CSFeatures 2019 Winter

CSFeatures

a publication of Canterbury School of Florida

WINTER 2019

Finding My Inner Compass LYNNE WALDER '81

SCUBA

CLUB TO CLASSROOM

The Binkley Bros. bmx

PJ FRANKLIN '13

SERVICE AND Commitment

COLLINS '29 & JAX '31

WINTER 2019 |

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WINTER 2019

CONTENTS 4

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22

6

20

features

support

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PJ FRANKLIN '13: SERVICE AND COMMITMENT

TEE IT UP GOLF TOURNAMENT

profiles

marine studies

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FACULTY PROFILE: JEFF DONNELLY

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ALUMNI PROFILE: LYNNE WALDER '81

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FACULTY PROFILE: PATTI NORTHROP

Director of LEADS Character Education, Knowlton Campus

STUDENT PROFILE: DYLAN BAILEY '23

SCUBA: CLUB TO CLASSROOM

by Jenna LoDico

athletics 19

FALL HIGHLIGHTS

Middle School Student and Student-Athlete

reflections

STUDENT PROFILE: COLLINS BINKLEY '29 AND JAX BINKLEY '31

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Lower School Students and BMX Bikers

Hough Campus Administrative Assistant

50TH ANNIVERSARY BIRTHDAY PARTY September 14th, 2018

alumni 27

CRUSADER CONNECTIONS

literacy

news & notes

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STOP READING NOW - SERIOUSLY

by Donnamarie Hehn

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Letter

FROM THE EDITOR

CSFeatures a publication of Canterbury School of Florida WINTER 2019

CSFeatures is designed to give past, current and future Canterbury families and friends a snapshot of what our students, faculty, parent volunteers and alumni are doing on campus and beyond.

EDITOR & DESIGNER

Amber Lavender CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Molly Smith

CONTRIBUTORS

Donnamarie Hehn

Amber Lavender

Jenna LoDico

Britney Rangel

Molly Smith

I still consider myself 'new' to Canterbury.

It's not because I don't feel welcomed-quite the opposite, actually.

Jessica Stripling

Pam Walker

My first day at Canterbury was in June of 2017. Considering its 50th year history, I am new, but I've never felt more connected to a community.

PHOTOGRAPHY

My job in marketing is to know and understand the school and bring that information to others. I've spent the past year and a half learning the history of the school and the culture of its community. What I've learned is that its history is not as important as its heart when telling the school's story.

I've learned that there is a network of Crusaders who love our school no matter how far away they live now nor how long ago they (or their children) attended.

Many of our alumni and alumni parents were thrilled to return this year to help celebrate our golden anniversary. Their visits were filled with memories they were excited to recall and sentiments they couldn't wait to share. Their stories echo the same of those I hear from our current students and parents.

Throughout Canterbury's history, the physical footprint has expanded and even relocated, but its proverbial footprint--its community--hasn't changed at all. The impact of this loving and nurturing community stays with you, and its culture of caring and compassion lives on.

Whether you were a part of its humble beginnings in 1968 or whether you are 'new' like me, Canterbury leaves an imprint on the hearts of those who have been a part of its remarkable, long-standing community.

Amber Lavender

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!

Tell us your thoughts on this issue of CSFeatures. Share your stories and pictures with us for the next issue.

We reserve the right to edit your letters for length and clarity. Email: communications@canterburyflorida.org Contact ADMISSIONS: Colin Wyenberg, Director of Admission 727-521-5903 facebook.com/CanterburySchoolofFlorida instagram.com/canterbury_fl twitter.com/canterburyfl | @canterburyFL pinterest.com/canterburyFL youtube.com/canterburyflorida linkedin.com/company/canterbury-school-of-florida WINTER 2019 |

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FACULT Y PROFI LE

KN OW LTON C A MP U S

Jeff Donnelly DIRECTOR OF LEADS CHARACTER EDUCATION, KNOWLTON CAMPUS

BY MOLLY SMITH UPPER SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Jeff Donnelly, Canterbury’s Knowlton Campus LEADS coordinator, community service liaison, playwright, and teacher (who teaches students ranging from fifth grade all the way to seniors in AP World History), is a remarkably talented faculty member. However, he’s not one to boast. Instead, he would rather highlight the accomplishments of others, provide opportunities for students to succeed, and promote service learning in our community.

As an award-winning playwright who co-owns The Cardboard Sea Theatre Company in Asheville, North Carolina (see sidebar for The Cardboard Sea’s mission), where he is also the person “behind the spotlight” as opposed to being in it: writing, producing, and running high-quality performances. One of his

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original scripts has been included in a text for a theatre course at the University of New Hampshire; he was honored with an Excellence in Playwriting award by the North Carolina Theatre Conference in 2009, and last year he earned a Margot Stern Strom Innovation Grant Honorable Mention (out of over a hundred entries) for how to best help students understand empathy.

Jeff will tell you none of that. Instead, he will find a way to connect a modern story with a classic one. He will give others credit for something that he has largely done on his own. He has an impressively encyclopedic knowledge of literature and film, and shares his love of those forms of media in his usual, quiet wry way allowing the pieces to speak for themselves.

As a child in Long Island, New York, Jeff lived in a tiny house in a good

school district. In his middle school years, the family moved to Richmond, Virginia. There, a 12-year-old Jeff admittedly “just drifted along” for the next few years, and he bemusedly recalls his adolescence as a time when he needed some guidance, such as what is offered in LEADS, the character education program at Canterbury. Had it not been for his ninth grade English teacher, Mr. Saunders, Jeff may never have changed course.

At the start of his ninth grade year, Jeff’s mother tried to persuade him to get involved in something productive.

Jeff tried out for the Fall production, “failing miserably,” in his efforts. However, Mr. Saunders (who was not only his English teacher but also the Drama Director), approached Jeff later in the year when he needed someone to run the spotlight for the Spring production of My Fair Lady. Jeff agreed, and his

entrance into the world of the theater began.

After running the spotlight, Jeff followed with a breakout role on stage as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, followed by a big part in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Drama resonated with Jeff, as it played to his strength: creativity. He not only became more involved in theater, but he also began to write and to develop an interest in History and Literature.

Jeff dreamed of going to a conservatory-type college, and he was interested in schools with excellent theater arts programs, but they were expensive, and he didn’t know if it made sense as a ca-

reer-starter. He found a brochure about Flagler College: it had a palm tree on the front and listed a theater program among its offerings. Jeff applied to Flagler (and only Flagler), much to the chagrin of his father. He, then, filled out a few more applications (half-heartedly), and went to the mailbox to find his acceptance letter from Flagler. The other applications were never sent.

Jeff liked Flagler--a small, liberal-arts school that allowed him opportunities to explore not only theater but also to get more into writing and history. Living in St. Augustine, Florida (the oldest, continuously-inhabited city in the United States), Jeff began to write about history.

In his junior year, he produced a short play in a directing class that included an

unsavory character with an unexpected twist. The play was well-received. As his final project, Jeff wrote a play, and he directed one act while two other classmates directed the others. [One of his classmates, Todd Weakley, is Jeff’s partner in running his theater company, The Cardboard Sea]. Jeff graduated from Flagler with a B.A. in Theater Arts, and minors in History and Creative Writing.

Jeff continued with his studies, doing graduate work in English at Virginia Commonwealth University and then graduate studies in 3D animation and digital video in Nice, France. He earned an M.A. in Humanities from Old Dominion University in Norfolk.

While substitute teaching at Cape Henry Collegiate, Jeff mentioned offhand that he had some tech and maintenance experience, so he became the “substitute maintenance man,” donning coveralls and working when one of the maintenance staff was out. A parttime spot opened up in the Social Science department. Jeff exchanged his maintenance uniform for a shirt and tie for the interview. He got the job and was brought on as a fulltime staff member the following year.

