Valley Forge Educational Services

VFES Unveils New Education Center/Cafeteria

August 30th, 2011 by VFES

New Education Center/Cafeteria to Teach Culinary Skills to Special Needs Students

August 30, 2011
Media Contact: Holly Henry, VFES Director of Communications, 610-296-6725 x342 or hhenry@vfes.net

PAOLI, Pa. – Valley Forge Educational Services announces the opening of a newly-constructed, 6500-square-foot Education Center/Cafeteria. In addition to providing flexible space for student and faculty dining, approximately one-third of the Center has been allocated to a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen in which young people with special needs will learn vocational skills in the culinary arts.

Equipped with professional-grade appliances, expansive work areas, storage pantries and serveries, the commercial-style teaching kitchen will offer students opportunities for training in food safety, handling, sanitation, preparation and service. Students will be offered training through the ServSafe® Food Handling training program, an industry-standard licensing program.

“The Education Center/Cafeteria is a bold addition to our campus which enables us to scale up our vocational and educational offerings,” said James G. Kirkpatrick, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Valley Forge Educational Services. “The job outlook is good for careers in food preparation and service, and we will now have expanded educational opportunities and enhanced facilities to prepare students.”

The Center is one of many ways in which VFES carries out its mission of unlocking the potential of special need students and supporting them in becoming contributing members of society through the development of academic, social, life and career and job skills.

Food service operations in the Education Center/Cafeteria will be run by Lintons Managed Services and vocational training will be administered by The Vanguard School, a division of Valley Forge Educational Services.

The new Education Center/Cafeteria was designed in accordance with the guidelines of a LEED project. It includes sustainable and green building features including a white reflective roof to reflect and reduce heat, high efficiency interior lighting, high energy efficient glazing for windows and a storm management plan to manage and control ground water flow on site. The building is rated 10% better for energy efficiency than required by code.

The project was designed by Daley + Jalboot Architects and built by Wohlsen Construction Company.

About The Vanguard School
Founded in 1959, The Vanguard School is a Pennsylvania Approved Private School for Special Education licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that serves students ages 4 through 21 with array of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, neurological impairments and social-emotional difficulties. To learn more about programs offered visit www.vanguardschool-pa.org.

About Valley Forge Educational Services:
Valley Forge Educational Services offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding learners to independence. VFES provides educational solutions for young children, adolescents and pre-21 adults ranging from K-12 school-based and summer programs to post high school (18-21) transition skills programming to clinical consultation services. VFES also offers professional support to organizations, schools and families through its Luma Center™ for Development and Learning, Summer Matters™ division, Vanguard School, Vanguard Transition Center and Professional Development and Parent Learning Series.  For more than 50 years, Valley Forge Educational Services has been dedicated to improving specialized education through innovative research and advanced practices for students, parents, educators, professionals and organizations. Part of VFES’ mission is to increase the awareness and understanding nationally and globally about children with special needs and to share this expertise generously. For more information on Valley Forge Educational Services, please visit www.vfes.net.

 

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