Canterbury School of Florida Features | Fall 2014

CSFeatures

a publication of Canterbury School of Florida

FALL 2014

IMAGINE CAMPAIGN

COMES TO LIFE

STUDENTS ENTER INTERNATIONAL

BLUE OCEAN Film Festival

PLUS:

Student, Faculty & Alumni Profiles

3

Sophomore SOFTBALL PHENOMS

Lee Burgess

ON HOW BEING A CURRENT PARENT, ALUMNI PARENT, AND PARENT VOLUNTEER HAS CHANGED WHO SHE IS AS A PERSON 1 | FALL 2014

FALL 2014

CONTENTS 10

8

3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

16

22

14

athletics

profiles

14

4

marine studies

6

7

FACULTY PROFILE: LUCY YEAGER ‘89 TEACHER & MIDDLE SCHOOL ASST. PRINCIPAL

16 STUDENT PROFILE: HUNTER FOX ‘19 GO-GET-EM GO-CART’ER ALUMNA PROFILE: NIKKI HEHN ‘09 AT BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

hough campus 8

BLUE OCEAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

giving back 18

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES: THE IMAGINE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A SUCCESSFUL CLOSE

21

TEE IT UP FOR SCIENCE GOLF TOURNAMENT

on stage ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK

cover story 10

SOFTBALL PHENOMS

SOPHIE SAFARI: THE WOMAN, THE WIG, THE LEGEND

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24

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID

reflections 26

COUNTDOWN TO CANTERBURY’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Letter

FROM THE EDITOR

Synced with your mobile phone so you never have to type a Canterbury event into your phone again. If our staff puts it on a school calendar (and you have subscribed to that calendar) the event and all its details, links and associated forms and contact information will sync automatically to your mobile phone calendar. l Set up with text or email alerts if you would like immediate notification of new calendar events or news stories. l

SOCIAL MEDIA. Our families are utiliz-

Let’s start a conversation Prior to becoming the Director of Marketing and Communications at Canterbury, I was a certified professional organizer for five years. I frequently talked people out of holding onto favorite old sweaters, frayed books or grandma’s dust-collecting serving tray. I’d say in a comforting voice, “It’s always hard to let go of something that is comfortable and familiar, even if it’s no longer functional. Sometimes letting go of something that no longer works can open space in your home and your life for something even better.”

Such was the reasoning behind changing Canterbury’s main form of communication from a single service (eNotify) to a delicious, multi-layer communications cake. The administration spent a lot of time this summer studying how our families receive information in their personal lives, and tried to model those modes of communication with Canterbury’s. Here’s what we found.

CALENDARS AND EVENTS. Most

people over the age of 13 use the calendar on their mobile device to save, review and set reminders for events in their lives.

Thus our new plan encourages families to utilize the portal calendars in a way that should be very familiar. Our portal calendars can be: l Customized. You see only what you want to see, nothing more and nothing less. You can subscribe (or unsubscribe) to multiple calendars including All-School, Division Calendars (Lower, Middle, Upper events), Marine Science, College Guidance, Performing Arts and many more.

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ing social media several times a day and night to connect with others, share ideas, and see photos and videos of exciting events. Likewise, prospective families are also using social media to seek out new schools and communities that might be a good fit for them. By amping up and publicly sharing brief “news stories” in real time (not just once a week in a private email) we are able to show current and prospective families all the amazing things going on at Canterbury in right now. More photos, videos, and shared comments and connections happen via social media than could ever happen in a non-dynamic weekly newsletter (see Faculty Profile, pg 4). l NOTE: We use several social media platforms (see masthead at right). If you do not have a Facebook account, do not despair!

ALL our social media posts, photos and videos can be viewed in one place by clicking the Crusader Buzz button on our home page.

CSFeatures a publication of Canterbury School of Florida FALL 2014

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

Heather Lambie CONTRIBUTORS

Mac Hall

Hillary Heath

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jorge Alvarez

Alex Gomez

Heather Lambie

Georgia Mattern

Jeremy Quellhorst

credibly supportive community. Across campuses and divisions, parents and students like to hear about the accomplishments of all, so they can congratulate those involved, learn more, and potentially share those stories with pride in the local community. “You won’t believe what the students at my kids’ school did!”

Elise Schreiner

In exchange for the abbreviated, single-photo stories and brags our families used to read in the weekly e-newsletter, this inaugural CSFeatures digital publication is the final piece in Canterbury’s new multi-layer communications cake.

We reserve the right to edit your letters

STORIES TO SHARE. We are an in-

READ IT? LOVE IT? Tell us your thoughts on this issue of CSFeatures. Share your stories and pictures with us for the next issue. for length and clarity. Email: communications@canterburyflorida.org

The goal for all of this is to give parents and students the information they need, when they need it. By redesigning, streamlining and resuscitating our communications plan (which, like grandma’s dusty serving tray had become a bit idle in recent years), I hope the multitude of options, calendars, content, images and media available will be easier to navigate and more user-friendly than ever.

facebook.com/CanterburySchoolofFlorida

I sincerely hope families enjoy reading these in-depth articles and viewing the wonderful photography as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it all together.

linkedin.com/company/canterbury-school-of-florida

instagram.com/canterbury_fl twitter.com/canterburyfl | @canterburyFL pinterest.com/canterburyFL youtube.com/canterburyflorida

faculty PROFILE

Lucy Yeager

BY HEATHER LAMBIE

to Canterbury. I traveled all over the world, studied with the best professors in my field, and I attribute that to Canterbury. So do I want that for Hayden?” Yeager says, of her 4-yearold son now enrolled in PK4 at Canterbury, “Yeah. Yeah I do.”

Post-college, Yeager had several career shifts, moving to Virginia and then back to St. Pete to work for Pinellas County as an intern in Affordable Housing. She then spent five years doing race relations and youth empowerment work all over the country, but based out of St. Pete. Through that work she met with different groups of young people every day facilitating intense conversations. “I wanted to build relationships over time and work with the same kids,” Yeager said. “I felt I could have a stronger effect that way. The natural fit for that was teaching.”

When the announcement of Lucy Yeager’s promotion to Middle School Assistant Principal was posted on Canterbury’s Facebook page this summer (see right), the comments said it all. Yeager, who came to Canterbury first as a student in sixth grade, puts her all into her lessons and her students.

“I was a scholarship kid at Canterbury,” says Yeager. “I never would be where I am today if it wasn’t for the generosity of the school.” Yeager graduated Canterbury in 1989 and attended Colby College. She credits Canterbury with opening her eyes to the world’s possibilities.

“Here, it’s like, ‘The sky’s the limit!

Figure out where you want to go and we’ll get you there.’ I went to one of the best liberal arts schools in the nation on a full scholarship thanks

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St. Petersburg being the small town that it is, it wasn’t much time before Ed Rawson, who was Dean of the Middle School at Canterbury at the time, heard about some volunteer work Yeager was doing locally, and that she was thinking of teaching. He reached out to her, and in 2000 she began teaching seventh and eighth grade Social Science at Canterbury. She also developed a Leadership class “which has since gone away,” she says.

