vegetables and wholemeal bread, followed by Worcestershire Pear Crumble Cake with vanilla sauce.

The school was also runner up in the Dining Experience category and so well done to Tracey Price our Year 3 teacher and Healthy Schools Co-ordinator and the whole team who have been working on the dining environment throughout the year.

See Victoria in Action!

Ready for the cook-off!

Victoria Forrester, Cook and Catering Manager at Franche Community Primary School has made it through as a finalist in the Worcestershire County Council School Cook of the Year 2008 competition.

Victoria, who joined the school last September to head up their in house catering service, has been busy perfecting her two course meal ready for the children at Franche Community Primary School to try before the cook-off which is to be held during the Three Counties Show on June 13^th at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. She'll be cooking Pershore Summer Chicken Pie with seasonal steamed vegetables and wholemeal bread, followed by Worcestershire Pear Crumble Cake with vanilla sauce.

Franche Community Primary School is a Food for Life Partnership Flagship School and offers seasonal hot lunches using local produce where possible to both children and staff. In addition pupils throughout the school from Early Years through to Key Stage 2 have the chance to participate in growing herbs and vegetables to be used in the school kitchen. They are currently growing a wide variety including potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, parsnips, courgettes, mangle (type of swede), Chinese leaves, two types of pumpkin, dwarf and French beans and peas.

Tracey Price, Year 3 teacher and Healthy Schools Co-ordinator said We are delighted for Victoria. Since September she and her team have transformed our hot lunches and the way in which the pupils enjoy their dining experience. She really deserves this recognition and we wish her lots of luck for the cook-off.

Digging for Victory - Mar 08

Class 2RW at Franche Community Primary School, Chestnut Grove, Kidderminster are digging for victory in an attempt to beat other years at the school and grow the most weight in potatoes.

Each year band at the school is taking part in a competition to grow the most weight in potatoes and have been issued with seed potatoes, containers and organic compost. The prize is an afternoon treat for their year band where they will be able to enjoy smoothies and juices made from locally grown fruit and vegetables. All of the potatoes grown will be used in the school's kitchen.

Franche Community Primary School is a Food for Life Partnership Flagship School and is working closely with Garden Organic to promote a variety of growing projects throughout the school. They also teamed up with Hodge Hill Farm Shop who offered special pricing on the equipment needed for the project.

It's quick, it's fresh and it's healthy (28/09/07)

Smooth-o-licious is the resounding verdict from Franche pupils following the introduction of a new 'Smoothie Bar' offering a range of healthy fruit and vegetable drinks.

Pupil smoothie taste-tests have proved extremely popular, with seven-year old Holly and Harvey now happily promoting the delicious new drinks to their classmates after being selected to be the first to try one of the many juice concoctions introduced as part of the school's overall healthy eating programme of change.

Franche catering manager, Victoria Forrester, said: It's so quick and easy and it's a fantastic way of getting children to eat loads more fresh fruit and vegetables. So far we've trialled a number of flavours and we're now ready to include the school's own Franche apples into our drinks, thanks to pupils, staff and parents who have agreed to help pick them.

Developed by the Heart of England (HEFF), the Smoothie Bar project will enable Franche to make and sell their own fresh smoothies and juices with HEFF helping identify local fruit and vegetable growers. Parent Teachers Association (PTA) vice-chairman, Mrs Sue Collingridge, said: We are delighted to be a part of this wonderful initiative. The Smoothie Bar will be taken into the classroom for the children to have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the health benefits of this kind of drink. They will be taught to make smoothies, discuss the many ingredients available and the importance of fresh produce on taste, its health benefits and the sheer enjoyment they can get from making their own unique drink.

Apples, oranges and strawberries are always popular choices, with young taste-testers trying a mix of pears, apples and carrots, exclaiming: That's gorgeous, I've never tried pears before. Wow, it's astonishing how good this tastes.

The consumption of smoothie drinks is the fastest growing drink option within the UK. Headteacher, Mrs Weddell-Hall, said: I think the Smoothie Bar is absolutely wonderful and this initiative will help teach our pupils about healthy eating options, seasonal local produce and most importantly it will have a direct impact on their daily fruit intake without any pressure. Marvellous.

Author's visit a real hit with Franche pupils (25/09/07)

Award-winning dinner lady and author, Jeanette Orrey, the cooking inspiration behind Jamie Oliver's mission to change the way our children eat, spent the day at Franche on Thursday 20^th September.

During her visit, Jeanette took a tour of the school joining children at morning assembly, before moving on to the school's newly refurbished kitchen where she met catering staff and discussed menu's and the school's healthy eating food options, before she sat down to a healthy lunch with pupils and staff.

Commenting on her visit, Jeanette Orrey, school meals policy advisor for the Soil Association, said: This is a really exciting time for Franche, and we are very pleased to be working with them. Franche has already increased school meal uptake and has set ambitious target's for the future, which I'm sure they will achieve.

