Do you know the saying, “You praise what belongs to others, but do not know your own”? It does not apply to the participants of the second edition of the National Competition for Secondary Gastronomy Schools. Why? Young people learn about traditional and regional products. Why do they do it? No, not to become masters of theoretical knowledge. It is about a real recipe for success! How can they achieve it? By creating a unique recipe using products registered or applying for registration as a Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication or Traditional Speciality Guaranteed. This gives every young chef a chance to create the best dish. What kind? A main course with a starter or dessert. The condition for entering the competition? Using at least one Polish product registered in the EU. What awaits the best young chefs? Participation in the grand final, which will take place on 5 October in Warsaw. And that is already the beginning of the journey to becoming a renowned chef!
There is no need to explain to anyone that eating well and taking care of physical fitness are among the most important factors affecting quality of life. Although sometimes it is easy to forget this and become obese. We have known for years that prevention is better than cure. Thanks to the “Keep Your Balance” project, co-financed by Switzerland, students will learn how to do this. They will receive help from expert advice, applications and workshops. They will learn about the latest trends in nutrition and the results of scientific research. All this is so that their diet, nutritional status and physical activity may result in good health for many years. The programme develops appropriate habits needed every day, as well as those needed in other situations – by pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and by people who are overweight or obese. Above all, it teaches students to pay attention to the composition and nutritional value of food—in other words, to be conscious consumers. Your quality of life depends on good choices. Eat and exercise—for your health!
Another project concerning a healthy lifestyle in which the school’s students are involved is “Gesunde Schule – Healthy School”. This year, students of the nutrition and household management technical school and the economics technical school worked on the theme: Homeland – traditions – holidays – customs. On 23–24 May 2013, students took part in a fair summarising the second year of Polish-German cooperation. During the school year, the students carried out a range of tasks mainly concerning holiday traditions in Poland and Germany. On the first day, all schools participating in the project, together with their partner schools, presented the results of their cooperation. Together with students from Förderschulzentrum in Görlitz, the students presented the results of a year of cooperation, including cookbooks in both languages and photo presentations from the school exchange. After the fair, students took part in language activities and various workshops, including breakdancing, drumming, yoga and orienteering games. Joint sports games and a dance-and-music performance concluded the first day. On the second day, the integration of all the groups continued through joint sports and recreational activities and a hike along one of the many trails in the area surrounding the centre where the students were staying. Thanks to their successful participation in the project activities, the following skills were developed: the ability to work in a multicultural environment, social maturity, improved language skills, the ability to present their projects, knowledge of a healthy lifestyle, and deeper knowledge of their own region. In the 2013/2014 school year, the schools will carry out activities related to movement and sport.
Students received certificates for participating in the Healthy School project on 3 June at the “Young – Talented” gala. Every year, students organise a gala during which they showcase their achievements in numerous competitions, projects, charitable campaigns and Olympiads. This year, the gala was hosted by “aliens”, and students could admire, among other things, vocal performances, a cabaret act, electric guitar playing, a capoeira demonstration and a muay thai martial arts display.
(information: ZSOiZ w Bolesławcu)