When asked whether she’d like to bring that class back she answered, “Our programs always change, and that’s OK. They should be based on the strengths of the people we have, on educational trends and on the needs kids have. Economics is one of the classes that replaced it. Our Middle School students need a strong foundation for economics. And we do talk about [leadership] as part of our culture through advisory and CAP.” Even more important to her than the

“Really, as a Middle School teacher--although I’m teaching a subject--I’m fostering a curiosity of learning. That is really what I do. It doesn’t matter if I teach US History.

It could be any subject, I’m teaching critical thinking, academic writing.”

subjects she teaches, however, are the life lessons she imbues.

“Really, as a Middle School teacher--although I’m teaching a subject--I’m fostering a curiosity of learning.

That is really what I do. It doesn’t matter if I teach US History. It could be any subject, I’m teaching critical thinking, academic writing. I have to know the individual person. Where are they coming from?

I know this kid could do more, why is she not? Also, helping kids to identify that and understand themselves better and figure it all out.”

As a Sociology major, Yeager is always looking for the “why” in student behavior. Where did this behavior come from? Why is it there?

“From middle school on there should be a dialog,” she says. “That doesn’t mean a parent or teacher gives up his or her authority. A dialogue gives you a chance to explain why a decision is being made or consequences are being given, and you get a chance to hear where the kid is coming from. If we’re just guessing about why a kid doesn’t like a decision, that’s not good enough.”

graduated we had a “double wide” and there were no other amenities. I couldn’t have envisioned the physical plant. With such a small community, this small number of students, that so much can be provided--theater, sports, science programs. . . it’s just amazing. When people from my era come back they are stunned. They just can’t believe we have a scuba crew and that we have kids competing and winning at state. We were not that school, and to see it happen in such a short amount of time. . . phenomenal.

And just like when I was here, it’s the faculty who would do anything that’s possible to support student growth.”

This drive to give students what they need at every level will sound familiar to current Canterbury parents and, according to Yeager, has always been a part of Canterbury’s faculty culture.

The thing Yeager is most excited about right now regarding the growth of the school is the diversity of all kinds; religious, racial and socioeconomic. “I would not have sent Hayden here if that diversity wasn’t present. It’s the single best thing that has happened here, that our community now reflects the general population community.

On my son’s campus we have gay families, and English-as-a-second-language families, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s now a modern culture.”

When Yeager started at Canterbury in 1982 the campus was at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on St. Pete Beach.

Melanie Heath, now her colleague, was her Science teacher.

When speaking with Yeager, her winning combination of intelligence, passion and empathy can make her seem almost too perfect, so I asked her what she’s struggling with right now.

“I never envisioned when I graduated that this would be a place with a stunning physical plant and all the programs to go with it. When I

Just like “Everymom”, she answered, “Simplicity. I have no ‘me’ time. I’m a single parent. No complaints, I’m blessed beyond measure, but I struggle mightily just to find time to refuel.

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I believe the few things I chose to get involved with (work, church, family) I want to do very well, and I want to give back, so that doesn’t leave much time at the end of the day. All of those things are energizing, but there is a stretch to find time to take care of myself.”

Though she may not always find time for it at home, Yeager delights in simple pleasures and is lucky to find them at work. “I spend an awful lot of time at work, whether it’s in the physical building or grading at home.

So it better mean a lot to me. There’s nothing more rewarding than helping young people realize their goals and build the skills they need for success. I can’t imagine a better way to spend a day… or midnight hour,” she laughs.

“At school I get the simple pleasure of connecting with a student and really knowing him or her as a person which enables me to do my job better. Joy is not complicated if we let it be simple.”

And simple is how she takes her weekends too. “Friday night is movie night with my son, so last weekend I watched Veggie Tales and ate pizza with my four-year-old,” says Yeager.

“Saturday, it’s chores; cat to the vet, mowed my mom’s lawn. Big times! I’m reading the third book in the Inheritance series (by Christopher Paolini) because one of my eighth grade boys is reading them. We started a conversation about it in class so I’m reading to discuss with him. Sunday I taught Sunday school, then played with my son, and Sunday night’s all work prep.

Boy, I sound pretty boring, but actually I’m pretty happy with that life.”

However she wants to describe her life, we are certainly lucky that such a large part of it has happened at Canterbury.

LEFT, AND THIS PAGE: Center in red, Fox takes the winner’s podium for his heat at the end of 10 laps at the Victory Kart/Briggs and Stratton sponsored Briggs LO206 Junior race. Hunter Fox (USA) took an early lead while Bouillon and Logan Cusson (Canada) circulated a couple seconds behind, just ahead of Jonathan Morris (USA) in fourth. For a while Bouillon and Cusson worked together in such a way that they almost got right to Fox’s bumper. But, with a couple laps to go, all three slid together through turn nine, almost crashing, and that separated them just enough that Fox had the gap he needed to win.

BY HEATHER LAMBIE

student PROFILE

Hunter Fox, Grade 8

When looking at Hunter Fox,

it would be hard to guess that this quiet, polite, unassuming boy is rising in the ranks of dangerous, high speed go kart racing, on the road to becoming the next Indie star.

Fox got his start in go karting not long ago at the Tampa Bay Grand Prix race track, an electric track. “Me and my dad were going there a lot,” Fox says, “but after a while we got tired of going every other weekend, so my dad looked on Craigslist and and found a cart for sale.”

He surprised Hunter with it for Christmas in 2012, and they started racing immediately.

When asked how he knew how to drive

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at such a young age, Fox says, “I knew a lot about racing already. Also, I have some friends who are in the Indycar racing and NASCAR. Juan Pablo Montoya, I knew Dan Wheldon before he passed away in that crash. We’d go and meet Dan at Puryear Park and he’d be exercising getting ready for races and he’d let me exercise with him. It was very cool that he’d let us do that. He was very friendly. Montoya lives in Miami. When we were doing the Florida Winter tour in Orlando we met him there. He taught me a little bit about the track.”

Barely two years later, “We’re already up to six championships and 40 wins,” he says without an ounce of ego. Fox races in different divisions, all based on the kart’s engine type or the driver’s age. Fox does race in some divisions with adults-and wins--which is amazing when you consider he doesn’t even have a learner’s permit yet.

“Next year I’ll have my learners permit,” he says, “but I’m already starting to test some stock cars over at Showtime Speedway. My goal is to become an Indycar driver. This coming season for the Florida Kart Championship Series we’ll be run-

ning a 2-cycle cart which is a different type of motor. It has a lot more torque so I can pull out the corners a lot faster, about 110 MPH.” In the meantime, however, Fox stays the course racing multiple courses and cities.

“We run a different type of motor for the National Races called a Pro Gas Animal.

These motors can go up to 8,000 RPM or 82 MPH. Junior Clone Class, that’s a specific type of motor built by TS Racing. It can go up to 6,800 rotations per second (RPM). We travel all around the state of Florida doing these, Ocala, Miami, Orlando. We’re going to Nationals on October 17 in North Carolina.”

