Members of the Quakertown Community High School STEM Club enjoyed a sweet learning experience after school Monday, baking cookies for the holidays, thanks to Giacomo’s Italian Market.
First, the club’s three sophomore founders – Brooke Alsante, Emily Parker and Phillip Rotzell – gave a lesson about the chemistry of baking in the library classroom. That was followed up in the Life Skills Kitchen, where sugar cookies were baked and decorated, thanks to the generosity of Giacomo’s, which supplied the ingredients and know-how to the students in the hands-on lesson.
“I love doing things like this in the community,” said Kristin Randazzo, who brought her sons Giovanni and Giacomo to the event and helped her mom, Maryann Mann, with the baking. “My parents always taught us about giving back, and finding ways we can help. This has been really exciting. Look at how much fun everyone is having.”
Indeed, especially with the expert advice. As Mann said, “the secret is to keep the butter cold” when mixing the dough.
“I’d really like to thank everyone from Giacomo’s,” said Kurt Amen, a science teacher, and advisor to the STEM Club. “They treat everyone like family from your first interaction with them. They certainly gave our students a positive experience today.”
Amen was also “really proud of our STEM crew,” he said. “Our founders set everything up.”
Gary Weckselblatt is the director of communications for Quakertown Community School District.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.