In addition to teaching, he put his theatre skills to use as an audio-visual coordinator and tech assistant.

A few years later, Jeff and his family relocated to Mooresville, North Carolina for a job at Woodlawn School (a school even smaller than Canterbury) teaching AP World History and English and working as the school’s Director of Academic Affairs, Arts Coordinator, Honor Council Advisor, and Director of Summer Programs. Jeff was asked to build up the service program, and he took on more and more of that role during his time there, building “Civic Action Through the Arts” as well as founding the “Society of Everyday People,” a student organization aiming to celebrate diversity and promote

educational, artistic and social events for its mission.

Jeff was offered the role of Principal at Woodlawn, but turned it down.

The school was in flux, and he wanted something bigger. He researched school openings that suited his interests, and he wanted to move back to Florida. After several interviews, Jeff landed at Canterbury. He not only liked how Canterbury had many of the qualities he liked about his previous school, but he also liked the St. Petersburg area with its vibrant culture and the art/theater scene. Jeff has become active in Keep St. Pete Lit and continues to find inspiration for his craft in our city.

In creating the LEADS program (See sidebar: What is LEADS?), Jeff took a long look at Canterbury’s mission. He designed a program that supports this mission by enContinued on pg. 19

THE CARDBOARD SEA'S MISSION: With a commitment to the transformative nature of live performance, a belief in the collaborative process, and a magnetic obsession for storytelling, The Cardboard Sea seeks to activate, engage, surprise, and provoke audiences into new and challenging territory. We aim to: produce works of social significance, highlight the constructed nature of the theatrical event, and provoke self-reflection and critical perspectives.

WHAT IS LEADS? LEADS (Leadership, Ethics, Advocacy, Dignity, Service) is Canterbury’s character education and service learning program. According to Jeff, the primary goals of the program are to: • Further and fortify the school’s mission • Expose Canterbury students to real-world challenges and experiences, thus building in them a distinguished set of skills as they work through the college admissions process and academia and

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ALUMN I PROFI LE

L ynne Walder CLASS OF 1981

BY PAM WALKER DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT Every so often, you meet a person who makes you want to be a better version of the person you are. Alum, Lynne Walder ’81, is one of those people.

Spend fifteen minutes with Lynne and you will know that her story is rich with anecdotes, experiences, people she has met, and pearls of wisdom. Lynne attests her ability to connect with people to her work as a probate lawyer.

“You have people who come to you after losing a loved one, and you are reminded that life is short and family is everything.”

Lynne’s family moved to St Petersburg from Boston when she was in 10th grade. She attended Canterbury when the Upper School was on Eckerd College’s campus. She loved sports.

As a self-proclaimed short person (5’5” tall), she had dreams of playing college basketball. Wise beyond her years, she knew in order to play in college, she would have to attend a Division II school. Ultimately, Lynne went to Western New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and played basketball and softball her Freshman year. She made the team as a point guard and got a little bit of playing time. She recalls a time when her coach said, “You are going in. Whatever you do, don’t shoot the ball.” She was wide open as all of the taller girls were being double-teamed. Lynne kept looking at the Coach who kept shaking her head

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no. She had a clear shot, so Lynne thought, why not? Lynne shot the ball and made it, but still got yanked out of the game. “I have a life of not doing what I’m told, and it has really worked out for me,” Lynne laughs.

When Lynne returned home for Thanksgiving break, her father took her to tour the University of Tampa. A man of few words, Lynne knew there was significance in this unexpected trip. She found out her father had cancer over summer break. She transferred to UT to be closer to home. When she graduated, she was hired into the one position that IBM had in the telecommunications division contracts department. When Lynne earned her first paycheck, she walked into her boss's office and asked to return it because she felt she hadn’t earned it. She chuckles telling this story, “I’m sure I was the butt of all of the jokes that day.”

She went on to create software for IBM and was recognized for her efforts. Soon she was traveling to train other offices.

While pursuing her MBA, she woke up one day and realized that she wanted to be a lawyer. Lynne went back to school to become a lawyer and began working in a firm with her mom as her partner.

She loved these days, working alongside her mom.

One day, a childhood friend of Lynne’s

called her and asked her to take a trip up the East coast via bicycle. This friend is one of the two writers of the Broadway musical, Empire, and she started talking to Lynne about it. The musical is about the Empire State Building and captures the historical story of the building at a time in our country when there was such despair, during the Great Depression. Lynne started out doing pro bono legal work in 2006 for Empire, and she was asked to produce it in 2011.

When asked how she manages both her law practice and producing, Lynne says. “I see it as at least two full-time jobs, which causes me to be a really good manager of my time; 24 hours in

5 Questions WITH LY NNE

WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE? I rode my bike from St. Pete, Florida to the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts with an elementary school friend who wrote the screenplay for Empire, just the two of us. It took us twenty-two days of riding, and we only rested for 3 or 4 days.

a day is enough for two jobs. I'm lucky that I have my own practice and can be more flexible than other lawyers who are tied to a big or even small firm. With technology now, compared to 25 years ago, makes it possible to do what I do.

You don’t have to sit at a desk to get a phone call. I can have a computer and phone wherever I am and still work for my clients; this was impossible 25 years ago.”

When asked about what drives her, Lynne says “You have to be comfortable in your own skin, be internally happy. We owe it to ourselves to continually search for that inner peace.

What made me happy at 25 is probably a little different now. I knew I wouldn’t be happy in a big law firm. I feel like it is really important to sit with a client for as long as that needs to happen and I don’t want to watch the clock when a client is with me. That is why I’m in solo practice.”

the advice and mentorship of our alumni. Lynne remarked. “I love mentoring younger people, I love talking to kids.

When I do, it is always, 'You can do this, whatever you want to do! You have to figure out what you want to do, stick to it, and 25 years later you will lift up your head and say, wow look at this!'"

Lynne’s work ethic was instilled in her by her parents and she feels Canterbury had a lot to do with that. She had to work really hard at Canterbury to keep up, and it took a lot of work. Lynne says that 2 years out of Canterbury her light bulb went on. “It was such a good place for me, gave me a such a wonderful opportunity and prepared me very well for what comes after you graduate.”

We are so thankful that Lynne is back to help us as we develop and build our alumni program for our next 50 years!•

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET? I have none. We owe it to ourselves to make the most of our time. That is different for everyone.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING YOU'VE HAD TO OVERCOME? Recreating myself after my mom died.

I just didn't want to get up and go back to the firm after she passed. I still see her handwriting in some of our legal files. It brings a smile to my face.

WHAT MAKES YOU SUCH A GOOD LISTENER? It doesn't feel good when someone isn't paying attention. Doesn't feel good when someone isn’t paying attention. When you give your time to someone, give your time.

WHAT WOULD I TELL 12TH GRADE ME? You will not make a living being a professional athlete. [laughs]

With everything on Lynne's plate it came as a wonderful surprise when she offered to lend her talent and energy to our alumni program. Lynne's keen ability to relate to people and her experience in many careers will connect alumni back to Canterbury now that we are celebrating our 50th year. She is also helping us connect alum to our Crusaders as we explore alumni panels for our upper school. Our junior and senior classes will benefit greatly from WINTER 2019 |

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S T UDE N T PROFI LE

MI D D LE S C H OOL

Dylan Bailey CLASS OF 2023

“RUNNING IS A DIFFERENT SPORT. IT’S ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE. YOU CAN RUN FOR YOURSELF AND RUN FOR A TEAM AT THE SAME TIME."

BY JESSICA STRIPLING MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER At the end of the school day, many teachers and students trickle out of the building preparing to go home to relax and do school work, but not Dylan Bailey.

As you turn onto 62nd Avenue, you are likely to see a tall middle school student hitting the pavement. Every day after school Dylan trains for a sport. If he’s not running around a nearby neighborhood training for track or cross country, then he is shooting baskets to prepare for the next basketball game.

