Canterbury Communiqué A monthly online newsletter for the friends of Canterbury School
February 2015
We Love Canterbury! This month, students in Canterbury’s Lower School decided to share their thoughts on what makes Canterbury so special. My favorite thing about Canterbury is…
Head’s Up Now in my seventh and final year at Canterbury School, with Commencement 2015 less than four months away, it is only natural that I would be reflecting on my Canterbury experience. Over the past two years, we have been working on three key projects that provide a comprehensive, in-depth snapshot of Canterbury’s past, present and future. For the past six years, in which she has conducted 150 interviews, Marnie Paulus has been writing The Canterbury School History: 1964-2014. Initial distribution of our History will be at this year’s oncampus Extravaganza event on April 25, celebrating Canterbury’s 50th anniversary. In my introduction to the History I state, “Throughout its history, Canterbury School’s educators have been devoted to developing life-long learning skills in their students. To Tony Paulus, Head of School and accomplish this goal, whether a student attends Canterbury for 14 Leadership & Organizations Teacher years or one, s/he will accumulate many lessons along the way. As you read this History, it is evident that certain themes have persisted throughout the School’s first 50 years. Most important is the unparalleled quality of the teacher-student relationship. In fact, above all else, this constant seems to have been the ‘north star’ as Canterbury School has successfully navigated its first 50 years.” Taking stock of the present, this year, our faculty and staff have been immersed in the process of writing our Self-Study for our Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) school accreditation process, which will take place from March 1-3, 2015. At the October 2013 board meeting, our Board of Trustees approved our six-year Strategic Plan and Strategic Financial Plan, providing us with a very clear current and future direction. Together, these three initiatives, the History (past), FCIS Self-Study (present) and Strategic Plan/Financial Plan (future) affirm that we are a school that is true to its Mission, “The Canterbury School is dedicated to academic excellence within a caring and supportive community emphasizing character, leadership and service.” We are confident that we have prepared our graduates, who enter the most highly selective colleges and universities in the country, to succeed not only in college but to serve as world citizens. Marnie and I are proud members of the Canterbury School learning community, and next year, we will miss being immersed in its vibrant daily life.
Canterbury in Pictures This month’s photo gallery is a compilation of photos from the 2015 Marathon and Family Paint Night! Family Paint Night
2015 Marathon
To submit your photos, please send them to socialmedia@canterburyfortmyers.org.
Alumni Spotlight: Gabriela Pickett ’14 The Canterbury Experience “I started at Canterbury in sixth grade and continued through 12th grade. Since I was just finishing elementary school at the time, it was a big transition for me. However, Canterbury became home and by the time graduation arrived, it was almost earth shattering to think that I wouldn’t be at Canterbury anymore. When I was writing my college essay, I wrote about my teachers at Canterbury and how they are a community of educators who always stood behind me and helped me find myself. They really take the time to talk to you and to this day, we still keep in touch.” Preparation for College “By the time I left for college, my experience at Canterbury prepared me in so many ways. Due to the fact that I was taking full courses and involved in numerous extracurricular activities, I learned time management skills, study habits and how to not be intimidated when participating in discussion-based classes. I dedicated myself to Canterbury through academics and extracurricular activities, and I am doing the same at college by leading tours on the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill campus, participating in theater and getting involved in various clubs.” Aspirations for the Future “Right now, I am a double major in dramatic arts and advertising. I’ve been doing theater my whole life, so I figured, why stop now? However, to be a bit more realistic, I’m very interested in marketing and advertising. After college, I would love to work in marketing for a theme park and help in the creative side of things.” Heartstrings of Canterbury “Canterbury has always been more than just a school to me. Graduation day was one of the most bittersweet days of my life. I feel like my life really started once I arrived at Canterbury. From ages 12-18, it was a transformative time and I grew a lot. I experienced incredible things at Canterbury. It was a time in my life that I’ll never be able to replace.” Advice to Current Students “It may not seem like it right now, but one day, you’ll miss being in high school. You’re going to love college but the experiences you’re having right now at Canterbury, you’ll never have again. Take it all in and never take it for granted.”
