Have you wondered what they’re building on the side of the parking lot at LHS? I know it’s a question many of you have been asking. Some of you think that they are just expanding the parking lot, but that’s not it. It’s going to be the new culinary arts building. It’ll be much larger than the one we’re currently using, and it’ll be right on campus! It’ll take up about 10,000 sq. feet. Inside will encompass a very large teaching kitchen, along with a classroom, a dining room that will host approximately 250 people, and two large conference rooms. It’ll be very high tech. In the classroom, there will be about 35 computers and audio visual for all of the students. The classroom will also be set up like an auditorium, going up higher as the seats get further away from the teacher. The kitchen will be three times as big as it is in our current building, which means more room to work, to learn, and the potential for more students to join. The dining room will display student’s art work and student pottery. It’ll be a great touch. There will also be a stage, so while the culinary students serve food, our school’s performing arts could also put on a show.

This program is mainly for kids who have the ambition to become chefs when they get out of school. It’s primarily open to juniors and seniors. Although it takes up three periods of the day, it is a class that represents real life and doesn’t just teach you how to cook. You do Math, English and Science while in the class. You need to budget out meals, mix ingredients, and add the right amount of ingredients to what you’re making. Eighty-five percent of the students that take the class end up going to college; half of the ones that do go, are granted scholarships. The students cook for the public. They’re open during lunch hours, and they also do catering. Overall, it’s a great program and the new building will be a wonderful addition to the LHS campus.