Dylan came to Canterbury in fifth grade.

It was not an easy adjustment at first.

High academic expectations and changing classes were quite the challenge. “The year I came I had to really step it up,” Dylan said. And did he ever! Dylan soon found his groove at Canterbury.

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In sixth grade, a fellow student suggested to Dylan that he join the track team. Dylan had never trained as a runner before he joined the team, but he soon found that he was a natural. During his first ever track meet, Dylan ran the one mile event in 5:55 minutes. Since then, he has racked up numerous accomplishments in track and cross country.

In seventh grade, Dylan was nominated as Most Valued Player. However, he nar-

“THE YEAR I CAME [TO CANTERBURY] I HAD TO REALLY STEP IT UP.” rowly missed making the regional tournament that year. This was a heartbreaking moment for Dylan, but instead of being discouraged, the disappointment served as a source of motivation and inspired him to train even harder to make it to Regionals in his eighth-grade year, and

he did. Dylan beat a senior student by 0.2 seconds for a spot in the Regional Meet.

Running for track and cross country has helped Dylan to begin learning who he is and to find his passion. “Running is a different sport. It’s about what kind of person you are. You can run for yourself and run for a team at the same time. You’re always checking in on your teammates,” said Dylan.

While the track season may have ended, Dylan is not one to sit idly by. He expanded his skills and joined the JV basketball team this year and now spends his afternoons practicing on the court. He has found basketball to be quite different than track. “I like the intensity. I like how it's a team sport and especially the feeling of knowing that you’re on a team and you’re supported by other people. I’ve always loved playing basketball,” Dylan said. “Basketball helps with confidence,

because you can’t play basketball without confidence.”

Dylan's love of basketball even trickled over into his academics. In middle school, students have the option to take Science Fair as an elective class, and Dylan felt up for the challenge. Naturally, he incorporated his beloved sport of basketball into his project. For his project, Dylan investigated different shooting techniques and

lete. The same attitude of dedication in training is seen in the classroom and on the field, and it is certainly noticed by teachers and coaches alike. “His commitment to his team, outstanding work ethic, and desire to get better is what Crusader student-athletes strive for daily. He embodies the pursuit of greatness by literally going the extra mile day in and day out. Often sacrificing summer vacation time to train, Dylan's hard work has paid

4 Questions WIT H DYL AN

WHAT’S THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE SO FAR? The happiest moment in my life was when I made regionals, and I got 15th place after the year before.

WHO IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON IN YOUR LIFE? The most influential person is my mom because she has been there my whole life, and I see how hard-working she is so we can have a better life.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL AND SPORTS? My favorite thing to do is go to the YMCA with my dad and go practice and do drills or run with him

“TEACHERS HELP YOU OUT. IF YOU NEED HELP AFTER SCHOOL, THEY’LL GIVE YOU HELP. THEY’LL USE THEIR TIME TO HELP YOU.” studied the results to determine which style resulted in the most baskets made.

Dylan approaches academics similarly to how he approaches sports: with dedication and persistence, but he isn’t afraid to ask for help. “Teachers help you out.

If you need help after school, they’ll give you help. They’ll use their time to help you,” said Dylan.

In addition to academics, Dylan is known to be kind and supportive to his peers and teachers. Last year, Dylan was recognized as Citizen of the Term, an award given by the faculty for a student that displays the ideals of Canterbury's values, including leadership, responsibility, cooperation, service, and enthusiasm.

“Dylan is always kind to his peers. He is helpful to both adults and other kids and is always greets you with a smile,” said Middle School Principal Ashley Swanegan.

Dylan is an exemplary Canterbury student-ath-

off as he achieved his personal best time competing against juniors and seniors,” said Coach Talley.

Dylan has taken advantage of the numerous opportunities Canterbury has to offer, and he has a well-rounded school experience as a result. When asked what advice he would give to younger students, Dylan replied, “Try new things out, because you might not think you’re going to like it at first, but you never know until you try it.” •

WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL WEEKEND LOOK LIKE? I usually go to the YMCA, play video games, and, on Sunday, I finish all my homework if I have any.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR 5THGRADE SELF? I would tell my fifth grade self to let everything come and be patient with life.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CANTERBURY MOMENT? My most memorable moment is when in sixth grade I ran my first mile in track, and I broke a six.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST TEST YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN? The hardest test I've taken is when I took my first literature exam in sixth grade because it was so long.

WHAT IS ONE GOAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE FUTURE? I would like to get a sports scholarship to FSU for either basketball or running.

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L IT E RAC Y

Stop Reading Now - Seriously HOW READING AND NOT READING CAN BE A GOOD THING

BY DONNAMARIE HEHN UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Seriously, I stopped reading for about two months. For an educator, that's fairly significant. I had just finished my Masters program on a fast track and completed the UCLA Principal Leadership Excellence Institute. It was intense, and I needed a break from the educational journals and books that had consumed so much of my recent life.

After two months of a book-free lifestyle, which seemed both interminable and liberating, I knew I was ready to return to the regular habit of reading two to three books at a time. Some might think that's a bit much, but many of my colleagues enjoy this practice. (I see you, Kim Fudge!)

The first two books I picked back up and reread were The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and Mindset by Carol Dwek. I'm drawn to books like these because I'm committed to goal setting, and these two are the standards by which I measure every aspect of my life as a principal, as a teacher, as a runner and CrossFitter, as a parent, a grandparent, and a wife -- of course, not in that order.

Having a growth mindset is imperative in our changing world, and Mindset has helped me learn to hit the pause button often as a principal. It is easy for me to look at historical trends when reviewing

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policy and traditional methods when solving problems. However, a growth mindset has allowed me to listen to teachers and students who often have a more innovative and creative approach than I had initially considered. The 7 Habits has given me the tools to creatively problem solve but also has helped me with my interpersonal relationships with my colleagues and peers. Using his seven habits, I have learned how to effectively collaborate with others and to allow for others to shine through team efforts I consider both “must reads” for everyone - students, parents, and teachers.

Ironically, the fact that I stopped reading actually ties into something I read in The 7 Habits read. As a regular habit, Covey demonstrates that effective people know when to pull the plug and rejuvenate.

Note: There is an amazing version of The Seven Habits for Teens written

by Sean Covey, which many of our students enjoy.

SETBACKS In July, I fractured my ankle and tore a tendon. Lesson learned: do not run with a sledgehammer during a CrossFit workout. This was a challenging and frustrating time as I was in half marathon training and school was just about to begin.

Thankfully, the teachers and students were very tolerant of my “scooter runs.”

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday and How Champions Think by Bob Rotella are two books I turned to that powered me through this autumn as I recovered.

If you are experiencing a setback of any kind, I would highly recommend both of these. The Obstacle is the Way deals most specifically with how having a stoic attitude can help anyone deal with difficult and overwhelming situations. This book reminded me so much of Angela Duckworth’s "Grit". If this topic speaks to you, then you would really enjoy Duckworth's Ted Talk. It is one of the most compelling talks I have ever seen.

Though I am not a sports fan, I really enjoyed How Champions Think written by leading sports psychologist Bob Rotella. Rotella offers more than just a series of case studies of athletes. His book helped me to have the right mindset to commit to a plan of action and persevere through multiple failures.

RETURN TO READING In May, when I swore off reading, I was also moving. I have a much longer commute to school. So now, I spend at least one hour a day NOT READING. Instead, I listen to podcasts. This discovery and newly formed habit has proven to be such a wealth of information and entertainment. Favorites of mine include 30 For 30, #EdChat Radio, Work Life, Principal Matters, The Better Human Project, Better Leaders Better Schools, Chasing Excellence, Impact Theory, and This American Life. Sometimes I learn about inno-

From the

Office of Admission

In my role, I’m very fortunate to be reminded on a regular basis how there really is “No Place Like Canterbury”. I often host visitors to campus who are seeing our community for the first time. It’s remarkable how many things I take for granted – things like: the magic that happens at Flag each day, engaged teachers and students who enjoy school, students from age 3 to grade 12 who are confident, well-spoken and caring, and amazing learning opportunities that are not offered anywhere else.