Fox makes it seem simple, but it isn’t always an easy win. “I’m most proud that I can always keep my head up no matter what. At one point we had a huge slump where we didn’t win a race for four months. It was really hard on us. We kept going to the races and we’d be so close but lose every time. Then we won 10 races in a row, and we’re still going.

We won three races in FKC, Monticello, Miami and Grand Prix about a month ago.”

continued on page 23

alumna

Letter from a parent of Alumni

PROFILE

June 4, 2014 RE: The Imagine Campaign Dear Mac:

Q: HOW DO WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS AS A SCHOOL? A: Through the actions of our alumni and how they use their CSF education to serve their communities and make the future better for all

Nikki Hehn, CSF Class of 2009, has been doing just that, most recently as a Student Research Assistant at Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation. The program is a university consortium dedicated to developing the theory and practice of negotiation and dispute resolution. She is particularly involved in international negotiations and events (her next event features former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger), and is currently working on a student-led initiative with other graduate and Ph.D students in the Boston area to deepen the connection between scholarly knowledge and field experience in negotiation, conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

Nikki Hehn Class of 2009

Nikki is also the Programs Associate Intern at The Millennium Campus Network (MCN), which convenes student leaders across Boston-area universities to improve global development student organizations, partnerships, and community impact. Nikki is responsible for individual leadership coaching, implementing a mentor partnership with professionals in global development, and hosting workshops for grant-writing, project design, and organization management.

Currently a Master’s candidate in Coexistence and Conflict at The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, she received her B.A. in Sociology and Peace Studies at Florida Atlantic University.

Nikki is proud to say that her global passions began at Canterbury where she founded YUGA (Youth United for Global Action and Awareness) in 2007. “Running this club gave me the opportunity to explore my interest in international issues and peacebuilding and collaborate with other students,” she said.

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As Nico completed his college graduation this year and Simone prepares to enter her Junior year [at Columbia University], Silvia and I reflected how grateful we are for the foundation laid at Canterbury. While no school is perfect, (and we realized you heard a lot from us while our children were enrolled,) Canterbury is an exceptional learning community.

First, the environment on the Hough campus allowed our kids to remain kids.

It seems children grow up much quicker these days, but Canterbury still embraced the special time that elementary school represents. Also, there was a loving and nurturing place for our children to visit each day where they not only received a wonderful education, but also DEVELOPED THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE. Next, when our kids moved to the Knowlton campus, they found new freedoms, but still a safe sense of community.

Further, the faculty is excellent in every way. From pushing and getting the most out of the kids to spending countless extra hours before and after school to make sure our kids received all the instruction they wanted/needed, THE FACULTY MODELED THE BEST OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GLOBAL CITIZEN. Their devotion to their profession is truly inspiring.

Finally, Canterbury allowed our kids to experience a wide variety of extra-curricular activities: theater, sports, service clubs, leadership training, and academic competitive teams. In short, students at Canterbury, (our kids included), have every opportunity to be prepared, not just for college, but for many portions of their adult life.

AS PARENTS, WE COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE. So, it is with great pleasure that Silvia and I would like to contribute to the Imagine Campaign. Thank you again for being a part of our kids’ lives and helping us to raise them.

Regards, Dan Leeper

BY HILLARY HEATH, LOWER SCHOOL PARENT

One School,

“The only thing better than reading a great book is talking about it,” says Linda Garrison, Hough Campus librarian and media specialist, who is beaming with enthusiasm over the One School, One Book program, now in its third year at Canterbury.

This year’s title is Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and The Motorcycle, an imaginative read about a young mouse named Ralph who lives in the aging Mountain View Hotel. He is thrust into a world of excitement when a boy named Keith checks into the hotel with his family and a shiny toy motorcycle… just the right size for a mouse.

Mrs. Garrison kicked off the program in September by providing every student in the Lower School with a copy of Cleary’s award-winning classic. In return, she asked that parents read aloud a selected passage from the book each night over the course of the month, “Reading together as a family is the best way to get students to love reading.”

Past One School, One Book titles have included The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, and The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. This year our librarian, and PhD candidate, chose the title with Canterbury’s PK3 students in mind, “The mouse is small, the boy is young, and what child doesn’t like the idea of a motorcycle zooming around the halls? It delights them!” Another result is that everyone on campus seems to be talking about Ralph the funny mouse and his motorcycle.

“All I do is pick the book, and it takes on a life of its own,” says Mrs. Garrison, adding that, “One year a student brought in a picture of his dog reading the book.” Activities at school coordinate, promote and enrich the shared reading experience. This year Flag Mrs. Garrison announced that Runaway Ralph and Ralph S. Mouse, Beverly Cleary’s second and third installments, would be available in the library. Kindergarten student Xavier Leon could be overheard asking, “Oh mom, can we read the sequel, please?”

Over the past three years, Canterbury’s One School, One Book program has successfully created a shared reading experience within the Lower School community and at home by enabling and inspiring every family to read together. To heighten and promote interest in and discussion of the book, teachers integrate writing and art contests about the story into their classrooms. Weekly book trivia questions at Flag challenge young readers to keep up and encourages daily awareness of the book, as well as attentive, and personally gratifying listening habits.

Students take pride in being in command of the book’s details and “owning” the material.

RIGHT, THIS PAGE: Coach Joe Taylor rides into the Hough Courtyard on a moped and wearing mouse ears to deliver the message of this year’s title, The Mouse and the Motorcycle. OPPOSITE PAGE: Children

The program is modeled after All City Reads that have been done across the United States, from Seattle and Chicago to Richmond, VA. To learn more visit http://readtothem.org/our-programs/one-school-one-book/.

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excitedly receive this year’s book.

One Book

“The only thing better than reading a great book is talking about it.” -- Linda Garrison, Lower School Librarian

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Sophie Safari: UTTER-LEE IRREPLACEABLE: PARENT VOLUNTEER LEE BURGESS DRESSED AS SOPHIE SAFARI

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THE WOMAN, THE WIG,

the legend

BY HEATHER LAMBIE It was just our dumb luck that Lee Burgess came to Canterbury so many years ago. “I did not tour around,” said the mother of two. “This is the only school we toured. I attended Flag and they sang, did the pledge, the kids were so cute. I had a gut feeling all the way.”

Today, 16 years later, Burgess’s son Max (a senior this year) and daughter Alix (Class of 2012, now attending Rollins College) are Canterbury “lifers”--meaning they attended Canterbury from Kindergarten through senior year. Though Burgess points out, with her signature sarcasm, “They’re PreK lifers.

There’s a distinction, you know. We’re Lifers Plus.”

Lee, too, could be considered a “Lifer Plus” because as parent volunteers go, she has certainly given her fair share of life’s hours to the school. In fact, to say that Burgess had a hand in all things bright and beautiful at Canterbury over the last 16 years would be putting it mildly. She has designed and painted numerous theater sets, designed logos for almost every parent group and special event, designed t-shirts, programs, advertisements and driveway billboards. She has drawn caricatures of seniors and faculty, and so much more. And now, she has painted the newest addition on the Hough Campus, the Interactive Library.

