College Preparatory School 3-year-olds through grade 12 two campuses
Lower School
Three-year-olds > Grade 4 | Hough Campus on Snell Isle
where a joy of learning begins We encourage every child to try new things and to gain self-assurance by successfully facing a variety of challenges from participating in Sunshine State reading competitions to finding the confidence to share an accomplishment during our morning Flag ceremony. An age-appropriate curriculum (with plenty of out-of-classroom experiential learning opportunities) creates lifelong learners. Compassionate, enthusiastic educators are the heart of Canterbury. Low student-teacher ratios create a learning environment that fosters meaningful connections and individualized attention.
What You Might Expect traditional course offerings • Handwriting Without Tears® • Everyday Math® • Language Arts, Social Science • Separate Science and Marien Science curriculums • Makerspace for STEAM lessons • Visual Arts • Music, Orff approach • Interactive Library equipped with iPads and interactive displays • Physical Education 5x/week • All PK4 – Grade 4 classrooms equipped with SMARTBoard™ or other display technology
What Might Surprise You additional offerings
• All students experience Marine Studies in our 2,800 sq. ft. Cousteau Center for Marine Studies
• Character education and grade-level community service projects
• Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are both taught to students in PK3 – Grade 6
• Violins and instruction (Suzuki method) are provided for all students in grades 3 and 4
• One-to-one iPad program for students in grades 3 and 4 (each student has his/her own secure iPad loaded with digital textbooks, learning apps and testtaking apps)
• Research papers begin in Grade 2. Students learn face-to-face interview skills and how to use the Internet as a resource
• Expansive experiential education opportunities and field trips
• PK4/Grade 4 Buddy Program. Each Grade 4 student is paired with a PK4 student for the year to mentor and serve as a role model through joint monthly activities
• Free Learning Center for students who need additional academic support, study skills, organizational skills and test modifications for minor learning differences or enrichment
Middle School
Grades 5 - 8 | Knowlton Campus in Shore Acres
where connections are made Middle School stresses both academic and social skills, identifying and encouraging the special talents of each child. In a secure and nurturing environment, we focus on enrichment and exploratory opportunities so important to early adolescent social, emotional and physical growth. Our goal is to help each student become a self-directed learner who can work productively with large and small groups of peers.
What You Might Expect
What Might Surprise You
• Language Arts (Grammar, Literature, Library Research
• All students experience Marine Studies in our
traditional course offerings Skills, Reading) • Mathematics (Pre-Algebra, Algebra)
• Natural Sciences (Marine Science, Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science) • Social Sciences (World Geography, World Civilizations, U.S. History, Economics) • World Languages (Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Prima Lingua, Latin) • Music (Show Choir, Middle School Band, Strings) • Arts (Visual Arts, Drama, Technical Theater, Dance) • Applied Technology (typing and computing skills, digital
additional offerings
2,800 sq. ft. Cousteau Center for Marine Studies
• Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are
mandatory for students in Grades 5 and 6, and offered as electives for students in Grades 7 and 8 along with Latin
• 1:1 program for students in Grades 5 - 8.
Students in Grades 5-7 are provided with his/her own secure iPad loaded with digital textbooks, learning apps and test-taking apps. Students in Grade 8 receive Chromebooks.
• Character education curriculum includes
Digital Citizenship and Career and College Readiness program begins in Grade 6
citizenship, Internet research, collaborative workshops
by discussing first steps toward building irresistible
for cross-curricular technology integration)
college resumes
• Makerspace for use by all classes • Physical Education and Health • Rotating classes develop responsibility as well as organizational and time management skills • Co-curricular activities include 13 athletic teams, drama productions, Activity Period (for Character Education, Study Hall or one of 17 different Middle School clubs), honor societies, and student council NOTE: Canterbury has a no-cut athletic policy. We believe there is value to be gained from being part of a team and from being stretched by those who may be above one’s skill level.
• Community Service projects for Grades 5 - 8 ensure students become responsible stewards of our world.
