About Us

There are always questions about our program. You ask them, we will do our best to
post them here on this page so others who have the same question have a place to
look up this information in the future. Keep checking back for more info

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the required hours for students and parents who want to attend this academy

2. The required hours for our program are:

200 Volunteer Hours: for Academy Completion - These hours can be completed within the four year program. Volunteer
hours works as follows: no pay and must be in the culinary field. This can be a soup kitchen, restaurants, any event with
the Academy and many others just ask for approval from the Chef's. If it is not with us we need documentation with a
contact and phone number put on file.
400 Pro Start Hours: This is a paid job working with food/or position with relation with food. If your child does not know if it
is an approved position have them ask a Chef. You will need pay stubs for proof of completion.

20 Parent Volunteer Hours - This is required yearly. All volunteers MUST fill out volunteer paperwork with a copy of your
driver's license, this MUST be done EVERY school year. There are many events throughout the year that you can earn your
volunteer hours as well as attend the monthly booster meetings.

1. We have several ways to communicate with our booster members:

Our volunteer coordinators have several methods of communicating the events and meetings to you. If you do not
get emails from JCAA, you can sign up to the mailing list here. Be sure to check our Calendar on this site as well.
We have many events listed with descriptions.

2. How can i get communications from the booster club about events and meetings

Your name:

Your email address:

Your Question:

3. What is the Culinary Academys I.D number for acceptance of an invitation to attend the program. It is the number you need to complete the process by phone

3. Application process is a little different this year:

Applications will only be accepted online. We will have several computers available to sign up at Discovery Night at Tarpon
Springs HS on 1/21 from 6:30-8:30. The only thing needed in the Parent connect number

4. Is the ProStart test going to be scheduled soon & if so,will materials be sent home with the kids so they can study at home? In the past, the kids have just had the test given with little or no back-up study materials. I think we'd have many more JCAA students passing the test if there was support in the classroom, plus something handed out to go over at home.

4. Absolutely. The students can "sign out" the ProStart books any time they would like.

Also, I can print out past year's tests and answer key as a study guide which will more that likely be the best material to
study from. I plan to have the students take the tests in late April/Early May.
Chef Katie

5. This is in reference to the 400 hour paid-job qualification for Pro-start certification. In this economy, few of the culinary students have paid jobs in the culinary industry. Adults are taking the part-time jobs that teenagers used to be able to get. They're able to work earlier,more regular & longer hours than the kids are. Is JCAA, thru the chefs or the Booster Club, able to network with our sponsors & involved companies to find & post available jobs for our Culinary students so they can obtain & work the required employment hours?

5. Yes. In fact this past month alone we have placed 4 students into paid kitchen positions.

Any student who needs help will need to contact a me (or any of the other chefs) personally and we can start networking
and putting out requests in the area that they live or can travel to. Sometimes it may be a weekend gig or something just
requested 400 is "written off" by the school, leaving only 200 hours for the student to accumulate from a paid culinary job.
These 200 hours will be verified by copies of pay stubs. Some jobs are not acceptable such as a bagger/cashier at Publix,
so you may want to ask me if a job is in question and I can e-mail ProStart to get you an answer.
Chef Katie

6. Is your school open to the public for dining? We have eaten at other culinary schools across the country and have enjoyed the experience.

6. We are open for the public dining almost every Thursday, depending on school schedule, for two seatings, one at 12:30pm.

It is a prix fixed menu for $9 a person. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing Chef Alinat at
Alinatg@pcsb.org or Dianne Gary

7. How do you apply for the Jacobson Culinary Arts Academy?

7. This is the link that will give you step by step instructions on how to apply to the academy:

http://www.pcsb.org/SchoolOptions/files/how_to_apply_2010-11.pdf