“She didn’t just paint it,” said Head of School Mac Hall. “She brought it to life.” That she did, in just over 75 summer hours. (see page 20 for photos of the new Interactive Library) As a new Canterbury parent in 1998, it didn’t take long for Burgess to get involved. “I was a room mom in Alix’s first grade, then in second grade I did the show, and from then on my participation amped up.”

“The show” Lee is referring to was the first all-school musical production of Annie. “The Theater Director at the time, Bev Haulmark, put a call out for parents and faculty or staff to play some parts too. I’d never done anything like that before, but I auditioned.”

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Burgess claims that she was shy and introverted before her role in Annie, though most who know her today--this writer included--would debate that. Still, she insists, “Being at Canterbury has changed me. Bev Haulmark changed my life by giving me that first role as the secretary in Annie. It changed me and it was very freeing. That was a turning point when I started giving more,” she recalls. “Today it makes me happy that I’ve made others happy and that I’ve helped. And it’s helped my painting style and my confidence too, being on those shows.”

Burgess has since performed on stage in five Canterbury allschool productions including The King and I, Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls and Footloose. She also played a large role behind the curtain in all those shows and more by painting sets and bringing life to scenes for hundreds of student actors over the years.

“In 2006 for Bye Bye Birdie [I painted] a train station on canvas.

It was two stories high, and I used a projector to draw it out.

In The Sound of Music I played Frau Schmidt, the housemaid. It was a dry show, but it was hilarious because the doors on the set kept sticking,” Burgess said. “At one point during the show I fell while holding a pile of boxes, and the only thing I could think to say to cover during the show was, ‘Who moved that doormat?’ There were laughs. I still have the scar!”

For the Oliver city scene Burgess was up and down on a forklift to paint it. She and Mark Taber (father of Tegwyth Alderson-Taber ‘13) used old printer paper, the kind w/ the holes on either side, to create the buildings. “I’ll never forget the opening night of Oliver when they put the spotlight on the moon I had painted over the city and the audience started clapping,” she said. “I got ver klempt. It was a cool thing to have the audicontinued on page 12

continued from page 11

ence cheer the set. After that, they had me.”

Newly an actress but ever the artist, it wasn’t long before Burgess was called upon by Gala Committee Chairs to help with the Gala logo and t-shirt design and portraits for Gala auction decor. Then the Gala Chairs got smart and reached out to Burgess to help with live promotion of the event. “I’ll go where I’m wanted,” she smiles. And that’s how Sophie Safari was born.

In 2002 the Gala theme was Pirates of the Caribbean and it was held at the Yacht Club. Nora Siegel asked Burgess to make the Flag and assembly announcements for Gala in costume with a voice as a pirate, and she did. The following year was a Safari theme and “Sophie Safari” made her debut.

“The year after that was an Egyptian theme, but I couldn’t think of a costume, name or accent, so I just dressed as Sophie as an Egyptian queen and talked in my New Yawk accent. I

have limited range,” she jokes. Hundreds of Canterbury parents and alumni would disagree.

“It stunned me how excited [the Lower School students] were to see me, and how effective the Sophie Safari character was.

Whatever I said they went home and told their parents. It made a difference.”

Lower and Middle School parent Elise Schreiner remembers seeing a leopard-print-covered, Dee Snyder-wig-wearing Sophie Safari for the first time at Flag and said, “I was shocked there was a parent coming to Flag to talk about Gala who didn’t have a kid on this campus!”

That she would desire to volunteer to entertain other people’s children for so long, even after her own had moved to the next campus, surprises even Burgess.

“When I was young I hated children. I didn’t want kids, I wanted horses. That was my dream, to have a horse,” Burgess said. “I had Alix at 33. Never say never! I don’t brag on [my

Burgess in her first on-stage role.

ABOVE & RIGHT: Burgess brings tress to life, and incorporated animals from each of the One School, One Book books from the past three years into her designs.

THE WORLD ACCORDING

to Lee...

WHAT’S THE GREATEST THING IN LIFE? There’s such potential in life.

There’s options, and so much out there for everybody. Like my son, the senior.

Hope. There’s always hope.

WHAT DID YOU DO LAST WEEKEND? I went to a 50th birthday disco party at American Legion, and never sat down all night. Disco! Every other weekend is gardening, lay low . . . but that was a lot of fun.

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ABOVE: Some of the sets Burgess painted for 2012’s Guys & Dolls, in which her daughter, Alix, starred. BELOW: Burgess as a waitress in Guys & Dolls.

kids] too much, but they’re nice kids, and I’m proud of them.

They’re my best work to date! There’s only so much you can control, and I can’t claim all credit. I’m just so glad I decided to have those kids!”

And now, as her youngest prepares to graduate in May, Lee admits her greatest struggle at the moment. “I don’t like making dinner.” She laughs, but only to cover a tear. “Wrapping up my time at Canterbury is my greatest struggle right now.

In six months Max will know where he is going. Empty nest is coming and the birds are flying away. Childhood is over. This time it’s much harder [than when Alix graduated]. He’s my baby. I struggle with controlling my emotions with wrapping up 16 years here.” For the record, Lee, we do too!

LEE’S VOLUNTEER HOURS:

Graduating Senior Caricatures Drawn:

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224

(Classes of 2004 - 2012)

CSF Theater production sets painted: 7 (350+ hours) CSF Theater productions acted in: 5 (500+ hours) Logos created for parent groups or school events: 18+ Gala logos created: 10 CSF Marketing Committee years of service: 4 (so far) Hours painting the Hough Interactive Library: 75 Children’s lives she has changed by inspiring them to read in a fun and beautiful Interactive Library space?

BELOW: BEFORE LEE’S PAINTING DETAILS

by the numbers

countless

BELOW: AFTER LEE’S PAINTING DETAILS

the making of three

BY HEATHER LAMBIE Canterbury’s Varsity Softball team has been on a notable rise since Canterbury’s Director of Technology Jody Moore came on as Head Coach in 2006. She and her assistant coaches have turned the program into a powerhouse, churning out six student athletes in the last eight years who have gone on to play collegiate softball.

Moore--who played ball herself at Rollins College and later on a semi-pro team that played against the U.S. Olympic team and the Puerto Rican National Team--has led her girls to three state championships in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Softball is the only team sport in Canterbury history to win a state title, let alone three. Moore is so passionate about the game that in the off-season she coaches her 2nd and 3rd grade daughters’ little league softball teams and offers softball summer camps to students in grades 2-8 hoping

ON STARTING YOUNG LORI ROMANELLO, DANIELLE’S MOTHER:

When both of our children were little we exposed them to many sports including swimming, gymnastics, karate and baseball. Danielle started in baseball at age 4 and didn’t switch to softball until she was 8. She continued with karate too and is a first degree black belt. She only left karate when she no longer had time to devote to it because of her rigorous softball schedule.