• Grade 5/Grade 12 Buddy Program. Each senior is paired with a grade 5 student for the year to mentor and serve as a role model through monthly activities
• Grade-level overnight trips to places such as the
Florida Keys and the Kanuga mountains in NC teach teamwork, confidence and leadership as well as provide increased knowledge of the content in academic classes
• Free Learning Center for students who
need additional academic support, study skills, organizational skills and test modifications for minor learning differences or enrichment in a group setting. Private tutoring is available for a fee.
Upper School
Grades 9-12 | Knowlton Campus in Shore Acres
where independence grows Upper School provides a college preparatory curriculum within a secure and supportive environment. Faculty members encourage students to become creative, independent thinkers, and expect them to take responsibility for their academic and social choices. College Guidance--which begins in grade 6 so that our Director of College Guidance knows each student’s goals, strengths and challenges--is a major focus in Upper School. The aim is to help students find the college opportunity that is not just an academic fit but also a social, emotional, and financial fit.
What You Might Expect traditional course offerings
Honors, Advanced Honors, Advanced Placement (AP) courses available • Language Arts • Mathematics • Natural Sciences • Social Sciences • World Languages (Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Latin, French) • Arts Education • Applied Technology and Digital Citizenship • Physical Education • Co-curricular activities include 13 athletic teams, drama productions, Activity Period (for Character Education, College and Career Readiness, Study Hall or one of 33 different Upper School clubs), honor societies, and student council
What Might Surprise You additional offerings
• 24 AP Courses offered with open enrollment. Any Upper School student may take any AP course to gain the value in the critical thinking skills required to master such large amounts of material • All students experience Marine Studies in our 2,800 sq. ft. Cousteau Center for Marine Studies • Character education (see Character Education insert) includes a College and Career Readiness
curriculum for grades 6-11.
• Personalized college guidance with formal programs including: Freshman Forum. Puts ninth graders and their parents in mock admissions workshops with admissions directors from selective colleges and universities. Sophomore College Visiting Trip. Sophomores travel for a week to visit colleges and universities in Florida. Junior College Counseling Course. Enables juniors to meet with the director in small groups weekly to review the college search and application process. Other topic-specific programs include The College Application, Demystifying the SAT/ACT, Scholarships and Financial Aid, College Admission for Students with Learning Differences, Collegiate Athletic Recruiting, and College Admission for Students in the Arts. Parents of students of all ages are welcome to come to any of the college guidance programs to discover opportunities that exist for their children. • A weeklong Miniterm provides an opportunity for intensive study, internship, interdisciplinary study, college visits or community service to enrich the regular classroom experience • Grade 5/Grade 12 Buddy Program. Each senior is paired with a grade 5 student for the year to mentor and serve as a role model through monthly activities • Grade-level overnight trips teach teamwork, confidence and leadership as well as provide increased knowledge of the content in academic classes
• Free Learning Center for students who
need additional academic support, study skills, organizational skills and test modifications for minor learning differences or enrichment in a group setting. Private tutoring is available for a fee.
Marine Studies For three-year-olds > Grade 12
experiencing environmental education All students at Canterbury benefit from this comprehensive, school-wide program that focuses on all aspects of marine science and environmental education. The Marine Studies program flourishes because the Knowlton Campus location gives students direct access to the estuary and Tampa Bay, a living laboratory to explore. Our innovative, 2,800 sq. ft. Cousteau Center for Marine Studies houses state-of-the-art technology, a fish nursery, hydroponic garden, weather station, laptop lab, 23-foot Sea-Pro bay boat, kayak fleet and touch tanks filled with crabs, sea stars, fish, shrimp and tunicates to facilitate learning and inspire an appreciation of the local marine environment.
