On September 9, 2022, Magazine School District hosted a “grand re-opening” of its cafeteria services to celebrate their partnership with K-12 Culinary Connection.

Magazine School District has been making big changes on campus to improve the school experience for all of its students and staff, and one of the most anticipated is the partnership with K-12 Culinary Connection, an Arkansas-based food service management company. Their goal and the goal of the school district is to provide students with restaurant-quality food and healthy options on a daily basis. Students now have a choice between two entrees each day, something the district has never offered before.

Chef Matt Murr, Vice President of K-12 Culinary Connection Culinary Operations, talks about the 7th Annual Student Chef Showdown, a “Chopped” style cooking competition for high school students across the state of Arkansas.

WARREN, Ark. – The Warren School District Cafeterias celebrated an exciting milestone on Friday, September 20, with the grand opening of their partnership with K-12 Culinary Connection, a comprehensive program designed to elevate the school dining experience for students. The event marked the official launch of new and improved food services across the district’s cafeterias, aimed at providing fresh, nutritious, and student-approved meals.

Jatiyah Johnson, a senior at Drew Central High School, recently participated in Culinary Connection Student Chef Showdown. The competition is open to all 9th -12th grade students in a Culinary Connection partnered district. Jatiyah was required to use five specific ingredients and then she was able to add five additional ingredients of her own choosing. Jatiyah developed her dish and perfected it in her foods class at DCHS, under the direction of Penny Vance, FCS Teacher. Jatiyah was chosen as a finalist along with four other students. The students traveled to Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts Institute and prepared the dish for a panel of judges. For the second year in a row, Jatiyah earned a first place finish.