In a new cross-curricular collaboration at Johnstown High School, GJSD Food Services Director Simone Bodman is inspiring students in Kristy Lynch’s Community Connections class by sharing her culinary expertise through hands-on cooking lessons that introduce recipes students can easily try at home.
The collaboration launched just before Thanksgiving, with students working together under Bodman’s direction to prepare baked apples. The apples were assembled during class, then taken to the school cafeteria where Bodman baked them. Students were able to take their finished creations home at the end of the day.
“The first session we had with Ms. Bodman was a big hit with the students,” Mrs. Lynch said. “They enjoyed it so much that we invited her back for a second session, where students learned how to make Super Bowl–themed appetizers, including deviled eggs and buffalo chicken dip. Not only are they learning how to follow recipes, but they’re also learning to use common kitchen utensils and gaining valuable culinary knowledge along the way. I’m glad that we can incorporate some of this important culinary education into our community connections and health curriculums.”
“This has been incredibly fun for me,” Bodman said. “It has given me a wonderful opportunity to get to know the students better and to work with them on a different level than in my role as Food Services Director. I hope I’ve sparked some curiosity about cooking and that students take what they’ve learned and continue to build on it.”
Lynch, who also serves as one of two Farm-To-School AgriQuest coordinators at JHS, said there are also plans to incorporate food that the students grow into future recipes. Her students currently have “grow stations” in her classroom, where they are cultivating fresh herbs and vegetables like thyme, basil, lettuce, celery, purple kohlrabi, spinach, green tatsoi, collard greens, and more.
The AgriQuest Farm-to-School program is now in its second year in Johnstown. Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Alicia D. Koster, praised both Bodman and Lynch for their creativity and for helping students discover agricultural connections they might not have noticed otherwise.
“AgriQuest is a multi-faceted program at GJSD,” Koster said. “It goes beyond simply learning about agriculture and farming. It also introduces students to potential careers in the field and helps them see the many ways agriculture impacts their daily lives. These are exactly the kinds of connections we want our students making in the classroom.”
“This cross-curricular collaboration checks all the boxes for me,” JHS Principal Nick Snow said. “It’s a creative approach that provides hands-on learning to teach students skills that will benefit them in the future. As we integrate Portrait of a Graduate next year, we will be putting more of an emphasis on incorporating practical experience in the classroom at every level. This collaboration is an excellent example of how hands-on experiences can engage students, build real-world skills, and deepen their understanding of what they’re learning.”