As we enter into the new year, we also enter into the enrollment season.

Canterbury families will be re-enrolling and new students will be added to the roster. As we enter this season, I would like to offer a few quick reminders:

vative approaches in education, sometimes I learn about well-being practices, and other times I just listen to great stories about amazing people... and I'm not reading, but I'm still filling my time with great information.

Although my return to reading was centered around growth and perseverance, my Kindle list still includes a great deal of intriguing fiction and nonfiction. I am looking forward to consuming a few more books, such as A Column of Fire by Ken Follett, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed with Happiness by Emily Esfahani Smith, and Embrace the Suck: What I Learned at the Box about Hard Work, (Very) Sore Muscles

and Burpees by Sunrise by Stephen Madden.

In addition to reading and listening to podcasts, I would encourage everyone to try a daily Five Minute Journal. In the morning, write three things for which you are grateful, and at night list three amazing things that happened along with one thing that you could have done to make the day better. This daily practice keeps me focused and accountable, while also reminding me of how far I have come and how far I still must go to reach my goals.

I'm always interested in what others are reading. If you have any suggestions for me, please send them my way! Happy reading, and happy not reading! •

•

The early bird gets the worm.

The sooner you enroll, the better.

You secure your spot and can being planning for next year. Returning Canterbury families also have the opportunity to receive an Early Enrollment Discount!

•

If financial costs are a concern, please reach out. Canterbury offers need-based financial assistance and this is something we are always happy to speak about with families.

•

We are here to help! If you have any questions about Canterbury, our programs, or the options available to your student, let us know.

I’m looking forward all the exciting things this year will bring!

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S U P P OR T

Tee it Up VINOY RENAISSANCE GOLF CLUB

BY AMBER LAVENDER MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR In late September, friends of Canterbury gathered at the Vinoy Renaissance Golf Club to support the 5th annual Tee It Up Golf Tournament. This year's event celebrated our 50th anniversary and was nearly sold out with thirty-one teams in attendance!

The golf tournament is a success each year because of the support from our community of local businesses and Canterbury families. From donations to sponsorships to volunteering countless hours, our community comes together to assist the school with additional financial support that ensures current and future students have the opportunity to explore new environments, push toward undiscovered passions, and reach for unimagined possibilities... with an added benefit of having a 'hole' lot of fun.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each of the sponsors, donors, and volunteers who make this event a success year after year. We couldn't do it without you!

2018 Sponsors MASTERS SPONSOR Coleman & Klymenko, LLC (Andy Klymenko & Jen Brennan) US OPEN SPONSOR Derek and Ashley Craig BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR Law Office of Scott Johni, PA (Scott & Lisa Johni) LUNCH & HOLE SPONSOR DHM Constructions Services (Heather and Dan Morin) PGA SPONSORS Jacobsen Construction (Brett Jacobsen) Ortho Neuro Surgical (Edwin Guevara) DINNER SPONSORS Ortho Associates of West Florida (Dr. Scott Wisotsky) RANGE SPONSORS Benchmark International (Dara Shareef) Narasimhan Plastic Surgery Fleming Law Group (Lucas and Tara Fleming) Big T Printing and Embroidery (Todd and Jody Moore) HOLE SPONSORS The McMullen Family Dr. Elizabeth Hyden Center for Digestive Care (Dr. Mihir Patel) Georgia Mattern Healthlink Advisors (Lindsey & Jacqueline Jarrell) Treehouse Gallery (Marc Georgian) Lightning Print DHM Contruction (Dan and Heather Morin) The Poker Depot (Donny and Michelle Campbell) Browns Trophies Fresh Kitchen Beach Dirty (Dr. Kelly Essary) WINTER 2019 |

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A LUM N I PROFI LE

F E AT U R E

Service and Commitment PJ FRANKL IN , C LA S S O F 2 0 1 3

BY AMBER LAVENDER MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR “Mom, why are you making me go to this school?” A young boy entering sixth grade begs an answer from his mother. He wants to go to school with the kids in his neighborhood and have the same breaks they have.

That’s pretty understandable. Most athletically gifted 11 year-old boys aren’t thinking too seriously about seeking academic challenges, but PJ Franklin’s tough-love, no-nonsense mother, Pattye Sawyer, had other plans for him.

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Those plans would begin to unfold at Canterbury.

The second time I met PJ was at a restaurant downtown for this interview. Both of us were running a few minutes behind, me from some form of insanity that had to do with my child’s missing lunch, and him from rescuing one of his dogs from a nasty sand spur attack in the backyard. When I arrived slightly disheveled from a parking meter fiasco and dodging a storm front, PJ is sitting patiently near the front of the restaurant chatting with two much older gentlemen. Naturally, they were talking sports, more specifically, football. He’s giving them advice about

their Fantasy Football teams. I passively suggest they listen to him. “I’m pretty sure he knows what he’s talking about,” as we set off to find a table.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to PJ a few weeks prior when he stopped

by Canterbury’s Upper Campus to get his transcripts and share exciting news about his future. For a couple of hours, I escorted him around campus, helping him to track down former teachers. It struck me almost instantly that PJ wasn’t there to see just one or two standout teachers. He was keyed up to find every teacher he could recall, relive every moment etched into his memory, and reminisce through every

“[TEACHERS] HAVE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS, DON’T GET PAID ENOUGH, AND DON’T GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE. I WAS IN A POSITION TO GO BACK AND GIVE THEM CREDIT AND SHOW THEM I SUCCEEDED.” inch of the familiar campus from his seven-year tenure at Canterbury.

“Me personally, I didn’t want to go to Canterbury,” recalls PJ. Looking back, he now has a better understanding of why his mother insisted. Until that fateful decision, PJ had attended a Montessori school near his mother’s workplace. But once her son was entering sixth grade, she was faced with the decision to enroll him in the neighborhood school or make some sacrifices so that PJ could attend a private school. “She wanted to prepare me as well as possible for college and for after college. I definitely see her intentions now.”

PJ’s career at Canterbury began in August of 2006. He recalls causing a bit of trouble in middle school. “We were mischievous,” he states with a knowing grin. I’m sure he’s holding back. He chuckles, and I see a slight reflection

of PJ as a middle-school-aged boy. "We made hornets." I admit that I have no idea what a hornet is. PJ lets out another chuckle, “Little paper things that we made and flicked at people."

"Once, I got upset with a dude that was telling your momma jokes.” In the short time since I’ve met PJ, I've already become keenly aware of his close relationship with his mom. Bless the child who tells ‘your mama’ jokes about his mama in front of him!

“I warned him not to. He kept going at it. [My mom] was a little upset that I let him get to me, but she understood.

She was like, ‘They don’t even know me like that!’” He continues the recalled conversation shifting his voice into a slightly defensive, younger tone with a laughable tough-guy-attitude, “It doesn’t matter, Ma. They don’t know what we’ve been through!” Even

he laughs at this boyish defense of his mother’s honor.

“What else?” I inquired.

“Being a class clown, just being a kid, being disruptive here and there, trying to make people laugh. When I first came to Canterbury, I wasn’t the scholar that I ended up becoming. At my old school, I made straight As, but here I was making like Bs and Cs. At this new school, things were different, but I never did anything bad like vandalism.”

We’re all happy about that one, PJ. “There were certain characteristics that I was lacking when I first got to Canterbury. As the years went on, I saw how I needed to mature, and how I really had to focus. In eighth grade, I started trying to buckle down… and my mom was on me! She had already pulled me off WINTER 2019 |

15

the football team for having a ‘C’. She said, ‘You are not average, you have to do better.’”

