The Life of a Loaf: Bread Baking with Shore

Grade 6 students put their usual school activities aside and worked closely with Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mr. Wallace to craft their own handmade loaves of bread. Students recreated the process, working meticulously with the scientific aspects of the project as they made the dough, kneaded, shaped, and baked. When the loaves were ready, Chef Wood helped to slice the bread, and students were able to put their own culinary skills to the test and compare and contrast their loaves with their peers, with everyone eventually bringing some home to share with family. The excitement was palpable throughout this entire process, and this hands-on learning experience was only the first building block of what would grow to be an incredible hands-on and service learning experience.

Shore is honored to have strong ties with past alumni and faculty, and that strength was on display as students transitioned into the field trip phase of the experience. Shore’s Grade 6 class was welcomed to the famous Piantedosi bread factory in Malden by alums Arthur Piantedosi ’08 and Carmine Piantedosi ’10, who’s grandfather founded the company. The alumni and the rest of the Piantedosi staff welcomed students and accompanying faculty and staff with open arms, and Shore students were captivated by the grandeur and atmosphere of the facility and what their hosts had to say about its inner workings. Shore student Addie B. was in awe of the variety of products the facility produces, marveling that “the Piantedosi factory produces two hundred and fifty different types of bread!” It was an impressive experience.

From there, students had the opportunity not only to see the good work that the process of baking bread does in the world, but to play a part in that process as well. A longtime past Shore faculty member, Kent Vienot, spends time volunteering at a local charity called Bread of Life, which provides food for community members in need. Students stepped into the warehouse and embodied their roles as volunteers, using strong teamwork skills to compile bags and boxes of food and supplies. Some students took to calling themselves the ‘bread boys’ as they packaged overstock from the Piantedosi factory into waiting boxes at Bread of Life. 

Seeing this all come together was not only a wonderful experience for our students but a testament to the hard work of our Grade 6 team and our strong and committed network of alumni and former faculty. The depth of Shore’s multi-faceted service learning program was on display as students asked thought-provoking questions and played their part in making our community a better place for all.