Provided by Prince William County Schools
Potomac High School students recently hosted a festive holiday brunch for three senior citizen living facilities in their community. Students in the Culinary Arts Program, Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), orchestra and choir helped make the holidays brighter for the attendees.
NJROTC students helped the honored guests out of their vehicles and escorted them into the library for the event. The special guests were treated to performances by Potomac High School’s orchestra and choir as they entered the café and while they dined. The brunch was designed, prepared and served by students.
Culinary Arts Program
Chef Ronald Evans, Culinary Arts teacher, encouraged students at all levels of the Culinary Arts Program to participate. All levels worked in positions at both ‘back of the house’ (food preparers) and ‘front of the house’ (food servers) for the event.
Evans challenged his students to go above and beyond with the menu design. Advanced level students met the challenge of designing a menu with foods that were low sodium and heart healthy. Their first challenge was to come up with a potato dish that was not just hash browns. The student chefs met that challenge with cheesy egg and hash browned waffles.
Other items on the menu included fruit parfaits that were made with hand-whipped heavy cream, fresh blueberries and raspberries. To add a special touch, students lightly toasted the granola and honey they were topped with before serving.
Senior Catherine Ware, an advanced level chef in training, baked the Southern sweet potato cake that was a featured dessert. It was a hit with the senior guests. The full menu also included beef brisket, honey glazed ham, spinach quiche and grits.
Community Service
Stacy Norwood, assistant principal and head of the CTE classes at Potomac High School, is a primary force in continuing this tradition of community service. “The students do all the cooking, baking, set up and serving for their holiday celebrants,” Norwood emphasized. Community involvement and giving back to the community is an integral part of all the programs at Potomac High School. “The senior guests really appreciate this event. One of our regular attendees brought me a bag of her hand-crocheted ornaments to share with the students.”
School events like this are truly a reminder of what’s important during the holiday season.