Local & International Partnerships benefit students
Marine Community Service
Proximity to Tampa Bay, Florida’s largest open water
Canterbury’s Marine Studies program includes a com-
estuary and a host of environmental and scientific insti-
munity service component to enhance learning opportu-
tutions, gives our school unique access to community re-
nities beyond the classroom and provide a greater under-
sources. Students and faculty benefit from Canterbury’s
standing of the marine ecosystem. Students participate in
relationships with:
field work, class trips, research projects, and interactive
•
learning opportunities such as:
expands on the classroom experience
• Creating oyster bed habitats Pierre-Yves Cousteau, son of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, established Canterbury School of Florida as the first Cousteau Divers partner school in the United States. Mr. Cousteau has visited Canterbury several times to take kayak excursions and open water dives with Upper School students and faculty. Through his Cousteau Divers organization, Canterbury students catalog and track biodiversity in the Gulf of Mexico, create wildlife guide books for the Gulf and monitor water quality through data loggers. Student findings are shared internationally. Local partnerships include: • University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science • Eckerd College • U.S. Geological Survey • Florida Wildlife Research Institute • Tampa Bay Watch • Tampa Bay Estuary Program and many others These organizations provide curriculum materials, facilities, and scientific expertise to assist us in educating students and conducting research.
• Growing and re-planting marsh grass to prevent erosion. Marsh grass helps stabilize the shoreline, filter storm water runoff and provide habitat for juvenile fish and other creatures. The Hough Campus has its own marsh grass nursery and students in PK3 - grade 4 harvest the grass and replant it in the estuaries throughout the year. • Grow native plants in the school’s hydroponic garden to feed to the manatees in the Lowry Park Zoo hospital • Plant sea oats at Pinellas County’s Ft. DeSoto Park • Coastal clean-up efforts • Marking storm drains Because of our students’ early and constant exposure to hands-on marine studies, Canterbury students consistently win and place in: • Envirothon and Ocean Bowl competitions • Pinellas County Science and Engineering Fair • University of Florida Engineering and Humanities Symposium
Athletics
Competition. Perseverance. Sportsmanship. Teamwork.
educating the whole child In the 2011-2012 school year, our combined teams’ regular season and tournament wins ranked us the #2 Overall Athletic Program in the state by the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). The award for which we are most proud, however, is the FHSAA Fred Rozelle Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to one school in each classification with a sports program that best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship by its coaches, players and spectators. Canterbury’s Athletic Program has won this award three times in the past ten years, a testament to the success of our Character Education program.
Athletic Teams
What Might Surprise You
Canterbury teams compete in:
A total of 33 former Crusaders have signed to play college
Baseball
Soccer
athletics in the past 4 years, a remarkable number for a
Basketball
Softball
small private school. Six members of the Class of 2015 are
Cheerleading
Swimming & Diving
playing collegiate sports in football, basketball, softball,
Cross Country
Tennis
golf, lacrosse and track and field.
Football
Track & Field
Golf
Volleyball
& facilities
about our athletes
Notable wins: 2015 - VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL DISTRICT CHAMPIONS
Our eight-acre athletic complex located on the Knowlton
2014, 2013, 2011 - VARSITY SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS
Campus includes football/soccer, baseball and softball fields as well as a gymnasium for basketball and vol-
Because many of our coaches are teachers, athletics
leyball and the Michael Steven Rose Weight Room. Our
provides yet another bond between students and
fine facilities are often home to District tournaments for
teachers. Parents also offer outstanding volunteer
volleyball, baseball, softball and soccer.
support through our Booster Club.
”We are a small school with a no-cut
athletic policy because we believe in the value of being part of a team and in being stretched beyond your skill level by your peers. 85% of
students in grades 6-12 play at least one sport, and most of our students play multiple sports—sometimes within the same season. This allows them to stay conditioned all year long which helps our athletes beat larger schools. That--and our kids have got grit and heart.” -- Dave Smith, Athletic Director
Visit the Athletics page of our website to see current listings of our teams’ District, Regional and State wins.
