Virtual Regional Workshops
Due to current school travel restrictions, the FRLAEF was not able to offer in-person ProStart Regional Workshops this fall. Below are Virtual Regional Workshop videos provided by Keiser University.
Stay tuned for additional videos from the Rosen College of Hospitality at the University of Central Florida.
Fresh Mozzarella: https://youtu.be/eRCjhbpk2Oo
Cheesy Grits Souffle: https://youtu.be/CRERfRZFu7M
Walnut Shrimp: https://youtu.be/4U8SRXw-OPQ
Quinoa Risotto: https://youtu.be/YxAbfca5Yew
Mexican Street Corn: https://youtu.be/Y5u-Xywiykw
ProStart Recipes Ingredients List from Keiser 2020
Mini Grants–Awards Going Out Soon
The FRLAEF offered $80,000 in Mini Grant funding to Premiere and Full Florida ProStart schools this year. There was no fixed amount for individual grant awards, but the average award last year was $700.
The FRLAEF Board of Directors met this week to determine award amounts. If you applied for a Mini Grant, be on the lookout for an email from Laura Rumer with your award information no later then Friday, October 30.
NRAEF Data Collection (Fall Survey)-FREE Foodsafety Training Materials
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) ProStart Data Collection began last month. Like last year, this survey will be managed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. You must be registered at www.chooserestaurants.org to access the survey.
Once you complete the survey, the FRLAEF will send you an email to request $350 worth of free foodsafety materials while supplies last.
The survey is open through December 11.
Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Paul Bonanno for Teacher of the Year at Strawberry Crest High School! (He is pictured below, center.)
Aprons Heading Your Way Very Soon!
Each year the FRLAEF is able to send a box of 20 aprons to all Florida ProStart schools thanks to our sponsors. The aprons are being printed right now and will be shipped out later this month. Once we know the ship date we will let you know so you can be on the lookout.
Online Resources Page–updated with Free Covid Training
The FRLAEF online resource page is being updated continuously with new information.
CLICK HERE to go to the page where you will find information about ProStart e-books, chapter animations and videos, foodsafety resources and more. In case you missed it, we have also made available all the notes from our Best Practice zoom meetings on this page.
First Edition Foundations Phasing Out June 2022
The first edition of Foundations of Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts will phase out in June 2022. Therefore, after June 2022 NRAEF will not longer grade ProStart exams relating to the first edition of the textbooks. In order to remain a ProStart school and to test your students with the ProStart exams, you must have transitioned to the 2nd edition no later then June of 2022.
ProStart Culinary Team Competition–Update
The current intention of FRLAEF is to host an in-person competition. We do not intend to host a virtual competition. If we can not host an in-person competition our assumption is you can not adequately gather for practice. With everything that is going on, we do not want to add a virtual competition to your plate just for the sake of hosting a competition.
With that being said, we have pushed the competition dates back to April 24-25, 2021 at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando. We know that may cause a challenge with testing schedules but based on DOE’s testing calendar, we think we can slip the competition in. NRAEF has canceled the National ProStart Invitational for 2021 which means we will not have any rule changes from them. If we do host the competition our rules will be the same as they were during the 2020 ProStart competition.
Once everyone returns to school in January we will assess the travel situation via a survey. If enough interested schools can travel and want to participate, then we will host the event in April. If no one can travel, then we will cancel the event for 2021.
University of Central Florida, Rosen College Open House
The UCF Rosen College Virtual Open House will take place on November 9 & 10, 2020.
The two-day program is designed with flexibility and convenience in mind. Choose to attend any of our 7 live Zoom sessions and engage with Rosen College faculty, staff and students. Or view our pre-recorded videos at any time you want.
There’s a lot to learn about Rosen College. So come find out what makes it one of the top-ranked programs in the world and why our Orlando location is the perfect place to study, work and succeed in the hospitality management field.
Your Virtual Open House registration provides access to information on these topics and more:
Application & Admission Processes |Rosen College Degree Programs & Certificates |Applying for Financial Aid | Careers | Internships | Study Abroad |Housing & Campus Life | Student Life | Clubs & Organizations | Leadership Opportunities
Register today! Contact rosenadmission@ucf.edu if you have any questions about this event.
FRLA Fall Magazine
The 2020 FRLA Fall Magazine is now out and available to access online. The focus of the Fall edition is about Food Safety.
CLICK HERE for the virtual magazine.
Johnson & Wales University Demos
If you are interested in virtual or in-person visits from Johnson & Wales University, please contact Summer at summer.navarro@juw.edu or Brian at brian.paolucci@jwu.edu.
ProStart Position Available
There is a Culinary Arts position available at Marianna High School in Marianna, Florida. For more details CLICK HERE.
Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner
The Salute to Excellence Awards will possibly take place on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando. If the awards dinner takes place it will recognize all ProStart Competition winners as well as Pineapple Award, Scholarship recipients and Hospitality Excellence Awardees.
Complimentary Foodsafety Materials – FREE Foodsafety Training
Each Premier and Full ProStart program is eligible for free ServSafe or SafeStaff materials. To ensure you get the materials you need, you must notify us of your needs. Once we receive your ProStart Classification paperwork, you can order up to $350 of ServSafe/SafeStaff materials. Click here for the price list. Email Amy Parker to place your order–you do not need to fill out the form. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Complimentary ProStart Scantrons
The FRLAEF will distribute over $25,000 worth of free ProStart Exam Scantrons to Premier and Full ProStart schools during the 2020-2021 school year. Once a school has turned in their ProStart Classification paperwork, email Amy Parker to let her know how many ProStart Exam Scantrons you need. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Scholarships
The FRLAEF will award at least $44,000 in scholarships during the 2020-2021 school year. These scholarships will be awarded during the Spring. The scholarship application will be available in January of 2021.
The ProStart Teacher Training Institute was created to provide Florida ProStart instructors with the knowledge necessary to teach the ProStart curriculum. Each day’s learning is built around topics covered in the ProStart curriculum.
LOCATION 
As you know, Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is closing the North Miami Campus. Therefore, the ProStart Teacher Training Institute will no longer be held at JWU. During 2021, two – three day long trainings will be held. As long as space allows, attendees will chose which location they want to attend. One will take place at Keiser University’s Sarasota Campus while the other will be held at the University of Central Florida. As soon as everything is finalized, we will share the details. At this point, there is the potential for COVID19 to cause the training to be canceled.
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida ProStart instructors who will be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the 2021-2022 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
REGISTRATION
Online registration will begin Spring 2021.
ProStart on CAPE List for 2020-2021
On April 30, CareerSource Florida’s executive committee approved 18 additional certification that were not on the original February 20th list. The ProStart Certificate of Achievement (ProStart COA) was one of the 18 certifications added back to the list! These certifications are only approved for one additional year which means they will be removed from the list on June 30, 2021. However, it does mean you are able to get CAPE funding for the ProStart COA throughout all of the 2020-2021 school year.
ACF To Offer Free Classes
With everything happening in our world, the American Culinary Federation (ACF) would like to offer you free CEH courses, as well as access to their COVID-19 response webinars, including the webinar specifically geared for educators. Please go to the ACF Online Learning Center at: www.acfchefs.org/olc. You will need to create a free web profile if you are not an ACF member. Then look for the ACF United bundle and webinars under the featured tab or in the catalog. For any questions or issues, please don’t hesitate to contact ACF at: educate@acfchefs.net.
Path to Power Series
The Path to Power series profiles executives in the hospitality industry and the career path they took to get there. These articles were compiled for Florida’s ProStart and HTMP students.
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