Boonah State High School students host Paddock to Plate gala dinner
High school students from a small school southwest of Brisbane have produced a gala dinner for the school’s industry partners virtually on their own, smashing expectations. SEE THE PHOTOS
Ipswich
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From picking the best cow to serving the table, high school students at a small school on Brisbane’s outskirts have remarkably banded together to put on a classy gala dinner for the school’s industry partners.
Boonah State High School recently launched its inaugural Paddock to Plate event, which saw students work with the school’s industry partners in its agriculture, IT, construction, design and hospitality subjects, to put on a gala dinner.
The aim of the event was to thank the 64 industry partners who have supported the above programs throughout the year and an employment pathways program where students gain real-world experience.
Students in agriculture and Cattle Club worked on feed trials with steers and then chose the best one for the plate.
Agriculture students also worked with chef Elliot Platz, a past student, to grow produce for the night.
Year 11 and 12 hospitality students and teachers worked with chef Elliot to plan the menu and then prepare all meals.
Each student was given a part of the dish they were responsible for and rose to the occasion, producing by all reports an amazing meal, under the guidance of the chef and teaching staff.
Elliot was blown away by the level of food that was produced by the students and commented many times it was all them he was just there for guidance.
These students now have real work experience cooking under a chef for a gala dinner.
Industrial tech and design students worked with staff to build a grain feeder for the agriculture faculty.
They also produced bespoke breadboards that were auctioned off with meat trays, with the unused beef from the school beast.
IT students worked to complete a video that showed all the students’ work to produce the gala dinner.
Boonah State High School principal Dan Marrone was very proud of his students and schooling community.
“The Boonah State High School Paddock to Plate Program represents the culmination of student/teacher/community collaboration designed to not only showcase the incredible talent and work ethic of our Boonah State High School students, but also the opportunities that become apparent when the whole community gets behind the school and is empowered to integrate and augment the learning environment,” Mr Marrone said.
“We’re very grateful for what as a team the whole town has been able to achieve.”
Cattle Club student Bella Jaret said: “The Paddock to Plate program gave the opportunity to understand the whole food chain process from feel trials with the steer, through to processing at Kalbar Butcher Co to ensure that the hospitality student received the correct cuts of meat.
“We were able to meet and liaise with key business stakeholders and build relationships for future pathways. “
Guy Stephan Hospitality student Guy Stephan said: “Working Chef Elliot Platz, a past student and industry professional, gave me the confidence to cook new food.
“We were able to learn how and why we choose different ingredients, where they came from in our local area and how to prepare them.”
The school hopes to make the Paddock to Plate an annual event.
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