FOOD SERVICES PRAYERS

FOOD IS POWERFUL 

• Food is central to our lives
• Food is an essential part of education
• Food sustains and provides us with energy to grow and prosper
• Food can be an experience
• Food is the oldest global carrier of culture
• Food can be an art form of the highest calibre
• Food is nurturing and promotes wellness from within
• Food connects us to ourselves, family, friends, neighbours, our environment and our community.
• Food is a driving force for globalization and is a symbol of our shared humanity.
• Food enables us to share in other cultures and to embrace our differences
• Food is spiritual. The passage of food between the outside of the body and the inside makes us part of nature
• Food and memories are forever entwined and touch us in so many ways, from generation to generation
• Food is intimate…we think about it, we touch it, we smell it and we taste it. 
• Food is a cause for celebration and rejoicing

 Food is also much, much more……

Food existed before the first text book.

 Back to the times of the Cavemen relationships were developed around the importance of food.  Revolutions have come and gone that were started over food shortages. 

 It has been said that “Cooking” has done the most of all the arts to advance civilization.  “I cook, therefore I am.”

 All animals eat but as humans we are the only animals that cook our food and have elevated the act of cooking to be more than a necessity.  Cooking has become a symbol of our shared social activity and humanity.

 The way we grow, distribute and prepare food should celebrate our various cultures and our shared humanity.  

 The use of bread as the body of Christ in the communion is an old symbol.  It is meant to untie people and in a way say were are all the same.  We are all of the same body and blood.

 Food creates community.  Dishes prepared and meals served for others create a comforting bond.  As humans we appreciate the cheer, togetherness and warmth of gathering and eating with friends.

 Dining with people in a pleasant atmosphere is also part of our unique heritage as human beings and we must never overlook the healing power of eating in a loving and social atmosphere.

 At a fundamental level we are all equal and the same because no matter who we are, we all must eat. 

Food and eating are also part of the relationships that we make at school and in life.  Dishes prepared and meals served in your Cafeteria create a comforting bond of togetherness.

 And, when we eat together, we learn many things.

 Your Food Service Staff focus on and think about food all the time.  We care about food and how the decisions and practices we make on a daily basis affect our world.

At meals, we connect to each other by breaking bread.

The Food Service Department staff are “Food Connectors”.  We connect with the land, we connect with food and we connect with people.  We have connected as a Department because of our passion for food and we feed on “your energy”.  

 We see the raw ingredients that go into the preparation of foods that are available throughout the day in the Cafeteria.  We carefully plan the menus, nourish relationships with suppliers, order and receive the food, prepare from scratch, cook and serve the food.  And hopefully when this food has been served in a friendly manner, it has inspired you to see your world in a different way for that particular period of time.   When you eat the food from the Cafeteria we hope that you will feel the positive energy that went into its preparation.

 As well we work collectively to expose the Havergal Community, Students and Staff to a variety of cuisines, cultures and food issues that are essential to creating informed, and capable global individuals.

 Your Food Service and In-House Housekeeping Department is also just as diverse as the food that is prepared for you on a daily basis.  Again, when we celebrate our culinary diversity, we celebrate our diversity.

 Rodica who works at the Junior School is from Romania, Veronica, Lorna, Valerie, Lavene and Betty are from Jamaica, Sophia is from Greece, Cindy is from Vietnam, Hector is from Columbia, Jessie, Roger and Martina are from the Philippines, Enilda is from El Salvador, Sara hails from Ireland, Susan Siu is from Malaysia, Conway, Ashley and I are from Ontario. With all these countries being represented, you can imagine all our memories and food experiences that we regularly share.  

 So who better to give you some “Food for Thought” than members of your Food Servic and Housekeeping Departments………..

In closing, let’s not forget to “Celebrate what is on Our Plate.”

Passion for Food from Columbia to Jamaica!

Buenos dias, students, staff and guests.

My name is Hector Garcia. I was born in Bogata, Colombia and for the past eleven years, I have been a Canadian citizen.

In Canada, many things have been new to me.  I have gotten to know many people from other countries and at the same time, I have also gotten to know some of their customs.

In Colombia, food is an indispensable and essential part of our life and culture:  from celebrating births, birthday, religious and national holidays to weddings and funerals.

Colombia is a tropical country and is quite mountainous.  There are cities at sea level and cities at more than three thousand metres above sea level.  Colombia’s soil is very fertile and as a result, we have excellent mineral products (especially emeralds), fruits, vegetables and a wide range of animals.  In  Spanish the names of some of these animals are:  zapote, ranadilla, guama, tamarindo, maranon….curuba, mora, lulo….

