October 25, 2006

In This Issue

Teachers: Give your feedback on the High School Diploma Redesign
Job Opportunity for Students
ProStart Employer Testimonial...
A Lesson in Food - ProStart Fundraiser for David Douglas HS
Mountain View High School ProStart Involved in Charity Event

Teachers: Give your feedback on the High School Diploma Redesign ~ ODE Soliciting Ideas and Suggestions

The State Board of Education and the Oregon Department of Education are working to create a more rigorous diploma that will ensure all Oregon students are college and workforce ready. All students need and deserve the best possible preparation for life after graduation. This fall, the Oregon Department of Education is coordinating 300- 400 school and community meetings to discuss possible changes to the Oregon High School Diploma. And they need to hear from you! If you are interested in holding a discussion with your local school or community group, please contact Crystal Weber at 503-947-5650 crystal.weber@state.or.us. ODE would be happy to provide you with all of the materials and information you will need to become a part of this important process! Please bring your ideas, suggestions and criticisms. ODE wants to work together to create the best possible outcomes for all Oregon students.

Please visit the ODE webpage to learn more about the possible changes to the Oregon High School Diploma. View their 12 minute video presentation, complete a survey providing feedback on this work, view discussion materials, or find answers to your questions.

http://www.ode.state.or.us/go/NewDiploma

Job Opportunity for Students ~ Connecting farmers markets to the classroom

Keith Cooper of Sweetbriar Farms is looking for ProStart students to cook samples on Saturdays and/or Sundays at area Farmers' Markets. This would be a perfect job for a ProStart student looking for weekend work. There are still a few weeks left of the farmer's market season this year but also this would be an opportunity for next spring/summer. If you have a student interested, please contact Keith by phone: 541-683-7447 or email: sweetbriarfarms@hotmail.com.

ProStart Employer Testimonial... ProStart Student hired at Shari's rates highly with employer

Last February, Curtis Johnson from Westview High School in Beaverton asked for assistance in finding a work site in order to complete the ProStart certificate of achiement employer requirement, and the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation went to work to help (which is one of the many services OREF provides to all ProStart instructors). A connection was made with Shari's Restaurants, and after interviewing and subsequently getting hired, Curtis has been working there since! His supervisor, Joanne, has this to say about her ProStart employee: "He is one of the best hosts I have ever seen and has great customer service skills. At first, I have to admit, I was very leery of hiring a high school student, but Curtis has helped out a lot in the baking area and is superb at making desserts! This has turned out to be a great program to participate in and the follow up is great!"

This is a great example of the caliber of students who are going through the ProStart program and are motivated to start their careers in the hospitality industry. If you are an employer who would be interested in hiring a ProStart student, please contact Dawn Tryon or Elisa Majors at OREF by calling 800-462-0619 and qualified students will be heading your way!

A special thanks to Shari's Management Corporation for their continuing efforts to hire and work with ProStart students!

A Lesson in Food - ProStart Fundraiser for David Douglas HS ~ Homecoming Dinner a Big Hit

The annual homecoming Spaghetti Dinner at David Douglas High School in Portland has become a rite of passage for students enrolled in the ProStart program. These high schoolers are involved in all aspects of event planning and execution, starting at the beginning of the school year and working up to the last minute putting together the menu, making the food, plating and serving and then finishing with clean-up.

This year's event is taking place on Friday, October 27th at the David Douglas High School south building cafeteria, which is located at 1500 SE 135th Avenue, from 5-7pm.

Last year, 320 people were served at this fundraising dinner, which costs $6 per person general admission, with special pricing for under 12 and over 65 years old. The proceeds from this event, which netted nearly $1,200, went towards field trips, textbooks and scholarships. Additionally, the funds allow a leadership class to travel to Disneyworld in Florida and study hospitality principles, and students experience the industry first-hand.

A special thanks to the Old Spaghetti Factory, which is a ProStart sponsor, for also donating the spaghetti and sauce to the David Douglas High School event, which they have done for the past five years.

Mountain View High School ProStart Involved in Charity Event ~ ProStart Class Prepares Appetizers for Charity Wine Makers Dinner

Mountain View High School ProStart students in Bend will be preparing appetizers for the upcoming Charity Wine Makers Dinner on Saturday, November 4th at the Inn of The Seventh Mountain. The dinner will feature nine Itallian wines with dinner donated by Small Vineyard Selections, and will be paired with eleven courses for the evening. The event will benefit the ProStart program at Mountain View High School, with $15.00 of each dinner being donated to the program. The evening will feature a silent auction with many wonderful gifts donated by the community. The evening will start with mini calzones prepared with Italian garlic, roasted salami, copa, a family tradional scotchie red sweet onion sauce, paired with Prosseco, which is a sparkling Italian white wine. Mini pizzettas made with olive-artichoke tapanade topped with carmalized sweet onions, feta cheese and a fresh basil chiffonade will also be served as well as a third appetizer, which will feature a scallop mousseline bouche with gremolata.

The dinner is being hosted by the Inn Of The Seventh Mountain, Small Vineyard Selections and Giorgio's West Side Bottle Shop in Bend, Oregon.

MVHS ProStart students will be present, serving the appetizers and helping with the silent auction. Reservations can be made by contacting The Inn directly at 541-693-9108. The cost is only $65.00 per person with gratuity included. Enjoy a dining experience that can't be missed!