JEANNINE CHERRY, TAYLOR BUMP’S MOTHER: Taylor started playing t-ball

when she was 4 years old. She had a natural talent and love for the sport. She has played other sports, but softball is her passion

RICH WOODALL, KAMA’S FATHER: Orig-

inally Kama (pronounced KAY-ma) was in cheerleading at age seven, and it was just by chance that the cheerleading instructor quit. We were looking for something for [the kids] to do to keep

14 | FALL 2014

Kama Woodall, Class of 2017, pitcher Committed to play at North Carolina State University to instill a love of the sport in them at a young age, “so they will continue to play as they grow older with an emphasis on fundamentals, sportsmanship and leadership,” she says.

This year, Canterbury’s softball team boasts not one, not two, but three sophomores--Taylor Bump, Kama Woodall and Danielle Romanello--who have already committed to play collegiate softball at NCAA Division 1 schools.

One wonders if this anomaly of three such successful young student athletes is one that resulted from a lifetime of playing, dedicated parents and coaches, naturally-driven girls, physical athletic prowess or a rare combination of it all. Here, their parents and coaches weigh in with the details.

them busy and get exercise, so I said ‘Hey, let’s throw ‘em in softball.’ She started at age 8. At first she wanted to be a catcher until she saw someone pitch, and she looked at me and said, ‘I can do that.’ That opened my eyes. When I saw her pitch, it snowballed from there, we started putting the emphasis on it and she started getting better and better.

ON ATHLETICISM AND FOCUS

L. ROMANELLO: Danielle has always been athletic. She has always been big for her age and very strong.

J. CHERRY: [Taylor] has always been very

athletic, and a very focused, determined, and competitive child. Those attributes have helped her succeed as an athlete.

And she knew at a young age that she wanted to play softball at a Division I level. She has dedicated herself completely and put in a lot of hard work.

We just helped her along the way by providing all the resources necessary to help her reach her goal and we continue

to do that. We are so very proud of her and her efforts and always knew that she would and could accomplishment anything she set her mind to do. We admire her drive as well as the humbleness she carries along with her on this journey.

R. WOODALL: [Kama] certainly is driven

like no other that I know. She’s very determined to be better than the batter at the plate and any other pitcher she’s competing against whether it be on the other team or it’s someone she’s competing against for a starting role. She’s very driven. She’s also very cerebral. She puts a lot of thought into pitching and into every pitch. She’s very mature for her age to be able to adapt to every batter. She understands it’s a chess match when she’s on the mound. She has to try to fool them or be better than them at every at bat.

ON COLLEGIATE DREAMS

L. ROMANELLO: Danielle has wanted to

play softball for the University of Florida

BELOW: The 2014 Softball State Championship team.

FRONT ROW L TO R: Hailey Hopkins, Emily McMullen, Lindsay Graves, Danielle Romanello, Kama Woodall, Taylor Bump, Caroline Skidmore and Hunter Skidmore. BACK ROW L TO R: Trysten Simone, Miranda Posey, Maddie Posey,

Danielle Romanello, Class of 2017, catcher Committed to play at University of Florida for as long as we can remember. Danielle is very focused and when she sets a goal she does everything in her power to achieve that goal. Playing for Florida is truly a dream come true for us all. Both my husband and I are graduates of the University of Florida so Danielle has been a gator fan since birth.

J. CHERRY: [Taylor] knew at a young

age that she wanted to play softball at a Division I level. She has dedicated herself completely and put in a lot of hard work. We just helped her along the way by providing all the resources necessary to help her reach her goal and we continue to do that. We are so very proud of her and her efforts and always knew that she would and could accomplish anything she set her mind to do. We admire her drive as well as the humbleness she carries along with her on this journey.

R. WOODALL: We were playing travel

Taylor Bump, Class of 2017, short stop Committed to play at University of Michigan

Lauren Bond, Kaeli Farnsworth, Kaitie Poland, Alexa Vidal and Lauren Cieutat.

Jody pushes Danielle to be the best she can be at everything she does. We are so thankful to her and Canterbury for all they have done for Danielle.

J. CHERRY: Jody has helped her

develop her skill set as well as continue to encourage, push and guide Taylor to set goals and a plan to reach them. We as a family and Coach Jody Moore believe in a Continuous Learning Environment. To learn and grow. One of the reasons we chose Canterbury was because of Coach Jody Moore’s reputation. We must say that she is by far everything we had heard, and hoped for and even more. Taylor loves and respects the drive and guidance that Coach Moore provides. Taylor’s travel ball coach, Frank Arcuri, has also played an integral part in her development. He recognized how well Taylor and her talents would fit into The University of Michigan’s philosophies and also how The University of Michigan would fit into Taylor’s.

He, too, has guided and pushed Taylor

to her fullest potential. The biggest thing that both of these coaches have done for Taylor is believe in her. When Taylor knows that her coaches believe in her, she will do everything and anything to perform at her maximum potential.

R. WOODALL: It started out as me coach-

ing her for the first several years. Her first ball over the summer and the coachmentor I sought out besides myself was es from NCS watched her pitch and a real pitching coach, and her name was requested she send them some info and Jackie Davis. She’s been a real mentor her future schedule. Once they saw her and has expanded her horizons with pitch a few more times pitching. Jody as well. they invited her to campus “They’re all three really close and they’ve played together Coach Moore has really to talk to her and then many years . . . They back each other up and they’re really given all the girls somemade the overture or offer. thing to look up to because proud of each other’s accomplishments. There’s no envy of her background, her ON THE INFLUENCE there. With Danielle being the first to verbal last year, tenacity and how she realTaylor and Kama were very excited for her. They were just ly cares about the kids. Of OF COACHES L. ROMANELLO: Jody has waiting for each other to get there. And now, I know Kama’s course Jody wants to win but she really wants the been a great influence team will play both Michigan and Florida where Taylor girls to be successful in life on Danielle both on the softball field and in life. and Danielle will be going which is great.” -- Rich Woodall as in softball.

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Beyond the big Blue Ocean STUDENT GROUPS ENTER THREE FILMS INTO BLUE OCEAN INTERNATIONAL MARINE STUDIES FILM FESTIVAL AND CONSERVATION SUMMIT

BY HILLARY HEATH, LOWER SCHOOL PARENT

When Jenna Cummings, director of Canterbury’s Marine Studies program, heard about the Blue Ocean Film Festival relocating from Monterey, California to St. Petersburg, she recognized a whale of an opportunity. Whether they’re tracking dolphins with local scientists, heading up conservation efforts or embarking on a dive expedition, “Members of our Marine Studies Club use cameras all the time,” said Mrs. Cummings. “So now that Blue Ocean is right here in St. Pete, urging them to participate in the film festival was a no brainer.”

