Why choose an Episcopal SCHOOL
Roger Bowen, former Head of the York School in Monterey, California, best expressed the core values of Episcopal schools that also guide us at St. Luke’s School. These principles are fundamental to a comprehensive liberal arts education and, in our view, offer the greatest hope for the fulfillment of our most noble human aspirations. They are:
A commitment to an atmosphere of free inquiry in all academic pursuits as we seek the truth in a learning process unfettered by dogmatic considerations;
A belief in the fundamental unity of the global family;
A belief in the equality and dignity of all human beings;
A belief in the sacredness of every individual and his or her conscience;
A belief that love, compassion, unselfishness, and the force of inner truthfulness ultimately have greater power than hate, enmity, and self-interest;
A commitment by each member of the school community to grow in service to others;
A commitment to provide opportunities for worship and the development of the spiritual life;
A commitment to engage freely in ethical and religious discussion, when appropriate, in all academic disciplines.
The Episcopal Church prides itself on openness and flexibility. At St. Luke's School, we are committed to learning how to live and learn well within communities of diverse age, gender, ability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and socio-economic status. We help children respect themselves, learn about and respect each other, and experience joy in the world around them. We actively seek families of all faiths and backgrounds. Multiple perspectives, multicultural themes, and issues of equity and justice are incorporated into the curriculum.
It is important that children learn how to use their gifts in ways that help others. Service beyond self is an integral part of daily life at St. Luke’s. It begins with simple classroom jobs or being an older Partner to a younger child. It continues with grade-level, school-wide, and individual opportunities and requirements for community service.
We emerge as fully formed people through respecting traditions and learning to think for ourselves. Moral and ethical discussions are a fundamental part of school life. Classrooms are places where children can freely ask questions, engage in meaningful dialogue on issues of ultimate importance, and express their feelings and opinions.
Children learn about many faiths and have opportunities to reflect upon their own spiritual lives. The Religious Education program gives students the tools to approach, explore, and better understand a wide variety of religious experience across time and place.
Children have opportunities for meaningful worship. By linking Episcopal ritual to a broad religious context our aim is to affirm, strengthen, and nurture all students in their own religious traditions.
We are committed to the integrity of the individual. Children contribute to school life in different ways. Individual talents are incorporated into the natural cycle of the school year through class projects, convocation, or morning meeting. Classes undertake activities such as a class play together. All students, if they so choose, may participate on athletic teams, serve on student government, or present at convocation. There is neither an honor roll nor detention.
We believe in individual responsibility and personal growth. There is an expectation that children will strive to fulfill the St. Luke’s School Community Standards of excellence, respect, compassion, dignity and honesty. We help children learn how to work through difficulties and conflicts in ways that result in greater understanding and leave each person’s dignity intact. As they move through the grades, children are expected to demonstrate increasing levels of independence, self-awareness, and responsibility.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH OF SAINT LUKE IN THE FIELDS
St. Luke's School was established under the auspices of the vestry of Trinity Church in 1945, at a time when The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields was a Chapel of Trinity Church. In 1976, Saint Luke's Church became independent of Trinity Church. The Church and the School are one legal corporation. The governance of the School is delegated by the parish vestry to the School Board in accordance with the Bylaws of the St. Luke’s School Board.
The Church and School work closely together. School events such as Chapel, Commencement, and special performances take place regularly in the church building. Meanwhile, the school building is used for church and community functions such as Sunday coffee hours, the People with AIDS dinner, a GLBT Street Youth Dance Program, and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Choristers from St. Luke's School sing each Sunday under the direction of the Church's Director of Music. Together, the Church and School sponsor a community tutoring program for public elementary school children, “GO at St. Luke's,” which includes Saturday morning sessions during the school year. All of the plantings on the block are maintained by Church volunteers, including the well-renowned garden of St. Luke’s that is open to the public daily.
This unique relationship provides wonderful opportunities for mutual support, program development, and service.
