Global assets - Canterbury School

Winter 2013 • Volume 21, Number 1
Global
Assets
Preparing students for the world around them
Mission
Board of Trustees
The Canterbury School is
dedicated to academic
excellence within a caring
and supportive community,
emphasizing character,
leadership and service.
Dr. Brian Hummel, Co-chair
Mrs. Anna Smith, Co-chair
Dr. Richard G. Lewis II, Vice-chair
Mr. Charles K. Idelson, Treasurer
Ms. Cora Molloy, Secretary
Administration
Mr. Tony Paulus
Head of School
Mrs. Jo Marie De Angelo
Upper School Director
Mr. Ken Hansberry
Middle School Director
Mrs. Jacqueline Lentini
Intermediate School Director
Mrs. Chérie Gluhm
Lower School Director
Ms. Julie Peters
Director of Admission
Mrs. Deborah Johnson
Director of Development
Mr. Rick Starace
Business Office Manager
Mr. Marc Taglieri
Athletic Director
About Canterbury is
published by the
Development Department.
New submissions may be
mailed, faxed or emailed to the
Development Department.
Mrs. Deborah Johnson
Director of Development
Mrs. Kathleen Belcastro
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Mrs. Lou Ann Ozboyaci
Events Coordinator
2
Table of Contents
Spring 2013
Ms. Kellie Burns
Mr. Joe Catti
Ms. Michele Eddy
Mr. Brian Fox
Mr. Bruce Galbraith
Mrs. Li-Su Javedan
(Parents’ Association Representative)
Ms. Kathryn Kelly
Mr. David Lucas
Mr. Brian C. O’Neill ’98
Mr. Lou Rosellini
Mr. James Sublett
Mr. Nate Swan
Ms. Monique Ward
Cosmopolitanism –
Cultural literacy plays
a critical role in
Canterbury education
PAGES 4-7
Mr. Tony Paulus
(Ex-officio Head of School)
Communication –
Canterbury students
distinguish themselves
through extraordinary
communication skills
PAGES 10-11
Honorary Life Members
Mr. Albert Frierson
Mr. James Garner
Mrs. Susan T. Hamilton Mahan
Mr. Robert Taylor
Alumni Association
Board
Bjorn Rosinus ’01, President
Elaine Sherer ’88, Vice President
Katie Meckley ’01, Secretary
Janet Wilson ’86
Lea Pascotto ’95
Kori Ann Lipman Howell ’96
Kelly O’Donoghue Todd ’96
Brian O’Neill ’98
Adam Finney ’99
Erin O’Donoghue Gebeau ’99
Kara Sweet ’99 Ryan Sherry ’01
Susan Frantz ’03
Lauren Harris ’04
Nathaniel Liu ’09
Kathleen Belcastro,
Alumni Relations Coordinator
Creativity – Canterbury
School is bolstering
creativity with
experiential learning
PAGE 8-9
Critical Thinking –
Re-examining
and re-defining
PAGES 12-13
First Semester
in photos
PAGES 18-19
Alumni News
PAGES 26-31
Cover photography: Clement Photographic
Graphic design: Christine Intartaglio
Photographers: Rafael Hernandez ’15, Noor Walha ’13, Nautilus Photography,
Erik Kellar Photography
Writers: Francesca Donlan, Karen Feldman, Christine Vogensen
From Tony Paulus, Head of School
A colleague and good friend of mine,
Pat Bassett, has a unique vantage point.
As president of the National Association of
Independent Schools (NAIS), he has access
to the best thinkers and highest performing
educational systems across the country and
around the world.
As a result, Pat, who is an educational
visionary, has synthesized the best
educational practices into a blueprint he
calls “The Five C’s Plus One.” These skills
and values include: creativity, character,
critical thinking, cosmopolitanism or crosscultural competency and collaboration.
Pat describes these values as “essential
skills and values, that when implemented,
produce graduates who are ethical and
successful contributors and leaders in their
families, their communities, the workplace,
and the world.”
