Food Glorious Food
Angus MacRury
Thursday 27 October 2005
Week 10 October
The week began in the usual fashion. A busy Monday with a pile of mail to get through and three forward plans to look over and write comments on. The day was busy and I felt I was getting a great deal achieved. I finalised a draft of our Enterprise Policy and Framework and sent it off to Julia prior to our meeting on Thursday. If you want a copy give me a call.
Tuesday.
In class with P5/6/7 I am really enjoying this class. They are very keen and are always ready to be challenged. I enjoy Tuesday. I try to stay clear of my office which is looking like a bombsite.
Wednesday.
I meet with Joyce Marlow regarding the standard of school meals in Innerwick. The e-mail I sent Joyce expressed my concerns with the Food at Innerwick and the new menus.
I feel that there is still not enough range of foods in the menu cycle. I also feel that nutritional value and the methods employed cooking these foods lead to deterioration of the final meal when it is presented to the pupil.
I will give some examples from the menus.
Week 1
Monday: Breaded haddock and Chips, Bought in frozen, (Deep Fried) Cooked in each school.
Tuesday: Cheese and Tomato Pizza. Hopefully school made. (Transports very badly), Wedges (are these not just a fancy chip) Deep fried?
Potential to be high in salt and fat content.
Wednesday: Fish Cakes (Bought in?) Fish theme repeated in 2 days. Steak Pie. Beef)
Thursday: Beef Bolognese/ pasta. Beef was offered the previous day.
Friday: Poor quality, nasty pre-packed sandwiches. Bought in. (Processed)
The meeting was very fruitful and I did my best to express my opinion, as did Joyce.
The food that arrived at Innerwick that day was of the usual standard. Joyce agreed that some things would have to improve.
Thursday.
Today the Environmental Health Officers appear to look at the Nursery and School Kitchen. After sampling of cold foods in the Kitchen, a lot of food heads to the bin and Joyce is contacted. The result is that at service time we are running out of food. I had relayed my concerns regarding the transportation of food to Joyce and this still is a very high concern. The Nursery Kitchen is also inspected and a number of recommendations made. A fridge thermometer, A food probe. Logging sheets for probed foods and so on. Do all nurseries have these? Should we?
The rest of the afternoon was spent with Julia discussing Enterprise and how to spend our DTS budget. We also discussed the school policy and framework for Enterprise our business engagement and the Showcase on 22 November. This was a very positive meeting.
Friday.
A lot of prep work for the Monday in-service day related to Reading. Then home to prepare for the trip to Sunny Barra for the week.
Monday 24th.
Back at work. Staff meeting, Focus on Reading and discussing with the staff the way forward for the school. A very productive morning. In the Afternoon we are at Dunbar Grammar for Racial Equality Training. There is super stuff on equality from Edinburgh on www.egfl.net we are currently using this to audit Innerwick Primary School.
Thursday. I am back at work today after a couple of days ill. I meet with Kate Triscott regarding a couple of students with Health Care Plans. I decide to clear my office and get my in tray emptied. I manage this. I clear my e-mail (all of it). I polish my desk. I reply to 2 parents regarding unauthorised absences during term time. (Stern letter time!) I send Julia the showcase proposal for the school. I meet with our SFL teacher about some students. I go through the budget statement with my Secretary. I get a surprise Inspection of the fire systems in place in the school. This is a valuable exercise and something that I find very interesting. A report will be forthcoming. So far this year I have had Care Commission, Environmental Health (twice) and now Fire Inspection, All I need for the full set is HMIE. I agree to sit on a working party on reduction of class contact, after a phone call from Patricia at Campie. I email the cluster about IT departments response time for loading software. Does it really take 3 weeks? Should we just get rid of computers in school?
I then spend the next 45 minutes writing this… Tomorrow we have all the children and staff coming in dressed up as we have a Halloween party.