Featured Story
Wishes Come True With Dream Grant
Former St. Luke’s parents, Steve and Liz Goldstone, continue to make dreams come true on the Hilltop. Each year, teachers may apply for the grant by describing a personal project or journey that will enrich their lives. A team of peers reviews applications and this year selected three winners: Director of College Counseling Sonia Bell, Assistant Head of Middle School Mark Chuhta and Art teacher Nancy Sarno.
Sonia Bell/Dream: Cross Country Train Travel
Sonia will travel with her sister from Chicago to Los Angeles via Amtrak: "It is my idea of the ultimate adventure...I can’t put a price tag on staring out a window looking at a side of America that most will never see...and being able to unplug for long stretches when we pass through remote ports of call where 4G stands for 4 goats."
Mark Chuhta/Dream: Rebuild ‘68 Mustang Engine
Mark and son AJ will work on his wife’s first car, a ‘68 Mustang: "I wanted a hobby where AJ and I learn together instead of me doing all the teaching." Receiving the Dream Grant allows Chuhta to get the proper tools and materials needed to complete this project.
Nancy Sarno/Dream: Learn to Play Piano
Nancy is excited to take on the new art of piano playing. Sarno first tickled the ivories when she was 10 years old but the chance to really play has been intermittent: "I gave up playing for a stretch of time, but I have always considered the piano a living thing that is my friend. When my husband died, I bought myself a new piano, but found too much time had gone by, and couldn’t pick up where I left off playing." The faculty enrichment grant will allow her to take piano lessons for 18 months….and have lifelong dream come true.
Congratulations to all three of the 2016 St. Luke’s Dream Grant winners.
Past winners include :
2015: Director of Educational Support Services Daphne Teittinen-Schreck for cooking classes with her fiancé (now husband) and Physical Education Teacher Pat Raffaele for homemade craft brewing.
2014: Former Director of Technology and horse-enthusiast Elizabeth Preston for dressage riding sport lessons and Math Teacher Elaine Greene to take a treasured family trip to Ireland.
2013: Director of Character Education Kate Parker-Burgard to acquire bees and expand her family’s vegetable garden and Math Teacher Colin “Bucky” Buchanan to take a special cruise with his wife.
2012: Computer Science & Math Teacher as well as WSLX faculty advisor Jeff Kress to create his own home radio station and US Health & Wellness Coordinator Camille DeMarco-Havens to take an anniversary trip with her husband, MS Science Teacher David Havens.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 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 Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
