St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School Students Participate in Cooking Connections through ProAction Grant

Grade 7 and 8 students from St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School participated in a six-week cooking program aimed at promoting collaboration between students, community partners, Durham Regional Police Service, and All Saints Secondary School. Through culinary experiences, students bonded with peers while exploring new pathways and educational connections. As shared by the students, the program created opportunities to build relationships, including with teachers from All Saints Catholic Secondary School and local police officers. 

Many students reflected on how cooking together helped them see how they relate to one another and how valuable these connections will be in their educational journey. Some students also expressed excitement about the new pathways they’ve discovered through this program, including excitement about starting high school at All Saints Catholic Secondary School.

This program has provided students with both hands-on learning and valuable experiences with community partners, enriching their understanding of school life and community connections. 

Student Feedback

"It's fun. I like collaborating with other people. We get to eat the food we make. I like that it’s at All Saints because I am meeting the teachers there. It's cool that the Durham Police have joined us, but we are better at cooking than them!" – Dylan S., student at St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School

“I like cooking because it brings me and my classmates closer together with culinary experiences!  Making delicious food together makes me see how we relate.  I think having an early connection with the All Saints teacher will help my education when I get to the school. Having police with us made me realize they are normal people like us! It’s opening my eyes to other experiences available for me at secondary school.” – Mark M., student at St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School