Character Education For three-year-olds > Grade 12
we’re more than facilities, we’re family One of the advantages of Canterbury’s size is the ability for teachers and staff to know each student personally. Faculty collaborate with parents to develop children of good character by creating a learning environment that promotes personal responsibility and ethical behavior through character education, community service and Advisory groups. Our Character Education program (see back for details) happens through CAP, our Canterbury Advisory Program. In sessions during Activity Period, students meet as a group in their Advisory (like a homeroom) to discuss important life skills with their faculty Advisor. Students provide support for one another and are required to keep all discussions in confidence. Digital Citizenship and College and Career Readiness curriculums are also explored during this Activity Period as part of the program. Career and College Readiness begins in Grade 6 and continues through Grade 11 to address seven themes important to a college- and career-ready student.
Advisor and Advisees
Alumni at our Veterans Day Celebration
PK4/Grade 4 Buddy Program
Each Advisor has a series of suggested lesson plans that revolve around specific concepts and real-life issues that arise in students’ lives. These lessons are shared with parents to open family dialogues, and on the Hough Campus they’re shared in grade-level CAP skits during our morning Flag ceremony. Below are a few of the Character Education topics discussed by division:
Lower School Students
Middle School Students Upper School Students
• Responsibility
• Bullying (in-person and cyber;
Homeroom teacher serves as CAP Advisor • Selflessness
CAP Advisories are gender-specific by grade level labeling, gossiping)
• Teamwork/Community
• Digital citizenship and responsibility
• Respect
• Surviving “embarrassing” moments
• Loyalty
• Limits and courtesies
• Equality
• Health and hygiene
• Integrity
• Organization and study skills
• Honesty
• Digital and personal
• Self-discipline
communication skills
• Perseverance
• Dealing with authority and conflict
• Encouragement
• Practical life lessons
• Courage
• College and Career Readiness curriculum in Grades 6 - 8
CAP Advisory by grade level; students remain with same Advisor through senior year • Grades 9 & 10 * Time management & scheduling * Studying and memory skills * Improving concentration * Building rapport with teachers * College and Career Readiness curriculum. • Grade 11 * Strong focus on completing College and Career Readiness curriculum. • Grade 12 We realize that some of the more challenging aspects of life after high
Our Honor Code is sung by Hough students each morning at our Flag ceremony.
As a member of the Canterbury family, I pledge to uphold my personal integrity, promote equality and be respectful and considerate. I will be honest and sincere, facing each day with a positive attitude.
school are not often addressed in school; this omission can result in some students having difficulty acclimating to college life. To ensure our students are prepared, we created Senior Skills Seminars. These include discussions on college safety, relationship communication, and life skills, like how to do laundry.
Visual & Performing Arts Visual Arts. Theater. Music. Dance.
where stars are born Every student at Canterbury has the opportunity for creative expression. Canterbury’s Arts Education program consists of Theater (performance and technical), Music (band, chorus, Lower School violins and tone chimes), Visual Arts (2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, graphic design and photography) and Dance. More than creativity, however, our student productions, performances, competitions and art shows build confidence and skills valuable in today’s workplace such as public speaking, time management and working as a team.
Visual Arts students . . .
Theater students . . .
• experiment with various materials.
• begin in Kindergarten as students learn literature
• understand that history of art is a record of different civilizations
and cultures. • develop abilities with award-winning results. Upper level student works have been displayed in public venues including the Gulfport Public Library and Florida Holocaust Museum. • on the Knowlton Campus can choose from electives
and dramatic arts during monthly performances complete with costumes, props and sound effects.
• in Middle and Upper school may choose electives in performing arts such as Musical Theater,
Technical Theater, Advanced Stagecraft and Stage Design, and Acting to name a few. Three
such as Art History, Drawing, Painting, Ceramics,
performances each school year star Middle and Upper
Photojournalism and two AP Art classes.
students as primary cast and crew: a middle school production, an upper school production and an allschool musical in which students,in Grades 3 and up, parents, faculty and alumni may participate.
• Thespian
Troupe 4637 and Jr. Thespian Troupe 88860 both participate in district and state
Music students . . . • enjoy both vocal and instrumental instruction.
• in grades 3 and 4 are provided with a violin and weekly instruction. • develop an appreciation for music. Students in grades 6-12 may participate in Show
Choir,
Strings or Band, and Upper School students may add AP Music Theory.