The Blue Ocean Film Festival, which spans six days beginning November 3, features over a hundred of the world’s best ocean films. The festival also has a student film category. Filmmakers of all ages will be competing for top prizes and rubbing shoulders with big names like marine scientist Dr. Sylvia Earle

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This screen shot from the International Studies Ocean film shows a student picking up trash from the downtown St. Petersburg basin. and filmmakers Michael Aw and Celine Cousteau; considered rock stars in the world of ocean science, conservation and photography.

This year, Canterbury students have entered three separate films into the competition. “Venture Crew 210” highlights the issues surrounding Florida’s disappearing coral reefs. The three and a half minute documentary follows 10 of Canterbury’s Cousteau Divers on a fascinating expedition off the coast of Key West.

Underwater footage shows student divers working side by side with researchers from the Coral Restoration Foundation to restore habitat. The film was produced by senior Preston Buchanan.

“The film focuses on what we did this past summer in Key West and also what we’ve done with Cousteau Divers and REEF, an organization that monitors fish populations,” said Buchanan. “I got a GoPro for christmas last year so since then I’ve been taking pictures and video every time we’ve been diving.” He added, “This [underwater filming] is something I’d like to continue through

college if possible.”

“International Studies Ocean,” is a unique collaboration between students from Canterbury’s Marine Studies and International Studies Departments. The two-and-a-half minute film was shot and edited by Alex Gomez, a senior at Canterbury this year, and examines the importance of keeping our oceans clean.

A series of vignettes play out in English, Spanish, Mandarin and French.

Gomez said, “Mrs. Donovan came to me last December when she found out Blue Ocean was coming to St. Pete. International Studies and Marine Studies have been coming together for the past few years so we saw this as a way to collaborate. She saw my French class video, so she asked me to lead this video.” Gomez speaks French and is fluent in Spanish so it was easy for him to write subtitles for the different sections of the video. Gomez, who also has played a major role in helping the Advancement Department with annual fund video production and editing, is considering majoring in digital media and communications.

LEFT: Hunter Chance (‘17) of Scuba Venture Crew 210 if pictured with a Florida Aquarium Dive Master. Chance got the experience of a lifetime diving in a Florida Aquarium shark tank encountering five sand tiger sharks and many species of tropical fish. Members of the Scuba Crew choose, plan and participate in the actitivies they want to experience.

Diving with the sharks in the the Florida Aquarium was high on their list.

RIGHT: Members of Scuba Venture Crew 210 pose for an underwater group shot in Key Largo, FL, where they visited the Coral Restoration Foundation to help with maintenance of the Coral Tree Nursery. Members “planted” the harvested corals from the nursery at local reefs that are undergoing restoration.

The third entry, “Middle School Marine Studies” follows the adventures of Canterbury’s middle schoolers as they travel around the Tampa Bay area to learn about our various ocean species.

There was so much activity surrounding these student-produced films; the department recently purchased a new computer, which operates as an editing suite and also allows students to upload and share their pictures and underwater video footage.

Organizers of Blue Ocean say the film festival is meant “to honor the best in ocean filmmaking, to learn more about the issues facing our oceans, and to collaborate on improving the future of our oceans and humanity.” Mrs. Cummings and her students are hoping to win a prize this year, but most importantly, she is thrilled to showcase Canterbury’s commitment to marine studies and conservation. “2014 is a great year to participate in the Blue Ocean Festival,” said Cummings. “With 24 members in the Marine Studies Club, our membership is at an all-time high!”

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Students of “The Sunshine Award in 4th Grade – that was my biggest accomplishment.

I was very proud of that, and it’s still hanging in my room. It’s for being joyful and happy all the time, and bringing out the good in others.”

—Burchie E., Class of 2016

We develop _________ human beings.

Imagine the possibil THE IMAGINE CAMPAIGN COMES TO A SUCCESSFUL CLOSE

BY MAC HALL, HEAD OF SCHOOL

I know the worst thing someone can do when you are just starting a good book is to tell you the ending. Well, I cannot help

myself with this one. The news is just too exciting. I am so happy to announce that the Imagine Campaign was a huge success! We exceeded our goal in fundraising, and all projects were completed on time. Congratulations, and thank you, Canterbury!

Now, even though you know the ending, I think it is still very important to share the details of this successful campaign. In the fall of 2013, Steve and Susan McMullen approached Board President John Milkovich and me about their interest in the remodeling of the Knowlton Campus science classrooms and labs. Their one request was to have the facility ready for the opening of 2014-2015 school year. This very generous offer sparked the beginning of the Imagine Campaign.

As stated in our Vision for the Decade 2010-2020, one of our top priorities was to continue to enhance facilities to meet 21st century needs and support the school’s mission. After our discussion with the McMullens, the Board of Trustees quickly put several committees together to create a plan to address needs on both campuses and how to fund those needs. It was determined that the science classrooms and labs would be addressed along with the Hough Campus library and eating area.

Our contractors and architect determined that a goal of $500,000

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would need to be reached to cover all three projects.

I announced the start of the campaign at the State of the School Address in January 2014. I shared details regarding the projects, fundraising goals and timelines. From that initial announcement through the opening of 2014-15 school seems a like a blur to me. So many meetings were held to coordinate each project, fundraising events were held in early spring and construction began in early May. It was truly remarkable how everyone worked together to ensure that this campaign was successful.

After a summer of construction on both campuses, we were able to open school with all three projects completed. Everyone

ities OPPOSITE PAGE: Far left and left, the McMullen family cuts the ribbon on the new McMullen Science Center on the Knowlton Campus. THIS PAGE: Major donors to the McMullen Science Center get a preview of the new classroom and lab space, with a lesson on chemical reactions from science teacher Sean Murphy.

customized use for a variety of classrooms, and a spacious and safe 21st century working environment.

To “officially” open our new facilities, dedication events were held on both campuses in September. Additionally, to close the campaign, the Tee it Up For Science Golf Tournament was held at the Vinoy Golf Course on October 6, 2014 to support the projects.

on the Hough Campus was thrilled with the new Interactive Library. To quote a second grade student, “I just want to live here.” Everything from the theme of the Enchanted Forest to the amazing new technologies to support modern learning was a hit with students, faculty and parents. Hough Campus students will now also enjoy a beautiful shade structure to provide protection from the sun and a cooler eating environment.

On the Knowlton Campus, the McMullen Science Center was ready for students and faculty for the first day of school.

More than 3,200 square feet was remodeled to provide three classrooms and a beautiful state-of-the-art lab. This innovative design offers opportunities for more sophisticated lab work,

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Looking back, I am truly amazed at all that was accomplished.

I am so thankful to the entire Canterbury community. I want to start by thanking Steve and Susan McMullen for their leadership in this campaign. Their very generous gift rallied everyone to support the campaign in so many ways. I also want to thank all of our donors for their kind and generous support. I am so grateful to the following: l John Milkovich and our Board of Trustees for their vision and commitment to this effort, l our Head’s Council for their support, l Lee Harvard for his beautiful designs and John Barger from Barger Construction, l Jeff Hunt from Library Interiors and Sarah Adams and Lee Burgess for bringing the designs to life, continued on page 20

continued from page 19

l the many parents and students who

volunteered their time to help with the many events and finally, l I want to thank our wonderful faculty and staff on both campuses for their hard work to ensure all projects would be ready for the opening of school.

