Bremer State High School students are set to soar to artistic and culinary heights, showcasing their impressive potential in Hospitality and Fashion.

The school’s Hospitality students are guided by former chef turned educator Alisa Finn, and operate The Boulevard Café at the school. This allows them to gain experience with an espresso machine, managing three course meals, handling money and learning standards of customer service.

The Year 11 and 12 students create their cuisine in a gleaming industrial kitchen and then sell it in the café to their peers, as well as catering for functions.

Both the Certificate II in Hospitality and Hospitality Practices courses prepare students for life after school by arming them with an array of useful job skills. This is especially important for students from the Special Education program, whom also participate in the kitchen.

Brielle Evans says that she loves the chance to learn new skills. “When I’m older I do want to work in hospitality, I just love cooking and working as a team.”

Ms Finn believes that the valuable experience has been an absolute hit with the kids.

“The kids love it, it’s really busy and we normally serve about eighty students on Tuesdays and Thursdays when the café is open, so it’s really well accepted by the kids.”

Year twelve art student Grace Bucknall is showcasing her latest fashion conceptions. Grace is one of many art students at Bremer learning priceless skills in the creative industries.

The ambitious young designer has already taken out first prize two years in a row in the Ipswich Fashion Festival Student category. Grace also sews dresses for other girls in her grade, yet promises this is just the beginning.

Grace says that she started drawing when she was five and with encouragement from her grandmother worked hard to get where she is today. She says that her art class at Bremer State High have allowed her to improve and flourish.

“It’s given me knowledge of how to sew certain things, just doing different stitching and different sewing techniques, so it’s definitely broadened my range”

Bremer’s art and fashion teacher Chris Bopp agrees, and is a big supporter of Grace believing she will go far in the fashion industry.

By Luciana Lawe Davies