• at all grade levels exercise performance
skills through musical theater, concerts, dance, and special performances throughout the year.
competitions. Members of both Troupes have been recognized as Critic’s Choice recipients, the highest honor awarded at the Thespian Festival.
• perform in the 384-seat
Dollinger
Theater for the Arts. The theater serves the entire school community from PK3 - Grade 12 as a vital hub for arts education. An orchestra pit, control booth, box office, green room, dressing rooms and other supporting spaces are the main features of this 18,000 square-foot facility, which also includes a workshop, lobby art gallery, choral room, band room, two visual arts classrooms, kiln room, dark room and conference room.
Alumni
Students for a short time. Crusaders for a lifetime.
where lifelong learning is exemplified With more than 750 members worldwide since the first graduating class in 1977, Canterbury alumni continue to live the school’s mission as responsible stewards of our world. In hospitals, in courtrooms, on stages, on fields, in corporations and in classrooms, Canterbury alumni are successful adults of great conscience and character. Students never forget the first words they sang each morning at the Lower School, “As a member of the Canterbury family, I pledge to uphold my personal integrity. . .”.
Nico Leeper, Class of 2010 Columbia University, Class of 2014 Member of Columbia’s Sailing Team Simone Leeper, Class of 2012 and Nico’s sister, also graduated from Columbia Universty.
Joey Cuda, Class of 2008 Drafted to pitch for St. Louis Cardinals
Members of the Alumni Board at the dedication of the Cousteau Center for Marine Studies.
Jenn Hobby, Class of 1995 Interviewing celebrities on the red carpet at the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards for her radio show.
Alumni Stories 2014
“The writing skills I learned at Canterbury definitely placed me at a distinct advantage over my peers at Columbia. Some classmates and I are now forming a startup company, and I’m using those skills to write our web content.” -- Nico Leeper, entrepreneur | Columbia University Class of 2014
2008
• Joey Cuda attended Eckerd College where he pitched for the baseball team until he was drafted in 2012 to pitch
for the St. Louis Cardinals.
2000
“I got a sense of humility at Canterbury. There were so many talented and dynamic people and faculty there, and I felt like I had to do my best to keep up.” -- Kris Goddard, Executive Director for Neighborhood
Development for the New York City Department of Small Business Services | Brown Univer-
sity Class of 2004 | Cornell University Masters in City and Regional Planning
1998
• Matt Hobby graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University and currently lives in L.A. as an actor and comedian on the TV show The Grinder with Rob Lowe. He previously worked on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.
1995
• Dr. Ursula Nawab received her medical degree from the USF College of Medicine followed by an M.A. from Boston University College of Engineering. She is currently a Neonatalogist in Philadelphia.
1991
• “Canterbury offered me a strong academic foundation and enduring inquisitiveness, which have driven me to treat learning as a lifelong process.” -- Lora Saalman, As-
sociate Professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, where she gives lectures on weapons of mass destruction, cyber security, technology and deterrence, as well as Sino-Indian and Sino-Russian relations. Canterbury “lifer”--attended Kindergarten - Grade 12 | University of Chicago Class of 1995 | Master’s degree from Monterey Institute for International Studies | PhD from Tsinghua University, China, the first American to earn a PhD from its Department of International Relations
1987
“Academically, Canterbury was every bit as challenging as college. I first felt a spark for a life in journalism, at Canterbury. . . the project that had a profound influence on me was that Senior Capstone Writing Project (a.k.a. Senior Thesis). I researched and presented on The Future of Television News. It was through that research that I determined there was a huge market for cable news.” -- Jonathan Serrie, Fox News Correspondent for the Southeast | Emory University Class of 1987
1982
• After Sharon Israel received her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT in 1986, she worked as an engineer before attending Emory University, where she received her JD and MBA degrees in 1991. Following graduation from law school, Sharon clerked for a federal appellate court judge in Washington, DC. She now lives in Houston, Texas, where she is a partner with the international law firm Mayer Brown LLP and focuses her practice on patent litigation.