Featured Story
Community Design Day
“...schools must embrace change in order to maintain their success. It’s imperative to set ambitious, relevant goals to remain competitive and improve."
Amira El Hattab ‘22
At the start of the year, St. Luke’s announced the launch of its Strategic Planning Process. On February 22, seventy parents, teachers, trustees, administrators, alumni and students gathered to help envision what David Pakman calls St. Luke’s “North Star.” Pakman, a St. Luke’s parent,trustee and Strategic Planning co-chair told attendees: “The strategic plan is St. Luke’s chance to work back from a future point. We’re brave enough to look ahead, to see how the world is changing, and to ask—what will our kids need?”
Attendees worked in mixed groups to explore ideas emerging from the Strategic Planning process. Several groups had current students contributing their perspectives. Strategic Planning co-chair, Associate Head of School and CFO Julia Gabriele said, “A smart planning process has to include all constituents and seeking out student input is a priority. Who better to say what students’ need?”
“The best part of my experience was being able to work with people who have all different types of roles in the SLS community,” commented Nicole Ayoub ‘21. “I do believe schools have to change to be successful in the future, but I think the term “adapt” is more relevant in that schools have to adapt to new technologies, societal changes, etc. to be fully immersed in current times. Once students graduate they extend beyond their own town and become part of an extremely diverse community. Making sure that SLS maintains that diverse school community creates success not only for students but the school in the eyes of prospective families.”
Matthew Sherter ‘22, highlighted what he feels should never change about St. Luke’s: “One of the reasons I chose SLS was because I was able to pursue opportunities in the athletics program, the band, and various clubs. I am able to test my interest in many different categories and see what appeals to me when I need to make a decision on what to do in life. In that regard, St Luke's has prepared me for life in ways that most other schools would not be able to. I hope that St. Luke's will be able to do the same thing for other students in the future.”
Amira El Hattab, the sophomore quoted at the top of this story felt the Community Design Day confirmed that her voice is valued: “I am extremely grateful to be a part of a community where not only parents’, educators’, and administrators' opinions are valued, but students' opinions are as well. Oftentimes in other schools decisions are made on behalf of the students, without their input or opinion, and I am so glad to say that is not the case at St. Luke's. I hope to see more students making plans for the future.”
View the St. Luke's Community Design Day photo gallery.
View the St. Luke's Community Design Day photo gallery.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 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.