“She threatened, ‘Keep it up and bas-

with his heart. “It wasn’t just my college experience. It was my parents’ as well. I wanted them to be a part of it, too. If I went to Georgetown, they’d only be able to see me play may-

[laughs], but I definitely missed home sometimes. You already know I missed my dogs, especially Bentley.” Bentley is PJ’s fluffy, white spaniel mix.

“MY GREATEST RESOURCE IN WORKING WITH PJ WAS HIS MOTHER. A QUICK EMAIL ALWAYS GOT HER ATTENTION AND, ULTIMATELY, HIS. THE VERY BEST PART OF THIS THREE-WAY PARTNERSHIP WAS THAT, BY THE NEXT DAY, I WOULD HAVE BACK IN MY CLASSROOM THE PJ WITH THE AMAZING SMILE. HIS MOTHER HELPED HIM OVER AND THROUGH EVERY TOUGH SPOT AND DID SO WHILE REMINDING HIM WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM. I REMEMBER THINKING, 'I PRAY I WILL HAVE THE SAME DEEP TRUST AND RESPECT OF MY SON.'" - LUCY YEAGER, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER ketball will be next.’ I already knew how important academics were, but that moment really defined [the term] student-athlete for me. So, I started making Honor Roll consistently, and here and there Heads’ List. Once I really got that kick in the behind, I said, ‘Okay, I really have to get myself together. She was sacrificing for me, the least that I could do is give her a good return on her investment.’”

There is no doubt Pattye Sawyer made it clear that being a good athlete wouldn’t be good enough. PJ applied himself and really challenged himself to excel in high school. On the field and off, he worked hard always telling himself to do more--to be more.

He knew the expectations his mother had for him were high, but that sort of thing doesn’t intimidate PJ. High school wasn’t entirely a breeze after that, it just had more meaning for PJ once he found his focus.

When it came to the next step, PJ tackled that decision like everything else--

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be twice a year, and my mom never missed a game [growing up]. I knew that if I went to Stetson, they could be at every home game.”

Ultimately, PJ chose Stetson though he wasn’t offered a football scholarship.

Stetson was rebuilding their football program in 2013 after a nearly 57-year hiatus. By choosing Stetson, he would be a part of building something from the ground up. There was no Big Ten glory in that decision, but it was just the sort of thing that PJ Franklin leans into. “I thought that we could bring the football team back, and I could be a part of that rebuild.”

Another reason for choosing Stetson was the proximity, “In case I got homesick, even though I never really got homesick. I had fun at college

So, PJ headed to Deland, Florida to be a Hatter and to play football, but he didn’t go empty-handed. He was offered a hefty academic scholarship, which he willingly attributes to a whole lot of his mother ’s steadfast resolve, some of his effort, and a lot of dedication from the many teachers, and coaches at Canterbury.

Fast-forward four years, and PJ was looking forward to graduating from Stetson with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He was facing the future for which he’d been preparing for 22 years. He was making plans and talking job interviews and ‘next steps’ when - CRASH - harsh reality and realized fragility struck.

Just weeks before graduation, PJ was run off the road in Deland by an out-of-control

driver. His car rolled five times until it finally rested--inverted. All of his hard work, dedication, and determination was literally turned on its head… and his passenger--his beloved Bentley.

the accident with little more than a few scratches and a healthy respect for the fragility and temporality of life. He was grateful that his graduation was unaffected by the accident.

PJ and other 2017 Stetson grads collected on the football field at the Spec Martin Municipal Stadium for commencement. While the setting must have been ancillary to many, it was somewhat poetic for PJ. The game that taught him what it meant to have dedication, propelled him to do-better-be-better academically, that gave him direction for college, and helped shape him into the man he would become was now the all-too-familiar setting where PJ would cross a stage into his future.

“I was very prepared for college. I did the darn thing. I did it well. I got PFL (Pioneer Football League) Academic Honor Roll.”

Once the car stopped rolling, PJ’s concern was only for his dog. He was shaken and too scared to respond when PJ called for him. After a bit of an upside-down struggle, PJ was able to unlock his seatbelt and retrieve a terrified Bentley, who was relatively unharmed, only to find that three of this doors were jammed and would not open. He was finally able to crawl through the rear passenger side door just moments before a good Samaritan took a swing at his window with a crowbar in efforts free PJ from the wreckage. By that time, many cars stopped to see if he and Bentley were okay. The driver who ran him off the road drove off.

“I was holding Bentley, and I started crying. Some random guy put his arms around me and tried to help me feel better. A lot of [people] stopped to ask if we were okay. Someone said, ‘Thank God, we’re praying for you.’”

Even with glass shards in his arms and his head, PJ’s first concern was Bentley.

The paramedics tried to take him to the hospital to be checked out, but he felt okay and insisted on taking Bentley to the vet first.

It was a harsh reality. Just as PJ was positioned to take on what seemed like limitless potential, it could have all been taken away. Luckily, he escaped

After graduation, PJ worked using his degree in psychology. Looking for more, he explored a career in politics by working on a local campaign. “I saw how crazy that could be. I know for sure that isn’t what I want to do.

It felt like a job.” Working on the campaign, he saw the needs of our local citizens. PJ worked with an older, retired woman who volunteered for the campaign. He knew she could barely afford food. Occasionally, he would give her his gas reimbursement checks to help her out. He even asked the candidate if he’d like to go in on buying her some groceries. With the collected money, PJ could supply her and her husband, a disabled veteran, with an unexpected surplus they desperately needed. He was deeply affected by their situation, by the fact that many of our veterans live like this.

I had to ask why, even after witnessing how our veterans are lacking in their retirement, he was still compelled to pursue joining the military. “Seeing how our veterans are treated, it just made me want to do more. Sometimes it starts with the vets taking action and demanding benefits for themselves to be better taken care of. I’m not looking for a handout. I’m really healthy. Older veterans did their fighting. It’s time for my generation to fight for them.”

Upon his return visit to Canterbury, PJ had a mental list of the people that he wanted to see and to thank for guiding him to become the person he is today.

As we traversed the campus, I began to realize this list was more like a directory. He learned quickly that there’s nothing that sets a teacher’s heart afire like having an alum return after they’ve gone out into the world. Time after time, PJ was greeted with genuine affection and the warmth of open arms as his former teachers were jolted out of their routine and into a feverish conversation with him. “Ms. Coker was tough! I thought she hated me when I was here! [laughs] And Mrs. Brown-I have NEVER seen Ms. Brown even tear up, but she really had tears in her eyes when she saw me. I really appreciated them and the fact that they were moved, and they were just happy to see me.”

PJ has come to realize that tough-love is real love. Surely he knew that from his mother’s example, but the mature realization that the teachers and staff at Canterbury were truly invested in him through his formative years and still

He was still looking for the right place to make the biggest impact in the world.

Coming from a military tradition, the Army was a natural choice to explore next. A conversation with recruiters revealed some exciting opportunities.

WINTER 2019 |

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today was an epiphany.

Only five years have passed since he walked the all-too-familiar halls of the Knowlton Campus as a student, and PJ noted that not much has changed. This time, however, he was walking familiar pathways with the sentiment and maturity of a post-graduate, young professional. “Kids are smaller these days,” he laughingly observed as students changed classes.

Passing the Senior Investiture wall of photos in the main building of the Upper Campus, PJ stopped to check out his class photo from 2013. His famous smile flashes as he points out various students, recalls some high school antics, and catches me up on what some of them are doing today. We head out to the football field where PJ envies the new concession building and recalls a championship game that drew a crowd of nearly a thousand spectators. We found Mrs. Molly Smith, who was the Assistant Principal in charge of discipline even in PJ’s days at Canterbury.

