MLO Students Cook Up Creativity in New FACS Classroom

Seventh graders at Wyandanch’s Milton L. Olive Middle School are putting the school’s new Family and Consumer Science classroom to delicious use through Laurie Siegel’s Edible Art Cooking Club, offered through SCOPE.

The club combines creativity with hands-on culinary learning, giving scholars opportunities to experiment with ingredients, practice cooking techniques and transform food into imaginative edible creations. Working in the spacious new FACS classroom, students are building confidence in the kitchen while learning skills they can carry well beyond the school day.

“It’s all about learning, creating, experimenting and having fun – because the best art is sometimes the kind you can eat,” Siegel said.

MLO’s FACS students will use the new space this school year to study kitchen safety and sanitation, food preparation and cooking techniques while learning to make foods from scratch, including pizza dough, cookies, cinnamon buns and pretzels.

“Every student should have the opportunity to learn the basics of cooking,” MLO Principal Dr. Michelle Darby said. “It is a life skill that brings enjoyment, supports healthy living, strengthens independence and can open doors to future careers. We are proud to provide our scholars with a state-of-the-art FACS classroom where these important lessons come to life, and we also enjoy the delicious food that the students create.”