Leadership requires global awareness. The CFL enables students to widen their lens on the world—and themselves—through global experiences. Whether they're studying abroad, pursuing a Global Scholars distinction, videoconferencing in the Global Classroom, or participating in international service projects, students develop an understanding of cultural, political, economic, and environmental connections and gain comfort and effectiveness in a range of settings and situations.
Beth Yavenditti, Director of Global Education
Global education is so much more than travel. We live in a world that, in many ways, is getting smaller. We need to understand and respect each other—our economies, cultures, and beliefs. It starts with empathy. There is so much to be gained by feeling and BEING connected."
Global Partnerships & Exchanges
The CFL offers a growing exchange program with schools in Argentina, China, France, and New Zealand. Global exchanges allow students and teachers to benefit from extended stays and immersion in a different country and culture. The CFL's Global Classroom also enables individuals and classes to experience global exchanges via sophisticated videoconferencing capabilities.
Erik Eveland '16
St. Luke's taught me how to be a global citizen. Through SLS, I was able to travel to France, Spain, and China, and spend a semester in Switzerland during my sophomore year. Not only did these opportunities cultivate my love for foreign languages and cultures, but they also led me to university in Europe — I arrived in Scotland ready to take on life abroad and equipped with all the skills I had learned at St. Luke's, like diligence and kindness. Thank you, SLS!"
France
In 2005, St. Luke’s School partnered with St. Michel de Picpus, a private school in Paris, France. In alternating years, students and faculty travel across the Atlantic to experience their partner school and region. French classes and students communicate via email and Skype in both formal and informal ways leading to the actual exchange. In April, St. Michel students and faculty visit St. Luke's, spend time in classes and tour the metro NYC area. St. Luke’s students and faculty travel to France in June and spend a portion of their two-week stay with host families and a smaller portion traveling to culturally important sites within France.
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Salut from The Marais, Paris!
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A visit to the Tour d'Eiffel
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Pinks and greens of La Maison Rose.
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Touring the Opéra national de Paris
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Chaperones take a café break at a Parisien bistro.
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SLS and St. Michel de Picpus together in front of the National Opera House of Paris.
China
Established in 2006, the partnership with Dong Chang High School in Shanghai, China is a cornerstone of the St. Luke’s Partner School programs. In alternating years, St. Luke’s sends and receives students from Dong Chang Senior High School in Shanghai. St. Luke’s students and faculty travel to China in March and spend a portion of their two-week stay with host families and a smaller portion traveling to culturally important sites within China.
Some remember the Great Wall, others The People's Square, but the most memorable part of the trip is experiencing everyday life unfold on the busy streets and quiet villages.
Some remember the Great Wall, others The People's Square, but the most memorable part of the trip is experiencing everyday life unfold on the busy streets and quiet villages.
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St. Luke's at the Great Wall of China
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Music lesson at Dong Chang High School
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Somewhere in China
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Learning some tae kwon do at Dong Chang High
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Vegetable market in Nanjing
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Golden trinkets in a local market
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Preparing for the Chinese Lantern Festival
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Traditional Chinese meal
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Standing before this great building
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Sitting on the Great Wall of China
Argentina
Beginning in 2009, St. Luke’s School established a partnership with St. Martin in the Fields, a bilingual day school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In alternating years, students from each school send and receive students and faculty members. In addition, St. Luke’s faculty members work with faculty members at St. Martin in the Fields to develop and implement a variety of lessons in order to conduct classes with both schools via videoconferencing.
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Big rocks
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With friends from St. Martin in the Fields Argentina
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The great waterfalls at Iguazu
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Standing before the Iguazu Falls
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Signs along the way
New Zealand
St. Luke's partners with Rangitoto College located in Auckland, New Zealand in offering an exchange program that leads to an authentic cultural immersion experience. In alternate years, St. Luke's and Rangitoto College send two students to spend three weeks with a host family in each other's country. Students attend classes and engage fully in student life at their host school. In addition to a wider appreciation for other cultures and peoples, participants also walk away with greater independence and self-reliance.
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Touring NZ with students of Rangitoto College
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Emma Tregellas '17 and New Zealand host
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One of New Zealand's many beautiful landscapes
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Experiencing urban setting in New Zealand
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A Maori Longhouse
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New Zealand Landscape photo by Emma Tregellas '17
Henry Seth '16
SLS prepared me well for college. In particular, the Global Scholars program has really given me a head start in a lot of my classes. Being able to think of a research topic, and conduct scholarly research to craft a long essay, is a skill a lot of people struggle with, but I feel so prepared because of having done it in high school. I think that I gained so many skills in high school that I am really taking advantage of now, and I am so grateful!"
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.
