Hi,
My name is Carolyn Donnelly and I am a primary school teacher, and healthy schools leader, in Peasedown St John, Bath. I am writing to tell you about an exciting new development happening within our school. Due to Hugh's incredible work in raising awareness of healthy eating across the nation, I also wish to ask for his support in helping us to open our new restaurant ‘The Rumbling Tum’ at Peasedown St. John Primary School and thus promote healthy eating to the children and parents of our community.
From September 2009 meal times at Peasedown St. John will indeed have quite a different feel as we move towards a positive revamp of dinner arrangements and children’s attitudes towards eating. This change comes partly as a result of a questionnaire, designed to obtain children’s opinions on how they felt about their lunchtimes. All agreed that meal times should be a social occasion, where all involved get to relax, socialise with friends and enjoy their food in a calm atmosphere. This is certainly an attitude towards eating that we want to promote as a healthy school.
The children will therefore now get to experience their lunchtimes with more of a ‘restaurant’ feel. Music will be played, table cloths will be set, china plates will be used, and children will choose their dinner partner and be comfortably seated for the whole session. Our Y5 ‘Bistro Buddies’ (our very own waiters and waitresses who will help towards ensuring everyone has a calm, relaxed, sociable lunch) will take orders, serve water and bring cutlery and dessert to the children! Only once all the children have finished will they be taken out, giving them time to finish and digest their food.
These are all small, yet very effective, steps toward ensuring children attach importance (and enjoyment) towards meal times and food. It is however vitally important that parents and the community see the importance of this move so as the message is continually given at home.
This is where I ask for Hugh's support. In making the opening of our restaurant a day to remember and in raising the publicity of this development, the community, parents, staff and children will be gripped and certainly be inspired to go further with these positive changes. Of course, I realise Hugh is a very busy man, with many important commitments and duties upon him! Yet this community, only a stones throw away from his new restaurant, thrived from his recent visit to the garden project and I know would be so appreciative of his return to open the schools very own restaurant. It would indeed put the wheels in motion to link the primary school up with the keen young gardeners.
Hugh's endorsement of this event will undoubtedly bring positive results, not only for our own school and community but for other schools across the authority inspired by the changes that they see. My wish is that all children across the country experience positive meal times. Through developing awareness in my own school and working as hard as I can to promote it to others, I feel I am at least making a contribution towards this.
The restaurant is due to open in mid September but at the moment the exact date is quite flexible. If you feel Hugh would be interested and would be able to contribute support in some way I would be so grateful if you could get back to me.
Thank you so much for your time, I look forward to hearing from you,
Miss C Donnelly.