The visit was organised as part of the Food for Life partnership, led by the Soil Association, and promoting better food for children at school and at home. Jeanette's book, The Dinner Lady, includes 120 recipes for any occasion and offers help, advice and tips for busy parents and promotes fresh, seasonal and organic produce.

Food for Life Partnership co-ordinator for the West Midlands, Anna O'Sullivan, said: The whole school has given its full commitment to being part of the Food for Life Partnership. Franche Community Primary pupils will be given some of the most enjoyable and memorable experiences of their school lives, cooking and growing food and getting involved in the life of a farm. Furthermore, Franche's ongoing commitment to working with the wider community will ensure this positive message will not stop at the school gates.

Joined by Malcolm Smith of Garden Organic who discussed from 'Plot to Plate' food growing, the afternoon sessions saw Jeanette take part in a number of curriculum based activities, before an end of school day parent's forum, for parents and children to ask questions and to hear Jeanette's personal food philosophy and how healthy food options impact on the whole family.

Franche Community Primary is one of only 6 schools regionally to receive flagship status for Food for Life. From 150 meals requested on the start of term, take-up has increased to 200 pupil meals per day. Children are encouraged to sample all food options, with the consumption of beetroot and salad items increasing ten-fold since the opportunity of salad with 'all' meal options, hot or cold.

Further information can be obtained by contacting Franche Community Primary School on 01562 751788.

Only healthy eating at new primary (07/09/07)

Award-winning dinner lady and author, Jeanette Orrey, the cooking inspiration behind Jamie Oliver's mission to change the way our children eat, will be spending the day at Franche, on Thursday 20^th September.

Jeanette will commence her tour of the school joining children at morning assembly, before moving on to the school's newly refurbished kitchen. She will speak with kitchen staff, discuss menus and the school's healthy eating food options, before sitting down to a healthy lunch with children and staff.

The visit is part of a national campaign for better food for kids at school and at home. Jeanette is passionate about fresh, seasonal and organic produce and has worked with children for many years. Her book The Dinner Lady includes 120 recipes for any occasion and offers help, advice and tips for busy parents.

The afternoon sessions will see Jeanette joined by Malcolm Smith of Garden Organic who will spend his time with year four discussing 'Plot to Plate' food growing, whilst Jeanette takes part in a number of curriculum based activities, before an end of school day parent's forum, an opportunity for parents and children to hear Jeanette's personal food philosophy and how healthy food options impact on the whole family.

Additional information:

• Franche Community Primary is one of only 6 schools regionally to receive flagship status for Food for Life.

• From 150 meals requested on the 6^th September, take-up over 6 days has increased to 200 pupil meals per day.

• Children are allowed to sample all food options with consumption of beetroot and salad items increasing ten-fold since the opportunity of salad with 'all' meal options, hot or cold.

Proposed menu for the day: lemon chicken, tuna & broccoli quiche, jacket potatoes, brown rice, a selection of vegetables & salad. A choice of hot chocolate crunch & chocolate sauce pudding with a selection of fresh fruit, yoghurt and freshly baked bread and fresh water.

Only healthy eating at new primary (07/09/07)

Franche Community Primary has been awarded the prestigious accolade of flagship status for Food for Life, with the school being one of only six schools from across the West Midlands to receive the accreditation; sixty schools in all applied.

Catering Manager, Victoria Forrester, said: We are absolutely delighted. Everything we prepare is all done on the premises, using the school's specialist kitchen and with our homemade lasagne, casseroles, milk drinks and smoothies all using only locally sourced produce.

Keeping it local, the school has worked hard with local producers to source all its produce. Milk comes from Mawley Milk at Cleobury Mortimer, fruit and veg comes from Kidderminster's Brookes Brothers, local meat is provided by McDonnell Butchers of Stourport and all dry goods are supplied by Creed Catering Supplies based in Cheltenham.

Franche parent governor and director of Bewdley based website promotions company, NETsposure, was tasked with the job of finding local producers, whilst teacher and healthy eating co-ordinator, Tracey Price, was tasked with implementing the new food regime. Said Sue: It's been a challenge and we are simply overjoyed to know everyone's hard work has paid off.

The catering team, our suppliers and our parents have been extremely supportive of the school's vision for supplying only healthy eating options. Achieving this status is the apple in our homemade pie.

Headteacher, Mrs Weddell-Hall, commenting on the school's achievement said: Isn't it wonderful? Our school community never ceases to amaze me with their help, support and ongoing get up and go attitude. A big thank you to all our staff, the local suppliers who are producing such wonderful produce and of course to Tracy Price and Sue Collingridge, who have worked tirelessly throughout the summer to ensure our new Franche Primary offers only the very best healthy food options for our growing youngsters. You are all absolutely fantastic. Thank you.