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A New Tradition is Born: St. 卢克的 Head’s Holiday
点击 在这里 for the Head’s Holiday photo gallery.
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, St. 卢克的 学生 began their day with a special surprise. After gathering everyone for “an announcement”, Head of School Dr. Mary Halpin Carter, accompanied by her faithful companion Hefty the Golden Retriever, rode into the athletic center in style on a decked-out golf cart. She then announced that today would be Head’s Holiday — “a day w在这里 we do not have classes, 而不是, 我们玩!”
For the entire school day, 学生, 教师, and staff were smiling and laughing together as they participated in various activities, including zorb ball soccer, 乒乓球, 院子里游戏, a bouncy obstacle course, a video game truck, 卡拉ok, 艺术 & 工艺品, dancing at Disco Luca, student-教师 basketball and kickball, 在脸上画画, capturing moments in the photo booth, and so much more. They enjoyed delicious treats such as cookie dough, 棉花糖, 披萨, 和爆米花, and for the seniors and 教师-staff, a coffee truck. Most importantly, the St. 卢克的 community paused from the normal routine to find joy and camaraderie with their peers.
博士. Carter shared during her announcement: “One of the most important goals of St. 卢克的 Strategic Plan is to fortify the community. We know the SLS community is already strong, but it is considered so valuable that we want to take it to another level. To a level w在这里 everybody feels they have a bond (like Hefty has with everyone 在这里). Today, we get to create a new tradition, a tradition that is centered on bonding. A tradition that is centered on playing together and letting our hair down. The best kind of school to go to is a school w在这里 people aren’t just friendly, but w在这里 people seek to be friends — 学生, 教师, staff all friends with one another.”
Pulling off a monumental surprise like this wasn’t easy. Faculty and staff were sworn to secrecy to ensure 学生 would be completely surprised and wowed, and a 10-person committee was created to plan the day’s events.
“The Committee felt it was essential for each student to have a place w在这里 they felt included and comfortable, so we designed spaces with all 学生 in mind,” said Laurel Scarozza, Head's Holiday Committee Chair and Executive Assistant to the Head of 中学 & Head of 上学校. “We hoped that no matter who you were, you could find belonging in one of our activities throughout the day.”
父母 were elated after finding out about Head’s Holiday — which was a surprise for them, too. Following the day, Dr. Carter received many notes of gratitude for launching the new tradition at St. 卢克的.
“My girls cannot stop talking about yesterday. What an incredible surprise and way to create community,” shared Andrea Lisher, a St. 卢克的 Trustee, P’25, ‘29. Another parent, Vikktoria Cooper P’24, ‘28, commented, “Unbelievable! How can I become an SLS student?”
Head’s Holiday elevated school spirit and created memories that will remain long after 学生 leave the Hilltop. The day brought joy and the opportunity to build connections, two sure-fire ways to help 学生 thrive.
回来
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, St. 卢克的 学生 began their day with a special surprise. After gathering everyone for “an announcement”, Head of School Dr. Mary Halpin Carter, accompanied by her faithful companion Hefty the Golden Retriever, rode into the athletic center in style on a decked-out golf cart. She then announced that today would be Head’s Holiday — “a day w在这里 we do not have classes, 而不是, 我们玩!”
For the entire school day, 学生, 教师, and staff were smiling and laughing together as they participated in various activities, including zorb ball soccer, 乒乓球, 院子里游戏, a bouncy obstacle course, a video game truck, 卡拉ok, 艺术 & 工艺品, dancing at Disco Luca, student-教师 basketball and kickball, 在脸上画画, capturing moments in the photo booth, and so much more. They enjoyed delicious treats such as cookie dough, 棉花糖, 披萨, 和爆米花, and for the seniors and 教师-staff, a coffee truck. Most importantly, the St. 卢克的 community paused from the normal routine to find joy and camaraderie with their peers.
博士. Carter shared during her announcement: “One of the most important goals of St. 卢克的 Strategic Plan is to fortify the community. We know the SLS community is already strong, but it is considered so valuable that we want to take it to another level. To a level w在这里 everybody feels they have a bond (like Hefty has with everyone 在这里). Today, we get to create a new tradition, a tradition that is centered on bonding. A tradition that is centered on playing together and letting our hair down. The best kind of school to go to is a school w在这里 people aren’t just friendly, but w在这里 people seek to be friends — 学生, 教师, staff all friends with one another.”
Pulling off a monumental surprise like this wasn’t easy. Faculty and staff were sworn to secrecy to ensure 学生 would be completely surprised and wowed, and a 10-person committee was created to plan the day’s events.
“The Committee felt it was essential for each student to have a place w在这里 they felt included and comfortable, so we designed spaces with all 学生 in mind,” said Laurel Scarozza, Head's Holiday Committee Chair and Executive Assistant to the Head of 中学 & Head of 上学校. “We hoped that no matter who you were, you could find belonging in one of our activities throughout the day.”
父母 were elated after finding out about Head’s Holiday — which was a surprise for them, too. Following the day, Dr. Carter received many notes of gratitude for launching the new tradition at St. 卢克的.
“My girls cannot stop talking about yesterday. What an incredible surprise and way to create community,” shared Andrea Lisher, a St. 卢克的 Trustee, P’25, ‘29. Another parent, Vikktoria Cooper P’24, ‘28, commented, “Unbelievable! How can I become an SLS student?”
Head’s Holiday elevated school spirit and created memories that will remain long after 学生 leave the Hilltop. The day brought joy and the opportunity to build connections, two sure-fire ways to help 学生 thrive.
St. 卢克的 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 学生’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. 卢克的 Center for 领导 builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