Again, we are part of a truly amazing community, and I thank you all.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Imagine Campaign Committee Chairs Shannon Mahaffey, Mandy Carlson, Ann Goldenberg and Angie Leasure high five at the ribbon-cutting. | Hough Technology and Spanish teacher Gina Alvarado, Principal Nancie Hobby, Assistant Principal Jeanne Jones and Librarian Linda Garrison cut the ribbon for the sun shade and Interactive Library dedications. | Hough Courtyard. | The new Interactive Library. | Sarah Adams and Lee Burgess.

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Introducing...

OUR NEW INTERACTIVE LIBRARY & HOUGH COURTYARD SUN SHADE!

First Annual

ABOVE: Board President John Milkovich shows off his raffle tickets. “My wife is going to love this,” he joked.

BELOW: Laurence Applebaum goes for the green.

BELOW: First Place foursome, team Coleman and Klymenko.

ABOVE: Fourth grade parent Dia Nichols gives a thumbs up and his game face. BELOW: Senior Zack Biss played music during the dinner. Athletic Director Dave Smith joined him for a duet.

OCTOBER 6, 2014 AT THE VINOY GOLF CLUB

BELOW: Second Place foursome, team Climate Design.

ABOVE LEFT: Peter Lambie wears a hard hat in preparation for Mac Hall’s putt. ABOVE CENTER: Some foursomes did a little “sight seeing” on the course. ABOVE LEFT: Georgia Mattern and Linda Jantschek enjoy dinner at the Vinoy. BELOW LEFT: Golf Tournament Committee Members from L to R: Eddie Hobby, Ann Goldenberg, Shannon Mahaffey, Colette Applebaum, Mandy Carlson, Katie Hale, and Shane Brown. BELOW CENTER: Pamela Arbisi preps Varsity Golf Team member and son Adam Arbisi to shoot for players in need of a little help.

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2013-2014

IMAGINE CAMPAIGN & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN DONORS

Capital campaigns and major capital gifts provide funding for expansion or renovation of facilities and programs. The 2013-2014 school year introduced the Imagine Capital Campaign which gave Canterbury an Interactive Library and shade structure on the Hough Campus as well as a collegiate-level Science Center on the Knowlton Campus. The following donors made capital pledges or gifts last year. We are so grateful for their exceptional support!

$100,000 OR MORE

Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Scognamiglio Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Specter

Friends of Canterbury Mr. & Mrs. Steven McMullen

$1,000 - $2,499

$25,000 - $99,999

Mr. & Mrs. Mike and Cara Hanna Mr. & Mrs. Robb Hough Mr. & Mrs. Scott Johni Mr. & Mrs. Daniel J. Leeper Mr. John Milkovich & Mrs. Stacey Allaster Milkovich

$10,000 - $24,999

Anonymous Mr. Jon Clements Drs. James & Lara Connors Mr. & Mrs. Steve Given Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Linguanti, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. M. Thomas Mahaffey, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John McQueen Mr. & Mrs. John Ryan

$5,000 - $9,999

Mr. & Mrs. David Feinberg Mr. & Mrs. Lucas Fleming Friends of Canterbury Dr. & Mrs. Neil Goldenberg

$2,500 - $4,999

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Cherry Mr. & Mrs. Norman R. Dobiesz Mr. Tim Myers & Ms. Jodi Gustafson Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Rogers SAP Corporation Matching Gift Program

Ms. Marlene Baker Ms. Sue Brody Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Carlson Mr. Mark Dubina & Mrs. Katy Connor-Dubina Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey S. Evans Mr. & Mrs. Richard Fiola Mr. & Mrs. Frank V. Hall Mr. & Mrs. Mac Hall Mr. Andrew Klymenko & Ms. Jennifer Brennan Mr. & Mrs. Bill McQueen Mr. Ross Preville & Ms. Elise Schreiner Dr. Kay Schmid & Mr. Kevin Schmid Mrs. Pam Walker Mr. Thomas Wells

$500 - $999

Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Adams Mr. & Mrs. Scott Albee Dr. Susan Hudak Boss & Mr. Scott Boss Mr. & Mrs. Michael Finch Mr. & Mrs. Lindsey Jarrell Mr. Peter Katcha & Ms. Martha Collins Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lambie Ms. Erika Leon Mr. James Leon Mr. & Mrs. Douglas J. Poland Ms. Janyth Lynnette Righter Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Steven Wilsey

$100 - $499

Mr. & Mrs. Laurence Applebaum Dr. & Mrs. Jody Berner Dr. Wanda Boote Brocade Communication Systems, Inc. Mr. Christopher Brooks & Mrs. Jennifer Worden-Brooks Mr. & Mrs. Wade Burd Mr. & Mrs. J. Scott Burgess Mr. Mark Butje & Ms. Hillary Heath Mr. & Mrs. Richard Coakley Mr. & Mrs. Robert Dobbs, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Emery Ellinger Mr. & Mrs. Paul Fitzpatrick Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Flynn Mr. & Mrs. Victor Gardner Mr. & Mrs. Lee E. Hanna Dr. & Mrs. Andrew Hicks Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hicks Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Hobby Mr. & Mrs. Gary Holvoet Mr. & Mrs. Eric Kaltenbacher Mr. & Mrs. Helmut Kaltenbacher Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Keller Mr. & Mrs. Clifton Laurent Mr. & Mrs. Russell Masters Ms. Georgia Mattern Mr. William McFarland & Dr. Nasreen Haideri McFarland Mr. & Mrs. Mike McGorry Dr. & Mrs. Ron Miller Mr. & Mrs. Dia Nichols Mr. & Mrs. Harry Piper III Mr. & Mrs. Oldrich Pleva Mr. & Mrs. John A. Posey Mr. & Mrs. George Sayegh Mr. & Mrs. Lee Shettle Mr. & Mrs. Lonnie Simpson Mr. & Mrs. J. David Skidmore Dr. Scottie Smith & Mr. Jeff Wilemon Mr. David B. Smith Mr. & Mrs. Rick Smith Mr. Paul Sprunger & Ms. Barbara Sharpless Mr. & Mrs. Al Warburton Ms. Sharon Weintraub Ms. Holly Wintrip Mr. & Mrs. Paul Wyness

Up to $99

THE 2014-15 ANNUAL FUND

IS GOING ON NOW! THE ADVANCEMENT TEAM (shamelessly pictured above) NEEDS YOUR HELP TO REACH

OUR $500,000 GOAL! MAKE YOUR DONATION OR PLEDGE ONLINE TODAY AT

CANTERBURYFLORIDA.ORG/DONATE

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Mr. & Mrs. Raul Ares Mr. Daryl Bortel & Mrs. Linda Garrison Dr. & Mrs. Justin Coriale Mr. & Mrs. Chad Cummings Mr. Daniel DeGregory Ms. Wendy S. Giffin Mr. Matthew Harrington & Ms. Heather Lane Mr. & Mrs. Philip Hayford Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Jay Mr. & Mrs. Chris Sedivy

Join us for a FUN 5K!