Staff Spotlight: Guy Slifko, Director of Plant Operations Professional Background “I have more than 30 years of experience working in a variety of areas including electrical, plumbing, certified appraisal, carpentry, air-conditioning and more.” How did you become affiliated with Canterbury? “My mother and father both worked for Canterbury many years ago. My dad was the only maintenance person on staff at the school. My mother was one of two custodians at the time. When my father became ill, I came down from Pennsylvania to be with him and help out around the school. As a result of the time, dedication and effort he put into his work at the school, the headmaster at the time believed it would be appropriate to dedicate a building to him. It was the first building project I worked on.” Why Canterbury? “Once the campus started growing and there were buildings that needed to be built, I was asked to join Canterbury’s staff full-time. I started in 1997. Over the span of 10 years, a new building was constructed each year, and I got to be a part of that. I take a lot of pride in knowing that 99 percent of the work done here at Canterbury is in-house. Another appealing part for me was seeing how parents and students help each other much like a team.” What do you love most about Canterbury? “I’ve always liked the educational level of the school and the people – parents, faculty, staff and especially, the students. I used to coach basketball and soccer back in the day, so I got to know the students and their families well.” Managing a Team “The work ethic here at Canterbury is phenomenal. The changes over time (i.e. technological, financial, etc.) were and are a real challenge, so when I started, we created a new staff, which we’ve built over time. It can be difficult because I have so much embedded in my brain, and it is a challenge to make the school run seamlessly, but to be able to hire and work with a great staff that shares the same understanding and work ethic is a great reward.” Continue on next page
Outside of Work “Because this job is 24/7, we are always on-call. The maintenance team handles transportation, landscaping, cleaning, building renovations, designing new buildings, security, fire alarms and any criminal activity that occurs at night. I’m a very athletic person, so in my free time, I play basketball and just enjoy being outdoors, especially boating and fishing.”
Did You Know? In celebration of Canterbury’s 50th anniversary, each month, Canterbury Communiqué will feature a “Did you Know?” section, providing an interesting, historical fact about the school. Did you know? In 1999, the Linda & David Lucas Middle School, the Ellenberg Library and new office space were completed. The expansion included lighted tennis courts, a new track and a retention pond. Enrollment was an all-time high of 599.
Upcoming Events Field Day Join us for the annual school-wide Field Day! It will be a day full of fun for the entire family! Students will participate in fun competitions and there will be food and drinks provided. When: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 Where: Harper Field Admission Open House Invite your friends and neighbors to get to know Canterbury at our Admissions Open House. RSVP to the Admission Office at (239) 415-8945 or online at www.canterburyfortmyers.org. When: Thursday, March 12, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. Where: Lower School Main Office Extravaganza 2015 You’re invited to celebrate Canterbury’s founding at the 50th Blue & White Extravaganza. Sample signature dishes by local chefs, bid on silent and live auction items, and dance the night away. For more information, contact Lou Ann Ozboyaci (lozboyaci@canterburyfortmyers.org).
When: Saturday, April 25, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. Where: Murphy Sports Center Cougar Athletic Club Cougar Classic Fore! Get your golf clubs ready for the 4th Annual Canterbury Cougar Athletic Club Cougar Classic on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Crown Colony Golf & Country Club. Registration and Breakfast will be at 7 a.m. For more information, contact Frank Turco (fturco@canterburyfortmyers.org). When: Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 7:00 a.m. Where: Crown Colony Golf & Country Club
Stay Connected As students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni, we know it is important for you to stay connected to Canterbury. From class projects to sporting events, to science experiments and theater plays, our students are always on the move and you want to know about it! Whether you “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, watch us on Instagram or connect with us on LinkedIn, we’ve got you covered when it comes to Canterbury news, contests, events and much more!