A New School Year Begins: Orientation

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It's a New Year at Stratford Chefs School

A new School year begins! Orientation week kicks things off before classes and dinner labs officially begin on Tuesday, October 22. Incoming Level 1 students meet together for the first time, get to know each other and the School Faculty members, and are briefed on the essentials to get them ready to start their intensive cookery training!

Returning Level 2 students gear up for participation in the various front and back of house roles that are all key parts of executing Dinner Labs, including taking the lead as Student Chef. Very exciting!

What Happens During Orientation?

Many important tasks get done during Orientation week, and much valuable information is shared. Attendance for all incoming students is mandatory.

A Week of Preparation

Over the course of Orientation week, Level 1's set up their iPads, which are used to access the majority of the course materials, meet their fellow students and Faculty members, and get a professional headshot photo taken by photographer Terry Manzo (SCS Class of 1985).

Important administrative tasks are completed, such as signing off on Apprenticeship contracts, and learning how to apply for the financial supports available. Students are introduced to the service kitchen and pastry kitchen they will be learning in, and how they will be involved in Dinner Labs. A Restaurant Etiquette workshop is also provided! Essential Sanitation training and review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is also part of Orientation. It's a jam-packed week!

Returning Level 2 students re-group with each other and review the essentials of Dinner Lab preparation and documentation, such as completing their Purchase Order. Lab Service and Beverage service review, a coffee tasting, bar shift training, billing, and more are all on their Orientation agenda. They learn how to run a restaurant for the public!

Meet and Greet

Orientation week includes a fun 'Meet and Greet' gathering in our Dining Room for all Level 1 and 2 students to socialize, get to know each other better, and chat with School Faculty members and Board of Directors in a relaxed environment. Cheers to the start of another great School year!

Stratford Chefs School Alumni Ashley Stock

Setting Students Up For Success

Orientation helps prepare students to hit the ground running when classes - and Lab Dinners - begin. Our small School size also makes it easier for students to get to know their classmates and their Instructors, which facilitates quality, in-person learning.

Learn More

Learn more about our Enriched Cook Apprenticeship 32 week program.

Learn more about our Open Kitchen recreational cooking classes, Student Chef Dinners and other events.

Do you have questions about our Program?

Contact us by email admin@stratfordchef.com or call 519.271.1414

Photos: Terry Manzo

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Stratford Chefs School is a not-for-profit Career College focused on the innovative, hands-on training of high-quality, aspiring Chefs and Culinary Entrepreneurs. The School’s vision is to be the primary training and education source of choice for tomorrow’s culinary leaders, and to train students with a culture code of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and respect.

Established in 1983, Stratford Chefs School has set the standard of excellence for culinary training in Canada, graduating nearly 900 alumni who contribute to a distinctive Canadian cuisine. The unique Apprenticeship program provides students with a thorough grounding in the theory and practice of classical cuisines and the business elements of operating successful restaurants in today’s market. Stratford Chefs School is one of Canada’s most successful and respected culinary institutions and is continually evolving to meet the needs of its students and the culinary community.

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