By offering Family Consumer Science to our students, we are equipping them with valuable life skills and preparing them for roles within the family, their future workplace, our community, and the world.
The field of family and consumer sciences (FCS), founded as home economics, is the comprehensive body of skills, research, and knowledge that helps students make informed decisions about their well being, relationships, and resources to achieve optimal quality of life. Our curriculum includes:
- Personal and family finance
- Food science, nutrition, and wellness
- Consumer issues
- Employment opportunities in the hospitality industry
Our upper and middle school culinary curriculum focuses on interpreting how to read and use recipes and terminology, describe and demonstrate safe and sanitary food handling techniques, analyze food label information, and demonstrate nutrition and wellness practices that enhance individual and family well-being. Consumer issues focus on describing how media and advertising affect family and consumer decisions, describing places to shop and merchandising tactics, and brand comparisons within a store.
In our Food Lab, I make sure to use only “Schnee’s World Famous” recipes which feature whole foods and limit ingredients containing added sugars, salts, fats and preservatives. My goal is for my students to understand that what they put into their bodies has a direct impact on how they feel, how they sleep, and what they are able to accomplish throughout the day.
Quick Laugh from the Food Lab: A student came to me with his mother’s “Buttermilk Pie” recipe. We took the recipe and baked a couple of pies in class. The result? Not so good…. Mrs. Russell then took the time and baked a couple of pies at home and then brought them to school. I had to admit, Mrs. Russell’s pies were exponentially better! I told all the students, “well, there’s no cooking like home cooking!”
Our upper school curriculum analyzes career paths within the food technology, nutrition industries, food production and food service industries. Resumes, cover letters, and job interviewing skills help students evaluate their personal background and future plans as they relate to the workforce.
In order to actively engage students, the FACS curriculum allows students to be creative and independent in as many areas as possible.
Offering FACS is an important first step in teaching core skills needed to develop students into devoted and responsible citizens within the school and community. The skills introduced to students will travel with them for the rest of their lives, enabling them to be more productive, educated members of society. With these valuable skills, students will become more confident in all aspects of their lives, from completing school work more efficiently to spending money more sensibly.
Another successful “Schnee’s World Famous” recipe in the works!
“Chef Schnee fails to include how much the kids love him. His ability to engage our students is truly unique. An alumnus recently shared that he regularly ate broccoli for breakfast. Why? Because Schnee taught him it was healthy. From the simplest tasks of measuring and chopping to the more intricate dealings of nutrition and budgeting, the impact he has is amazing.”
– Elizabeth Waranch, Director of Institutional Advancement
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“Chef Schnee”
Bob Schneeburger
Family Consumer Science Teacher