We do not have very distinct seasons like in Canada.  In Colombia it is always sprint time.  Because of our beautiful climate, it is easy to find fresh, local and affordable products of excellent quality in any month of the year.

Christmas and New Year’s are our most important holidays.  We spend them surrounded by family.  At midnight, we celebrate with a special dinner, festive drinks, music, dancing and fireworks.

It is customary to divide the feast so that each family prepares a special dish.  (pies, buenelos, arepas, natilla, postre de natas, picadas, ajiaco…)

These dishes are traditional family favourites or from other regions of the country.   The food is then offered to close friends and neighbours.

I would like to invite you all to visit and get to know Colombia.  The media often portrays Colombia in an incorrect way and shows only the bad things that happen there.

I would like you to know that Colombia is wonderful.  It has so many qualities and let us not forget; the best coffee in the world.

Please do not miss the opportunity to visit the country where I am from.

Gracias a Dios. Gracias a Canada and Gracias Havergal for allowing me to share some of my beloved Colombia with all of you today

Hi.  My name is Susan Siu and I am originally from Malaysia, a country that is an island and a peninsula with beautiful beaches and rainforests.

I have fond memories of  our family outings at the beach when my father would buy us a treat called “Rojak.”   Rojak is typically a fruit salad of pineapple, cucumber, dried tofu,  mango and Fuji apple which is topped with a sweet dark sauce made with chilies, palm sugar, shrimp paste, tamarind juice and chopped peanuts.  Another treat for us was a snow cone topped with coconut milk and syrup. 

Malaysian food is normally very spicy. In our cooking we use spices such as chili, 5 star aniseeds, garlic, shallots, cumin, tamarind, turmeric and many other spices.

(ANI-SEEDS)

I have many favourite Malaysian Foods.

One of my favourites is Nasi Lemak which is coconut rice that is served with dried fish and Sambal which is a spicy sauce.

I also enjoy both Satay chicken and beef that we serve with groundnut sauce made with curry power and other spices.

As a beverage, Malaysians enjoy the pressed juice from sugar-cane, coconut water and water melon juice.    Coconut water is now popular in Canada with Athletes as it is full of nutrients and natural ingredients.

Most Malaysian desserts are made from coconut milk, rice flour and palm sugar. We enjoy them as a snack in the afternoon.

After our main meal at dinner time, we like to enjoy a variety of tropical fruits such as pineapple, papaya and mango.  

Good morning.

My name is Valerie Taylor and I am from the beautiful Tropical Island of Jamaica, where you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the most delicious foods.

 I lived in the country in the Parish of St. Ann, also known as the “Garden Parish”. Living in the country we were fortunate to be able to grow most of our food.  My dad was a farmer and our neighbour had a butcher shop so we really ate from the field to the table, a phrase that we hear often these days.

Sunday was our favourite day of the week.  This was when we could have breakfast and dinner together as a family.  For breakfast and before we left for church, we enjoyed Ackee and saltfish with fried dumplings. For Sunday dinner we always had rice and peas along with different meats such as:  oxtail, fish or my favourite, Curried Goat.  Our favourite beverage was a tall glass of Sour Sop or Carrot Juice.

Another fond memory of food I enjoyed while living in Jamaica was what was eaten after Lent.   At this time we would have a meat roast on a big open fire with pimento wood seasoned with some of the most delicious spices you can find anywhere in the world.  Pimento is also known as “all spice”. 

We would put the meat on the open flame and cover it with pimento leaves.  The aroma from this pit would travel for miles away.

After the meat was roasted to perfection, we would eat as much as we could to make up for the meat that was not eaten during the lent.  

Some of these foods and the foods mentioned today along with favourites contributed by the Food Service Staff will be featured this week at lunch time.

Thank you and enjoy!!

Students ACT Now

The Institute at Havergal encourages our students to ACT NOW, building understanding and impact. This year the Institute is proud to facilitate a variety of student run projects for the 2009 - 2010 school year. 

Here is what our girls have been up to:

ATHLETES IN MOTION (AIM)


Athletes in Motion launched in October 2009, and has taken off with a number of projects this year. By using sport and physical activity as a vehicle for social change and to build community, the members of AIM have collaborated with a variety of organizations to form partnerships in the community.

1) Kids Fest Running and Reading Club: This after-school program was launched by former Olympian and Canadian marathon record holder Silvia Ruegger. Held in TDSB priority schools, the program runs one afternoon per week for two hours through the school year, at multiple locations across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver. Havergal has partnered with the Chalk Farm Public School through AIM to be a part of this unique program that challenges the mind and the body.