Knowing his reputation for mischievousness, I expected their reunion to be fraught with impish reflections. Instead, she immediately went into to a story about quality of PJ’s character, his patience and kindness during a community service event for the St. Pete Free Clinic. It’s a story she enjoys telling current students as a demonstration of Canterbury’s standard of character.

In the two or so hours I spent with him that first day, I learned so much about

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PJ’s character. He earned high scores on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), which expanded his selection of exciting job opportunities in the Army. PJ was immediately grateful for the tough-love and academic excellence expected of him at Canterbury. He came back to his alma mater and wanted to personally thank everyone he could find for their part of his success. His gratitude extended even to Mr. Steve Jay, the school’s Facilities Manager. He met Mr. Jay with same enthusiasm and embrace as he did with his advisors and other teachers revealing his deep appreciation of

credit and show them I succeeded.”

“They were a big part of my life. Mr. Johnson, Mr. Davis-who knows when the next time I’ll see them. I wish I could have seen Mrs. Hobby (retired in 2017). It was great to see Mrs. Rosario, and Mr. Gomez, all of them. I wish I could have seen Ms. Cieutat and Ms. Ingram (retired in 2012). I just wanted to show those people that were there for me that I am here for them, too.”

Pattye Sawyer ’s plans for her son’s future have been realized. Her son had graduated from college having grown into the man she always knew he would be--a man who believes in serving others and serving our country. She is thankful for the Canterbury community being her partner along the way.

PJ recalled, “My mom said, sports aren’t going to last forever. And sure enough, she was right, [laughs] which is why I’m really happy she pushed me so hard with my education.”

all of the members of Team PJ that have contributed, even in the most remote ways, to his success.

“I hadn’t seen [the teachers and staff] since I graduated. They go so unappreciated. They have some of the toughest jobs, don’t get paid enough, and don’t get the credit they deserve. I was in a position to go back and give them

At the time of the interview, PJ was expecting to join the Army and be trained as a Geo-spatial Engineer working with drones, but as things do in the Army, plans changed. He is now on track to become a Chemical Engineer that will work with the counter-terrorism unit for the Department of Homeland Security. PJ is looking forward to getting into Officer Candidate School and Army Intelligence once he becomes more established with his unit. •

5 Questions

Jeff Donnelly (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5)

W I T H J EFF

WHAT SOURCES OF INSPIRATION DO YOU DRAW FROM HERE IN ST. PETERSBURG? I feel like I am in two worlds: I like writing collaborative pieces that are [more mature] for my theater company, but I like working with adolescents and writing theater for young people that doesn’t feel like it is for young people.

gaging students with real-world challenges and meaningful service learning. He has organized both in-house and external days of service for Canterbury’s upper school with over fifteen non-profit organizations in our area, including Friends of Strays, Goodwill, the Bay Pines VA Medical facility, The Kind Mouse, and many others.

NAME SOME WRITERS AND PLAYWRIGHTS WHOM YOU ADMIRE AND WHO INSPIRE YOU. Sam Shepard, Elmore Leonard, Vladimir Nabokov, Nick Hornby

Jeff invites the representatives from the organizations Canterbury serves to speak directly to the student about the real and immediate impact they make with their service learning endeavors.

In October 2018, upper school students attended a LEADS presentation by Nikki Hehn of Family Promise, an organization that serves low-income families.

During Spirit Week, upper school students incorporated items that can be donated to Family Promise into their hallway decor, and afterward, the donations of household and personal care products were delivered to Family Promise to directly help the families served by the organization. In November 2018, Lauralynn Segur of Eckerd Connects spoke to all middle and upper school students about the needs of the foster children within our city. Each advisory group was given a wish list provided by the caseworkers of one of the neediest foster children in the program and the students work together to purchase holiday gifts for those foster children. Canterbury has participated in this program for over twenty years, but it is at the next level through the LEADS program.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE LEADS PROGRAM? I want to make it feel like a very natural part of the character and identity of the school. I want students to think it is a unique and valuable part of their education. I want to integrate more multimedia into the program (including speeches, literature, movies, etc.) so that students can see more connections between the program and real life.

WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING A LEADS PROGRAM FOR BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL STUDENTS (GRADES 5-8) AND UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS (GRADES 9-12)?

For middle school, there is a vast difference between students in grades 5 and 8: for grade 5, the lessons need to be task-oriented and focus on learning through active learning, breaking everything down into small steps. Grade 8 students can have productive discussions about the topics at-hand as they are more developmentally able to process the information verbally. Upper School students can also be challenging; you want to keep it real.

The topics should be relevant, something they like, but they need to buy in on it.

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP FOR YOU? Professionally, I would love to do even more to develop the LEADS program.

That will take more energy and time. I’d like to develop an arts-based character education program incorporating character education, service, and the arts.

through in his son. It will be exciting to see how they both grow, what they both will accomplish. As a community, we are fortunate to bear witness, to see what will happen in the second act, to watch the plot develop.

Jeff’s son is an active sixth grader in Canterbury’s middle school.

In contrast to Jeff’s calm and reserved demeanor, preferring to be behind the spotlight, his son is impish and playful and happy to be in the limelight. However, one can see that a young Jeff shines WINTER 2019 |

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MARIN E STU D I ES

SCUBA

CLUB TO CLASSROOM

BY JENNA LODICO DIRECTOR OF MARINE STUDIES “Guys. This is a real class. Now let’s dive, dive, dive!” I say as we prepare to descend into the depths of Devil’s Den, a prehistoric spring, and one of our open water certification sites. Devil’s Den, located about two hours north of St. Petersburg, is a spring that is ideal for open water certification dives. The visibility is fantastic, and the water is calm and always 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

It was on dives like this that students in our new SCUBA course achieved their open water certification.

We have been growing the SCUBA program since 2012, when Venturing Crew 210 was established, a co-ed unit of the Boy Scouts of America that is charted by Canterbury’s Marine Studies program and open to all students, even students outside of Canterbury. The Crew organizes about six dive trips every school year and offers a larger multi-day trip during the summer. Five students and five adults who are a part of Crew 210 had the amazing privilege of visiting Bonaire last June to work with the Coral Restoration Foundation and also learned how to spear invasive lion fish.

The creation of a high school SCUBA course seemed like the next step after six years of a successful SCUBA club.

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After consulting with Divers Alert Network (DAN) and Shoultz Scuba Services, a plan was put in place to create the academic course. The course can count towards a semester science and/ or physical education credit. By the end of the course, students have earned their NAUI: The National Association of Underwater Instructors Open Water SCUBA certification. The NAUI open SCUBA certification course teaches the fundamental knowledge and skills to safely dive in open water and introduces students to the underwater world. Students learn about modern dive equipment, diving sciences, responsible diving practices, and the marine environment.

To begin the course, students need to complete their NAUI e-learning. This is a series of online materials that reviews the basic principles of diving, gear needed, and skills required to safely dive, as well as features of the marine environ-

ment. For the course, we also incorporate lectures and hands-on labs to help to solidify some of the more complex topics like density and gas laws. Once students finished the e-learning and pass the test, they are ready to complete the water training portion of the course.

Field trips are scheduled on SCUBA class block days to help alleviate missing other class work. First, we complete two

pool sessions at the Northshore Pool, near Canterbury. Then, students participate in four open water dives to master the open water skills. Students master diving skills like: mask removal and replace, regular removal and recovery, shared air and ascent, emergency swimming ascent, rescue, and more. During the open water training dives, some the skills are more challenging than others to master, and as dive instructors and dive masters, we work with the students to make them feel comfortable. The most important thing to remember: as long as you are breathing, you can solve any problem underwater! The first time students remove and replace their mask can be a bit overwhelming, but repetition and recalling the mantra: “As long as you can breathe underwater, you can solve any problem,� always seems to help!

ly enhance their personal dive skills and knowledge as well as their ability to assist other divers in emergency situations. Students can earn their NAUI Advanced and Rescue Diver certifications in addition to DAN CPR, first aid and Emergency Oxygen Administration certifications.

