A Welcome From Head of School Fran Lukens
On behalf of all of us at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis, I extend to you a warm welcome. As you will see while exploring our website as well as during your personal visit to our campus, we are dedicated to creating an educational environment that prepares students for success in every aspect of life as they cross the threshold to adulthood and become members of the global society of the 21st century.
Success starts at St. Anne’s School because it is here your child will acquire the skills to compete and the grounding to live a life of purpose. Preparation for successful adulthood has changed in the last several decades and what you will see at St. Anne’s School may be very different from what you experienced as a student. Traditionally, learning has been thought of as a process where students repeat what they have been given in one-dimensional tasks, such as tests and quizzes. In contrast, our learning process promotes an active role for the learner.
We encourage our young learners to “leap over the wall of banality, conformity and the obvious” to see “with fresh eyes.” Well beyond simply repeating back information, St. Anne’s School students are called upon to internalize and reshape information; they create new products that demonstrate higher levels of thinking and integration with previous knowledge. Students and teachers alike are encouraged to honor the possibilities, and students are drawn into learning that engages them in a holistic way. Posing questions that matter is as important as finding answers.
The quote in the sidebar is one that I admire greatly because it conveys so well the ways we at St. Anne’s School embrace the value of questioning, reflection and the courage to think for oneself. In the classroom, students learn and operate using the same skills that are prized by Fortune 500 companies: teamwork, problem solving, interpersonal skills, listening, creative thinking, leadership, organizational effectiveness, goal setting and motivation.
Our focus on academic achievement is balanced with our interest in the kinds of people our students are becoming. Rooted in the tradition of Episcopal schools, our mission is to invest “in the intellectual and spiritual promise of each student in a community that celebrates diversity and values the dignity of every human being.” Principles and practices of Episcopal schools are woven into the fabric of school life and prepare students for a successful and meaningful life:
- A high regard for intellectual discipline
- Social justice and respect
- Mindfully living in the world and seeking to be part of something bigger than oneself
- Worship that unites us as a community
Our graduates are confident, they work effectively with others, they think outside the box and they govern their lives with integrity and compassion – all skills and qualities they need to succeed in the 21st century. As a longtime educator and parent of grown children who are striking out on their own, I know that the best education is designed with the end in mind. Success starts at St. Anne’s School because we prepare our students for both the short-term and the long-term: preparation for academic success throughout their schooling years and preparation for a lifetime of fully and effectively living out one’s promise in the world.
Choosing the right educational setting is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child. We look forward to hosting you on our campus and showing you how an investment in St. Anne’s School of Annapolis education is an investment in your child’s success.
Fran Lukens
Head of School
