Preparing students for a lifelong commitment to learning and social responsibility is at the heart of the St. Luke’s experience and our Center for Leadershipprogramming. The School’s motto, Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve, inspires students to strive not only for academic excellence but also responsible citizenship and service to humanity.
Kate Parker-Burgard, Center for Leadership Director
Our school motto, 'Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve,' is at the heart of who we are as a school. We believe that character is developed when actions are done in service to the greater good. By using one’s strengths, service locations become laboratories for developing leadership as students gain confidence and develop their identities as people who can help.”
9th graders work the land and plant seeds at the Farms at Holmes
9th grade students raise a wall for home being built
Based on research gathered during J-Term, students propose new service projects.
In the Middle School, each grade focuses on a theme for the year. Throughout these programs, our students are exposed to different organizations and become oriented toward a service mindset. With the comfort of their classmates they discover places and ways in which they might want to continue serving on their own.
As our students mature, our community service program grows with them. In the Upper School, we offer a variety of grade-wide and school-wide service activities, but we also ask students to take on individual service engagement. Our Upper School students are in the midst of forming their identity. We want students to ask themselves, “What matters to me? What strengths or skills do I have to offer? How can I contribute to my community?” Through their initiative and our support, students pursue service in areas that interest them as well as develop their sense of responsibility and leadership.
The Adam J. Lewis Academy in Bridgeport is looking for assistance with their summer programs for students pre-K-3rd grades. It's a fantastic opportunity for anyone with experience working with kids and/or interested in possibly pursuing education as a career. Please speak with Ms. Parker-Burgard for more information on this.
This organization engages volunteers to transfer fresh food surpluses from local businesses to social service agencies serving the food insecure. If you love to drive, this is a great way to get hours. If you're interested, please sign up on their website. Once you've signed up you will see instructions on where to pick-up the food and deliver it.
A ZOOM Operator will be responsible for operating the ZOOM meeting from the Temple during services. The ideal candidates for this role are comfortable utilizing technology and ZOOM and have a basic understanding of audio/visual equipment. It would be on a Friday evening and/or Saturday morning. They are open to having a rotation of people so that it could be a periodic commitment. Contact tbepresident2020@gmail.com or cantor@tbe.org if you're interested.
There are more regular volunteer opportunities with Filling in the Blanks for students who would like more engagement with that organization. See their website for more information on becoming one of their Teen Helpers.
Rock 'n' Rescue in South Salem welcomes volunteers over the age of 12 (if under 16 you must come with an adult volunteer). Volunteers are mostly needed on the weekends to help socialize the newly arrived animals. There are also opportunities to take kittens to therapeutic settings, writing blogs for them, and many other volunteer positions. Sign up here.
The Norwalk Land Trust could use some help making birdhouses, bat houses, and small benches. If you're interested in taking on a project like this, please see Ms. Parker-Burgard
Duncan Edwards, Executive Director, Waterside School
St. Luke's kids are different. They connect, they care, they work, they seem eager to learn, and most important, in every imaginable way, they display the greatest respect for our children."
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving 25 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.