Topics will include underwater navigation, search and recovery, limited visibility diving, deep diving, organism identification, diver rescue, and much more. •

There is a lot of class time in between field trips. This is a real class with academic components including lectures, quizzes, tests, and class projects. In class, students learn about the history of Florida geology, Florida marine habitats, fish anatomy and physiology, Florida fish identification, the ecology of Rainbow River, and coral reef dynamics. The culminating course project is to plan a fourday destination dive trip with all details.

Students will need to find airfare, accommodations, a dive charter, dive sites, as well plan the dive tables, rental gear, trip costs, what type of local marine life they will expect to see and more. Project locations so far include Hawaii, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand!

As we ended the semester, students prepared for their last field trip to dive with the sharks at the Florida Aquarium in the tropical reef tank that is teeming with sharks, moray eels, barracuda, a green sea turtle, and more than 1,000 fish! They practiced their fish ID skills and did fish surveys while on the dive.

While instructing this course, I watched students grow as divers, improve their skills. I look forward to diving with them as part of the Canterbury SCUBA Venture Crew 210.

This is indeed a real class, and I am thrilled to say there will be another one next semester! In Scuba 2, students can earn four certifications designed to greatWINTER 2019 |

21

ST UDE N T PROFI LE

LOWER SCHOOL

The Binkley Brothers C LA S S E S O F 2029 AND 2031

BY AMBER LAVENDER MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Collins and Jax Binkley are brothers, bikers, and Lower School students at the Hough Campus.

Collins Binkley has loved bicycles since the first time he saw one. His mother says he was proficient at the Strider bike (a bike designed for very small children without training wheels or peddles) by eighteen months of age, and his interested in bikes grew from there. As he outgrew one, he resisted trading it for a newer, bigger bike.

In 2017, it was time for an upgrade. Trying to win him over, his parents called it his ‘BMX bike’ although it clearly wasn’t.

That certainly piqued his interest.

“What is a BMX bike?”

The question was easily answered with the help of thrilling YouTube videos of BMX bikers at the X Games. His response was an enthused, “Oh, I want to try that!”

Neal and Michelle Binkley couldn’t possibly have known the impact that this ex-

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change with their eldest son would have on their family for years to come.

Neal Binkley was not familiar with BMX tracks and skate parks. He grew up riding dirt bikes. The unmotorized version of his childhood was much more acceptable to both Michelle and Neal, “I’m much happier with [them riding] BMX than motorized dirt bikes,” said Michelle.

together. When a race event would come up, all three boys would miss baseball, and they wouldn’t have enough players to field a team. Neal and Michelle began splitting their obligations to alleviate the problem: one boy to the track and one to baseball. They were spread too thin. This year, when flag football came around, a choice needed to be made. Collins and Jax chose BMX.

In August of 2017, they found themselves at a BMX track in Lutz, Florida, with an actual BMX bike outfitted with all the gear, but not really knowing what to do.

There was a gentleman at the track who saw them looking a little lost and stopped to help. After a very successful first attempt, Collins was hooked. Little brother Jax took notice and was eager for his turn on the track. “We got him a bike, too, and we told them both that they really have to stick with this,” Michelle recalls. It didn’t take too much convincing.

“The cool thing is that you can do it as much or as little as you want. When we first started, we were only doing Sunday afternoons in Tampa. We got a little more into it and started going to tracks in Sarasota and Oldsmar. As we learned more, we started doing state and national races.”

The first year, the Binkleys juggled flag football, soccer, baseball, and BMX. Needless to say, the weekends were busy. At one point, Collins, and Jax were playing on the same baseball team and BMXing

Michelle and Neal love the community that has come with the sport. “It’s very competitive. As they get older, we’ve been warned that it gets rougher on the track.

But the community of BMX riders is very

Now, the Binkleys dedicate about twelve hours to the track over the course of a weekend. During the summer, they add some clinics with professional BMX riders and a weeknight or two for practice.

supportive and helpful to each other.”

At times Michelle had to take the boys to the track without Neal. “The tools for the bikes were in Neal’s car, but I knew I could go there and someone would help me.”

One of the things they love about the BMX community is that the riders in their classes all want to see each other win. “Collins has just classed up to expert, but two of his friends are still intermediates. They were bummed at first because they don’t get to race together, but they still support each other. It’s so cool to see the kids standing on the fence cheering each other on.”

“One of the best things about BMX is the family time,” Neal says. He doesn’t mind that so much of the families' free time is spent at the track because it has presented their family with a unique opportunity to bond.

Watching her sons speed around a track is usually pretty exciting, but they’ve had some bumps and bruises along the way.

Michelle recalls some pretty scary moments as a mother. “Jax wrecked badly in one of the races that I missed.” The wreck

was so bad that it was shown during the ‘worst wrecks’ compilation at a series-end awards ceremony.

In a different race, Collins flipped over his handlebars. “We couldn’t get down on the track because it's all fenced off. He flipped over at the top of the hill and landed at the bottom of the hill. We couldn’t see him from where we were. Neal was at the staging area, and I was in the stands taking video. He called me, ‘I can’t see what happened. Can you see anything?’

I couldn’t see him either. We both ran toward the track, and they wouldn’t let us on. Then, one kid comes [off the track] and then another. At that point, I was like, ‘where’s my kid?’ But I knew medics and EMTs were down on the track. I don’t usually get too freaked out by this stuff, but the fact that we couldn’t see him was scary. We had seen BMX pro and Olympic Gold Medalists Connor Fields get in a major, major accident at national race. He had gotten a concussion and went into seizures right there on the track. And now, we were waiting to see what was happening with our own son.”

Once the officials began letting the next

group of riders race, the Binkleys knew Collins must be okay. Had they needed an ambulance for Collins, the race would have halted. “So, I knew he had to be fine.’” Somehow Jax and Collins have made it through more than a year of racing with only minor bumps and bruises.

“They have gotten scrapes and bruises and ripped holes in their jerseys but nothing major.”

Their commitment to the sport has paid off. Recently, seven-year-old Collins Binkley was promoted to expert status. He is currently ranked 2nd in the state for 8 year-old experts. Six-year-old Jax was promoted to intermediate. He is ranked 3rd for 7 year-old intermediates.

It takes twenty wins as an intermediate to become an expert and ten wins as a novice to become an intermediate. Collins will remain at the expert level until he can become a pro once he’s turned sixteen. Jax Binkley is looking forward to making expert so he can race his big brother again.

Moral of this story? Be careful how you inflate things trying to gain the interest of your children. You may unwittingly create a BMX biker. • WINTER 2019 |

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STAF F PROFI LE

H OU GH C A MP U S

Patti Northrop

A D M I N I S T RATIVE ASSISTANT, HOU G H CA M PU S

BY BRITTNEY RANGEL PK3 TEACHER'S AIDE It’s hard to characterize and define the Lower Campus Administrative Assistant Patti Northrop (or “Ms. Patti” as she is affectionately known). She attempts to put into words what her ‘exact’ duties are with her signature laugh and a wink, “It’s easier to say what I don’t do!” With 24 years of service at Canterbury, she has somehow come to encompass Assistant, Aftercare Manager, Nurse, forgotten-snack delegator, confidant, and everyone’s go-to gal to name a few. How did she amass so many responsibilities? Well, with raw determination to make a life for herself -- by herself.

Patti fondly remembers her hometown of Middlebury, Connecticut as a town with run-ins at the grocery store and regarding neighbors as close family. In a small, picturesque place in the middle of Connecticut, Patti grew up with two sisters knowing what it meant to work hard from a young age, “I worked for everything I wanted and needed growing up--my first car, braces, you name it, I worked for it”.