2) Change for Social Change: AIM has partnered with AthletesCAN, the collective voice of all Canadian National Team Athletes across the country. They are dedicated to developing Athlete leaders who can inspire thousands of youth to lead healthier, active lives and create a stronger, fairer Canadian Sport System for all. By holding a coin drive in the month of February, the proceeds raised will go towards implementing mentorship and leadership training for National athletes to work with young people to make a difference in their own communities.

3) Junior School Olympic Day: Following on the tremendous success of a sports day in November, led by AIM, for the fun of students from Grenoble PS, Lawrence Heights and Derrydown, twenty AIM members will be helping to run the Junior School Olympic Day on February 26th. The Junior school students will be rotating between eight stations outdoors for their very own Havergal Olympics. AIM will be running each station and promoting the Olympic values of leadership, fairness, respect and peace.

4) Race for Dignity: Dignitas works with existing government, community and societal structures in the Zomba district of Malawi. Each month, hundreds of children and adults are gaining access to essential care and to prevention education that helps raise awareness and reduce stigma. AIM is participating in the RAce for Dignity, a spinathon event to be held at Crescent school on March 26th.

LOLA


Rachel Gladstone is working with her family to establish Labour of Love Angola to help improve maternal and infant health conditions in Angola. They are hoping to support remote midwife training clinics, provide prenatal vitamins and someday build more clinics in the rural areas of the country. The website is at www.labourofloveangola.org. Assisted by the Institute, LOLA just filed for incorporation as a not for profit.

ME TO WE


Me to We is a social enterprise for people who want to help change the world with their daily choices. Under the leadership of Rachel Friedland and Hannah Boyd, the Me to We group encourages Havergal students to start thinking about and create new ways to help others.

Me to We took the lead to organize Red for Haiti day to support Havergal's partnership with Adoration Christian School in Port au Prince. Kim Gringuis, Principal of the school, was a teacher at our partner school Lawrence Heights. Students met with Kim following Prayers, and decided that we will respond to Kim's assessment of the needs of the school as it rebuilds, and that we are in this together for the long term.

WELL-KEEPERS


The Well-keepers meet weekly to consider the world, to "get contaminated" with ideas, as Appiah has urged, and to participate in vibrant, guided discussions.


BOLD AS LAM


In support of the LAM Canada Fund in honour of Catherine Lawrence, Claire Morse is bringing a benefit concert to Havergal grounds on May 18th. LAM is a devastating lung disease that affects young women almost exclusively and is often fatal. The impact of LAM research could not only accelerate the progress in developing its cure, but for other diseases such as breast cancer as well. The proceeds of the concert will be going directly to the Green Eggs and LAM Foundation for further research.

INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS CLUB


The International Awareness Club has determined that they will develop a product to highlight their social entrepreneurial approach to the mental health of young women. The group is learning about health issues and about business, and will develop its product soon.

BEATSTOCK


An annual event that has traditionally raised funds for War Child, is being held this year on February 5th. Students decided to shift their support to Beatz to da Streetz, a group they got to know at Wellfest last year. Beatz supports young people to express themselves through music, which is the mandate of Beatstock.

KIDS AGAINST CANADIAN HUNGER


KACH partners with the Community Council - they will organize a food and penny drive in April to support Toronto's food banks, that support a high number of children. We hope the food drive will align with the annual food drive held by Whittlesea GAP School in South Africa, and by Derrydown Public School (our Triangle of Hope partner schools).

GIRLS FOR GIRLS


Girls for Girls grew out of roundtable discussions with Plan Canada and the Canadian Womens Foundation on the subject of "Being a Girl". The group decided they wanted to meet young women their age in other parts of the city to learn their stories. From this came a writing workshop with a group of female high school students in Thorncliffe Park, hosted by the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office. The workshop was led by award-winning poet and novelist, and York professor, Priscilla Uppal. A second workshop is planned for the spring.

Wear Red For Haiti

With the tragedy in Haiti still at the forefront of our minds, our Havergal students are showing their dedication to the relief effort. This Friday January 29th, Kimberley Gringhuis will be speaking in Prayers about her Port au Prince school that has collapsed from the devastating earthquake. Ms. Gringhuis is a teacher at Lawrence Heights, one of our partner schools in Toronto, who has been teaching at Adoration Christian School in Haiti. To help support Kimberley's effort to re-build this school, our students are urging one another to WEAR RED FOR HAITI for $2 this Friday. A Bake Sale will also be held at lunch time, with all proceeds from the day going directly towards re-building Adoration Christian School.

For more information on Adoration Christian School visit Kimberley's blog at www.kiminhaiti.blogspot.com.

HAITI NEEDS ALL THE SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE!