Barbara Klein is one of those teachers.
A teacher who inspires her students. A teacher who brings out the absolute best in them and provides them with unique opportunities while meaningfully tying in course content.
Klein, who has been a staff member at Leaside High School for nine years, teaches business/accounting. This past fall, she managed to secure a grant from the Toronto District School Board and used the funds for a very different educational project that combines diverse areas.
She aligned the curriculum of the Grade 12 Business Leadership course with the development of a cookbook, the sales of which will be donated to the Thorncliffe Food Bank.
While Klein notes that “at first students thought it was a strange concept,” they quickly came to understand the idea and worked tirelessly to produce the cookbook.
The students were divided into several departments, including research, management, design, finance and marketing. To produce a successful cookbook, students learned the value of leveraging the expertise, knowledge and approaches of others by partnering with numerous departments within the school like nutrition, business, administration and computers and technology.
For student Owen Neate, a key takeaway from the project was that it “showcase(d) the variety of skills and talent present at Leaside High School.”
The cookbook, called Leaside Eats, a play on Uber Eats, contains over 60 recipes, including appetizers, beverages, soups, salads, desserts, and more.
Recipes were sourced from staff and parents and at $15 per book, the product is an excellent resource, as well as a recognition of the work of the students and a meaningful way to donate to a local charity.
For Neate, “knowing that our work will help support individuals and families in need makes this project even more meaningful. It’s rewarding to see our efforts contribute to a cause that makes a real difference in the community.”
To order a copy of the book, click here or contact Manuela West at the school: (416) 396-2380 x20003.