She worked to make ends meet through working at amusement parks, factories, and for top executives in the corporate office of a major insurance company. Ultimately, she realized something was missing, “I needed a job that wasn't so stuffy, and I needed to find my passion. Something had to change.” So, she took a leap

“A ‘HOME’ IS SO MANY THINGS. I FOUND MINE AT CANTERBURY. EVEN AS THE YEARS PASS AND THE CHILDREN GROW, THE FEELING STAYS THE SAME HERE.” of faith--a 1,246-mile leap south all the way to Florida.

Patti describes the transition as a difficult one. She had visited St. Petersburg before, but now that she was here, she struggled with the long distance from her family back in Connecticut. “Imagine moving away from a town where home is not just the place you live in but also in the people who surround you. Leaving that was tough, and moving to Florida without knowing anyone made me regret leaving my family at first.”

In 1994, after being in Florida for only two years, Patti realized she was still searching for work she could be passionate about. She was ready for another change, this time from her job at the Historical

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Museum. She knew that with just a short plane ride, she could be back with her family--the people who mean most to her in the world. She was tempted. “I missed my family, it was just me, all by myself [in Florida], and I am really close to my entire family [in Connecticut].”

Then, it happened. Patti came across an ad for a secretarial position at the Canterbury School of Florida, and it all began to click.

“From day one, I loved it. I loved the families, the staff, the teachers, the kids, everything!” The community at Canterbury reminded her of what she was missing back home in Connecticut. Some of her favorite memories are from the first years of her tenure at Canterbury when her current office used to be the school’s library.

She describes her old office as “quaint, to put it nicely,” but recalls fondly listening

to former Librarian, Martha. Little, read stories to the kids during library time. She began finding a new sense of purpose in their giggles, the awe in their eyes, and the happiness in their little voices.

"I knew that this was where I was supposed to be."

Patti reflects on her biggest accomplishments over the years, and counts finding her second home at Canterbury among the best of them. Buying her first home and maintaining her independence through major transitions rank high among them. “It hasn’t been all easy-peasy-lemonsqueezy, but it has all been worth it--being with the kids and the faculty and watching generations of children grow.” She attempts to put complex emotions into words knowing that she has been a part of helping hundreds of children along their path, whether it has been with the something as small as goldfish crackers when they’re hungry or with a blanket to hold onto when they’re sick.

When asked what has kept her here for more than two decades, she responds simply, “I love everybody, this really is my second family!”

In 2007 tragedy struck her family in Connecticut. "My niece, Danielle, passed away at the age of 25 from Cystic Fibrosis-related complications." After many years of waiting, Danielle received a double lung transplant that could have saved her life. However, her fragile body rejected the implants. "She was a fighter and never let CF beat her down. She was always positive, upbeat, and smiling."

Though the family has found their way through the difficult times, never missing an opportunity to share her memory, they do so with brave faces. "I have a 16-yearold cousin with CF, and she has the same spirit as Danni. Always upbeat, positive, smiling and never giving up the fight."

Patti admires both of these girls for their tenacity, "It really makes you put things into perspective. Some of the trivial things that we complain about are nothing compared to their daily fight."

5 Questions After 24 years watching and guiding generations of children and helping their parents with the details of school life, she’s learned a thing or two. If Patti could impart anything upon future parents and children, her advice would be simple: to the parents, “Let your kids be little. Let them play while they can. They truly do grow up too fast. I know, I’ve seen it!”; to the little ones, “Never underestimate yourself and what you can do on your own.”; and to everyone else, “A ‘home’ is so many things. I found mine at Canterbury. Even as the years pass and the children grow, the feeling stays the same here.”

“I found my home at Canterbury, it’s not just a place where I work. I also found my family in the people that surround me every day.”

To anyone that knows Patti, “Administrative Assistant” just doesn’t do her justice.

She is the cement to the bricks that make up the lower campus; she has weathered the storms, the construction, the additions, the changes. She has seen generations of students grow, gone to their weddings, and loves getting to see many of their children attend Canterbury now. “Yikes! I’m getting old!” she adds. Patti has built a life she is proud of with her own two hands, it’s an honor that she chooses to spend each day with us at Canterbury. •

WIT H MS. PATTI

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF WORK? I love working outside gardening and trying to make my lawn look beautiful.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANTERBURY ACTIVITY? It has to be Lessons & Carols each December.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM VACATION? I really would love to take a train ride out west and end with a tour of wine country. Or Italy, whichever comes first.

HOW DID MS. PATTI’S HOT DOG LUNCHES BEGIN? It started by me saying it would be fun to grill hot dogs for the school. Who knew it would continue all these years?

The kids love it and I love how excited they get about it.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTO? I would pay off my bills, buy a little bigger house, give some to my family and to charity... then travel, travel, travel!

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ALUMNI

Crusader Connections ALUMNI NEWS AND NOTES

50TH ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING brought home Knights and Ladies and Homecoming Kings and Queens from generations past. Those who could join us for the big event took to the field to help us celebrate 50 fantastic years!

SAM BOUTROS '03 and his wife, Julianna, celebrated the birth of their fourth child, Ramzi, this year! Sam's eldest two daughters are students on the Lower Campus.

FORMER TEACHER BOB BRADSHAW AND KYLE BRIDGE '04, WEBB BOND '04, SAM BOUTROS '03, MEGAN (KENNEDY) DOBIESZ '06, MARC SAWALUM STEVE HASE '78 share old stories YER '03, AND SARA (KENNEDY) ATHANS '03 (left to right) returned to the Lower Campus to celeduring a CSF reunion at Hotel Zamora. brate Canterbury's 50th birthday and help dig up the time capsule they helped bury 25 years ago.

FORMER FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS make time to reunite for breakfast and reminisce on a regular basis.

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MORE ALUMNI AT HOMECOMING The alumni tent was full of familiar faces from former faculty and students.

FALL ATHLETICS

H I GHLI GH TS GRAY MALONEY won a 10th place finish at the FHSAA 1A State Swimming Championships in the 200 M. He achieved his personal best time.

NE W S + NOTES

50th Anniversary HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANTERBURY

Three senior football players and three senior cheerleaders were selected to play in the 2018 PINELLAS FOOTBALL ALL STAR CLASSIC in December at Clear-

water High School. Congratulations to Harrison Holsinger, Conor Given, Deon Harper, Lauryn Perkins, Mackenzie Chance, and Mia Liyanearachchi.

The VARSITY FOOTBALL team made it to the FCAAPS State Semifinal Football game before coming up short to Citi Christian from Miami.

SENIOR CONOR GIVEN AND EIGHTH GRADER DYLAN BAILEY qualified for the Regional Cross Country meet in Gainesville in November.

The VARSITY VOLLEYBALL team returned to district play in the fall, nearly upsetting the 2nd seed team to advance.

JUNIOR RIVERS LENHOLT recently broke the school boys basketball record by totaling 1204 points for the Crusaders during his varsity tenure.

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Save the Dates!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

PARENTS' ASSOCIATION GALA FRIDAY 02.22.19 CANTERBURY CUP SATURDAY 04.06.19 SPRING THEATER PRODUCTION THURSDAY, 04.25.19 - SATURDAY, 04.27.19 END-OF-THE-YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY SATURDAY 04.27.19

Come and see why “there’s no place like Canterbury!”

JOIN US FOR OPEN HOUSE

PK3 - GRADE 4

GRADES 5-12

January 15 | 8-10 a.m.

HOUGH CAMPUS 1200 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Pete

February 5 | 4-6 p.m.

KNOWLTON CAMPUS 990 62nd Ave. NE , St. Pete

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For a personal tour, call 727.521.5903 or visit canterburyflorida.org.