Kennedy Middle School Heats Up the Kitchen with Cooking Classes

Cupertino schools are known for high test scores, but what may not always be seen are the fun electives available to let students unwind, like the intricate cooking classes available at .

Darlene Fromm has been teaching cooking classes at the middle school for almost 10 years now and the class is always in high demand, even though the 7th- and 8th-grade students actually have to clean up after themselves.

“I’ve always had an interest in [cooking] but to have a job to be able to do this is a miracle,” said Fromm. “It’s so fun. Can there be a better job?”

“It’s been very popular. I think it’s a great outlet for the students," Fromm said. "They have time to be creative and learn life skills."

This trimester, the school offered applied arts, advanced cooking and baking and pastry arts classes, according to Fromm. In the past, there has also been a global cuisine class, where students learned how to make sushi. Applied arts is a three-fold class, through all three trimesters, consisting of art, cooking and wood shop.

“It’s the best class because you get to cook then you get to eat,” said 8th grader Adithi Sajapuram. Sajapuram said a favorite recipe among many in the class was when they made red velvet cupcakes.

Students in Fromm’s classes not only cook the food at their own stations in small groups, but they also learn basics of safety, nutrition, and cleaning up.

“I’ve learned some safety techniques, like how to handle knives,” said Neha Patchipala, an 8th-grader. Patchipala admitted to now doing more in the kitchen at home, including cleaning up.

The class is equipped with several stations each consisting of a stove, oven, sink and necessary materials for small groups of students to get a hands-on approach to learning. The front of the classroom looks like a cooking TV show with the mirror overhead of the cooking table so the whole class can see what Fromm is teaching them.

“The parents really appreciate what the students learn,” Fromm said. She joked and added, “They actually have to clean up here, because there’s no dishwasher.”

She said several parents have come back to her and thanked her for the skills the students have to learn in the class. Fromm said she hopes that students use some of these life skills when they go off on their own to college.

“The middle school experience should focus on academics, but also on social and emotional growth,” said assistant principal Kit Bragg. “Our primary goal is to help students develop a sense of identity. Offering elective classes affords our students the chance to find their niche as an individual and grow their passion.”

The elective asks for a small donation of $40 per child and this and other programs are heavily supported by community, Bragg said.