Bloom Trail Culinary Art Students Make Breakfast for Community

With holiday music playing in the background, the Bloom Trail culinary arts students were making homemade pancakes. It was time for high school’s Community Pancake Breakfast with Santa hosted by the Bloom Trail Parent co-op.

“We do this event annually” said June Shy from Lynwood who is president of the Bloom Trail Parent co-op. “Breakfast with Santa is a community outreach for the school, that’s why the admission is very low.”

For students with ID’s, senior citizens and children under 12, they were able to enjoy a pancake breakfast with all the trimmings for only three dollars. Bloom Trail students also volunteered to help children with crafts, coloring and to meet Santa.

“It’s up important for us to do this” said Shy. “We like to come out and make sure everyone has a good time. We also have great raffle prizes each year such as gift cards. You also get to enjoy a tasty pancake breakfast prepared by our culinary arts students. Everyone loves to eat” adds Shy.

While the cafeteria at Bloom Trail was filling up, Dr. Lenell Navarre, Superintendent for Bloom Township 206 greeted everyone as they came in. “This is a good crowd this year” said Dr. Navarre. “Today you have a mixture of Bloom Trail families, Bloom families and the community here.” The Superintendent then went over and thanked the Bloom Trail culinary arts students for helping to prepare the pancake breakfast and serve. “It smells delicious” said Dr. Navarre. “All the students are doing their part and volunteering their time. This is big, since I was principal at Bloom I always tell the students to volunteer and give back to the community. This is something we continue to do.”

Terelle Hampton who is the new Culinary Arts teacher at Bloom Trail, it was the first time he has participated with his students for a community event. “The kids love to cook” said Hampton. For the annual Community Pancake Breakfast with Santa, students prepared the pancake mixture, the sausage and organized a drink station. “I teach the students how to be safe in the kitchen and sanitation is my number one lesson” said Hampton. “Today we have twelve culinary arts students volunteering. An event like this shows them how to give back. The students live in this community, it feels good for them to do this and to feed people. Some of these students are planning to go into culinary arts so today prepares them for dealing with various people and to learn hospitality.”

Glynis Keene, the principal of Bloom Trail is never surprised at all the talented students she has authority over. “Our culinary arts students are helping to cook and serve. This is a training for our advanced culinary students who are pursuing restaurant fields” said Keene. “Really the goal for this breakfast is to invite the community into our school and provide a fun family event for them. A Bloom Trail alumna comes and does free face painting for the kids. Every year there are also children’s crafts that some of our students volunteer and help with. We serve a lot of communities here at Bloom Trail. We want them to know we’re here to serve and be a part of our community.”

Over Thanksgiving Dr. Navarre helped deliver turkeys and food baskets to 76 District 206 families in need. “For Christmas we’re giving out gift cards to families donated by the Burns family” said Dr. Navarre. “For Bloom Township District 206, the holidays are full of excitement and a time for giving and being thankful for what we have and that’s each other.”