Student Profile, continued from page 6

Saturday, November 15 @ Walsingham Park, Largo, FL 5K at 8:30 AM 1 Mile Fun Run at 9:15 AM All proceeds go to Shark Angels and Canterbury School for shark conservation efforts.

of Florida Fox frequently says “we” when talking about his races. It’s not that there’s another person in the car with him. Fox is referring to his father. “He’s the mechanic, crew chief, the person who gets us to the races. He’s the one that drives me on.”

ENTRY FEES: 5K - $25 | Race Day - $30 1 Mile - $15 | Race Day - $20 Online registration at Active.com Limited to 300 entrants!

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Fox also shares his success with a dirt oval driver in Philadelphia named Steve Sharpley. “He rides with us, road courses and dirt ovals. Every year in December, the day after Christmas we all go over to Daytona and run the WKA for the World Championship. It’s right outside the Daytona speedway. There’s a lot of NASCAR and Indycar racers out there.”

With so much support and a humble demeanor, we have no doubt Fox and his crew will run clean until the checkers wave.

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Under the Sea

THE MAKING OF 50+ SEA CREATURES FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE LITTLE MERMAID. The fall Middle School production of The Little Mermaid was one of the most impressive in Canterbury’s history because of the level of acting, singing and dancing talent in the student actors ranging in age from 8 - 14 years old. What took the production up a notch even further, however, were the show’s costumes--in and of themselves worthy of a standing ovation.

When Theater Director Tara Quellhorst and parent volunteer Tammi Marvel looked in the costume closet to cull items for this show, it quickly became apparent that nothing pre-existing could be used, “because the show was so different--not a lot of human characters--and it involved a lot of much younger kids,” said Marvel, mother of senior Samantha Marvel who was part of the show’s Tech crew. “This was the first play for some of these kids, so you want to make it fun for them. You need to make each of them feel special.”

Renting costumes was cost prohibitive so, Marvel continued, “we just decided, we’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do.” And so began a 10-week production process that involved multiple parents helping in myriad ways.

Tammi Marvel led the costume production, collecting Jo-Ann Fabric coupons from everyone she could solicit. “We had a standing date there every Friday night, purchasing felt, feathers, fabric, sequins and glue.”

Marvel--who pulled more than one “all-nighter, just like in college days,” she joked, refuses to take credit for all the details of the costumes. “We had (Upper School Principal) Scottie Smith in there working with us, sewing jackets and hot-gluing fins and scales. I mean, how many times do you work side-by-side with your principal? It was fun working on Saturdays with everyone. There were some phenomenal moms helping. If it weren’t for people like Kate Hower or Kimberly Hicks who took on the mermaids and did a lot of the makeup. . . We each took specific characters to work on.”

Though has Marvel worked backstage on many of her daughter’s ballet performances, she won’t be called a designer.

“I’m an accountant,” she insists. “I got ideas partly from Pinterest, partly from my experience in ballet shows, and I looked a lot at the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid to see how their costumes were made.” Marvel’s husband, an engineer, did the same when he created Ursula’s nine-foot moving tentacles and body.

At the end of the day, for volunteers like Marvel, it’s all about the kids. “Tara [Quellhorst] would tell me this, ‘the rehearsals are a mess, but as soon as you put them in a costume, they’re on.

They’re in character.’ That’s why their costume needs to make them feel special.” Well Marvel, mission accomplished!

25 | FALL 2014

In the next few issues of CSFeatures leading up to our school’s 50TH

The tradition of Knowlton students and some faculty members WEARING PINK SHIRTS ON THURSDAYS goes back to 2001. “Mudit Bhatt (‘01) was a student here who came from India,” recalls faculty member Ken Johnson. “He used to play basketball in the gym every day, and one day and Mr. [Russell] Ball and I were both wearing pink shirts. Mr. Ball asked him, ‘Do you like pink?’ Mudit rolled his eyes and said sarcastically, ‘Yes, pink very very nice.’ So we started wearing them once a week and it caught on.”

Our Director of College Guidance helps guide students and parents toward creating a stellar college resume beginning in Grade 7. To help parents through the college application process, we hold four PARENT

COFFEES FOR COLLEGE GUIDANCE as well as after

school sessions throughout the school year on all topics from College Search to Scholarships and Financial Aid.

48

49

Our interactive library is full of books for every interest thanks to Lower School parents who purchase library HONOR BOOKS for their children. If the parents arrange it, their child’s birthday is celebrated with our signature version of Happy Birthday sung at Flag by friends, family and faculty as he or she is presented with new books dedicated to the Canterbury School library in his or her honor.

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50

ANNIVERSARY (the 2018-2019 school year) we are counting down the top 50 most amazing traditions, events, classes and people at our school.

Twice a year students on both campuses HARVEST AND PLANT MARSH GRASS for a cross-campus collaboration of epic and environmental proportions, with multiple layers of environmental science and community service learning! Fourth grade students harvest the grass from the Lower School nursery, and sixth grade students collect it and deliver it to Tampa Bay areas suffering from erosion. The photo above shows the area after the grass had been planted.

One of the many benefits of a small private school is the ability of faculty members to work together on projects that bridge multiple subjects for CROSS-CURRICULAR LEARNING. Our Middle School art class used elements from the sea like oyster shells and seaweed to build a large rendition of Claude Monet’s Water Lily Garden. Students used science, math and physics lessons to build the bridge for the garden. It was displayed in the lobby of the Dollinger Center to complement the Middle School musical production of The Little Mermaid.

47 From grades 4-12 all students take an OVERNIGHT CLASS TRIP. These trips provide opportunities for class bonding and individual growth. Sometimes they tie into class lessons, as when the fourth grade visits St. Augustine after a comprehensive, year-long Florida History unit.

Sometimes they are pertinent to their stage in life, such as when the tenth grade students visit colleges across Florida to get a feel for the differences between large and small public and private colleges and universities. And sometimes, as in the case of eighth grade students going camping at Kanuga in North Carolina (pictured en route above), the trip is meant to break up cliques, break down barriers, and help students stretch beyond their comfort zones.

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46

45

We’ve got spirit, yes we do!

SPIRIT WEEK 2014

In the days leading up to our Homecoming football game and dance, students on both campuses celebrate Spirit Week with themed dress down days, grade-level lunchtime competitions, hallway decorating, a Powder Puff football game, and a grade-level banner and float competition.

Junior Class Hallway

Kindergarten Spirit Banner Grade 4 Spirit Banner

Future Crusader

Freshman/Senior Powder Puff Team

Sophomore Homecoming Float

Sophomore/Junior Powder Puff Team

Character Day Costumes Senior Homecoming Float

Junior Homecoming Float

6th Grade Hallway

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Student dressed as Headmaster Mac Hall for Superhero Day