• WCI hosts Kick Off the New Year Event
• 2007 Oregon ProStart Culinary Championships Spectator Registration Now Open
• Visit Shari's Restaurants January & February 2007 and Support ProStart!
• 2007 Outstanding Community/School Partnership Nominations Open
  

WCI hosts Kick Off the New Year Event

Know a student who is interested in a career in Culinary Arts? Have them come to Western Culinary Institute on January 20th at 11am to participate in the KICK OFF the NEW YEAR Event. Students can learn about becoming a student at Western Culinary Institute. After participating in a hands-on demo with one of WCI's experienced chef instructors, prospective students can meet with an admissions representative to see if this could be the right college for them! All high school students must be accompanied by a parent to attend and enroll. Students are to RSVP to: Steve Adams, Associate Director of H.S. Admissions, sadams@wci.edu

2007 Oregon ProStart Culinary Championships Spectator Registration Now Open
Register online now!

The 2007 ProStart State High School Culinary Championships for Oregon are less than two months away, and now is the time to register to attend! Last year, over 2,000 people came to this event and we are looking forward to over 2,500 this year!

To register, please visit the following link:

http://www.ora.org/ProStart/ContactMail.asp

Visit Shari's Restaurants January & February 2007 and Support ProStart!
Proceeds from certain menu items donated to ProStart

Shari's Restaurants, located throughout the Pacific, are featuring several menu items at their Oregon locations that will result in proceeds being donated to ProStart. Vicki Irish, who sits on the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation Board, and is the Vice President of Human Resources & Workforce at Shari's, was interested in expanding the restaurant chain's support of ProStart and also creating awareness among their customers of this school-to- career program in 44 high schools around Oregon. As a result, Shari's is showcasing ProStart on their menus and featuring specific items whose proceeds will be donated directly to ProStart. This opportunity will be raising public awareness of the program and further illustrates Shari's Restaurants as a proud supporter of the future of the hospitality industry workforce in Oregon. For a list of Shari's Restaurants in Oregon, please visit:

http://www.sharis.com

2007 Outstanding Community/School Partnership Nominations Open

Teamwork and partnership are wise investments in our schools, our students, their families, and our communities. By pooling our resources and services, we ensure that each and every child is given the best chance to succeed. When every community puts education first, the needs of ALL children are met through the work of family, community members, and school leaders.

State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo is asking for nominations of partnerships between schools and communities that support the success of their city’s students and/or school programs.

Please address the following in your nomination letter: 1) Describe how the partnership is supporting, maintaining, or improving the quality of Oregon schools. 2) Describe the participants in the partnership and their community and school connections. 3)Discuss the partnership’s programs and how these programs target the needs in the community. 4) Describe what makes this partnership unique and deserving of recognition.

Include the partnership’s contact person’s name, title, e-mail, and phone number.

Nomination letters should not exceed 500 words. Please send nomination letters to Susanne Smith at susanne.smith@state.or.us, by Jan 31, 2007. Nominated partnerships will be invited to apply for this award. Each partnership is recognized for its dedicated mission, diverse participants and partnerships, sustainable funding, meaningful programs, and attainable goals. This is the second year that Castillo has formally recognized Outstanding Community/School Partnerships, and each award recipient will receive a small cash award of $500, a certificate of recognition, and a trophy. Visit our website to read about the 2006 Outstanding community School partnership award recipients and to read a “How to Guide” for starting or retaining a successful partnership. For more info, visit this website:

http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/? =349