GUESS IMPROVISE EXPERIMENT
Cooking
Paul Theroux, travel writer
In their Food and Nutrition lessons girls follow a recipe - which may or may not work out as they imagine. They travel the world through recipes and experimentation and open their minds to the influences of other cultures. They strive to create something delicious from the ingredients that they source and reach an understanding of the essential elements of a varied diet.
requires confident guesswork and improvisation, experimentation and substitution, dealing with failure, and uncertainty in a creative way.
To embark on any bold journey of discovery in our youth it is important to find a space where it feels safe to push the limits of our understanding - a place where we can make mistakes without fear of judgement and where we can express ourselves creatively, surrounded by our peers.
The Creative Arts, including the Culinary Arts, offer a safe place for experimentation, especially for those who may be inclined to set themselves unrealistic goals and who place pressure on themselves to achieve perfection in all that they do. Girls find themselves reassured that it is ok to embark on a project which will unfold over time. They are supported by their peers, who help them fix a recipe gone awry or make suggestions for a painting that didn’t evolve as they thought it would. And they develop a growth mindset in which that learn from their mistakes and come to believe in their ability to achieve their goals.
Carol Dweck, psychologist and author of Mindset, said ‘True self-confidence is the courage to be open - to welcome change and new ideas regardless of their source. Real self-confidence is not reflected in a title, an expensive suit, a fancy car, or a series of acquisitions. It is reflected in your mindset: your readiness to grow.’
By supporting The Art & Makerspace @ the John Palmer Centre you have been instrumental in encouraging creativity at St Catherine’s and have given girls of all ages a place in which to embark on journeys of exploration. Thank you to those of you who have already supported the Campaign. If you too would like to support Creativity at St Catherine’s by making a gift to the campaign or by joining a Creative Circle, please do get in touch.
Jane Pink Capital Campaign Officer