In the next two editions of this magazine,
we will describe how these values and
skills are integral parts of the educational
experience we provide at Canterbury. I
believe in re-examining the benchmarks we
set for our school. Last year’s parent survey
confirmed that more than 90 percent of our
parents consider quality faculty, leadership
development, a strong academic program
and character development essential to
their children’s success. As you will read
in this issue, we continue to build on our
strengths.
Our students face challenges we never
considered during our own formative
years. Like Pat, I am reaching out to the
best thinkers to help us excel. In my 40+
years as an educator, 27 as head of four
schools nationally and internationally,
I have worked with talented students,
and the Canterbury students are among
the brightest and most talented. Their
achievements continue to impress me.
To name a few, five Canterbury students
have won the grand prize at the Intel
International Science & Engineering Fair
and our Model United Nations team placed
second in the small school division at the
Princeton University Model United Nations
competition.
I am constantly impressed with the
accomplishments and success stories I hear
from students and alumni who outpace
their peers at national and international
competitions and at colleges across the
country. These students have integrated the
“Five C’s” successfully into their lives.
In this edition, I am excited to share
some of those stories and cutting-edge
programs Canterbury offers that emphasize
the values and skills essential for students
in the 21st century: creativity, character,
critical thinking, cosmopolitanism and
collaboration.
These are the cornerstones of the
educational experience at Canterbury and
truly are the competitive advantages our
students take with them when they enter
college and the workforce. n
Tony Paulus
Photo by Noor Walha ’13
Five
3
COSMOPOLITANISM
Cultural
literacy
plays a
critical
role in
Canterbury
education
4
Cosmopolitanism. It’s a tongue-twisting
term for a straightforward concept: crosscultural competency, which is the art of
understanding people of other cultures,
accepting their differences and recognizing
their similarities. It’s a skill that is critical to
success in the 21st century and so must be
taught to students from an early age.
Among the best ways to gain that
understanding is by living in another
country, and learning the language and
customs first-hand – something 22 percent
of Canterbury’s faculty has done. Their
experiences are as wide-ranging as the
globe itself.
Here’s a sampling of their experiences
and what they bring to Canterbury as a
result:
Mrs. Sharon Curiel, who teaches
Spanish in the Lower School, started her
career in an elementary school in a pueblo
near Mexico’s Lake Chapala. Early on, she
was fortunate to be adopted by a Mexican
family who taught her the traditions and
thought processes of the country.
“It gave me a whole new outlook on the
world,” she says. “I learned the culture and
how to see it through their eyes.”
Over the time she spent there, she came
to appreciate Mexicans’ spontaneity and
customs, their respect for education and
the value of an afternoon siesta.
She often shares relevant experiences
with her students.
“One of my important missions is to let
Canterbury students see the world through
the eyes of other cultures,” she says. “Those
views are not right or wrong, they are just
different. I try to share with them what I
learned.”
Mrs. Kathryn Wilbur, who teaches
French in the Middle and Upper Schools,
spent six years working in a two-room
schoolhouse in Senneterre, a village in
northern Quebec shared by a predominantly
French and Cree (native American)
population. It was the mid-1970s, at the
height of the separatist movement. French
was the official language in government and
schools. An exception was made for native
Americans who spoke different languages
throughout Canada but used English as a
second language.
It was so far north that there were almost
no leaf-bearing trees and so remote that the
closest place to live was 20 miles away. Her
route to work was connected by a two-lane
road that virtually disappeared under snow
most of the year.
It was nothing like Long Island, New
York, where she grew up, or Boston, Paris
or Ottawa, where she earned her degrees in
French language and education.
“It was wilderness living,” she says. “The
Cree gave me snow shoes made from birch
and moose hide. School was canceled only
for cold weather – minus 40 degrees or
below – when tires were frozen flat.”
Reading by a cast-iron wood stove,
writing short stories as a hobby and walking
through untouched forests of pine became
a way of life. So, too, was the daily routine
of layering clothes in a region where three
seasons out of four were defined by textures
of snow.
Moving to Southwest Florida in the early
1980s involved adaptation, too.
“We have many children at Canterbury
who have just moved here,” she says. “I
know the experience of transition. I can
empathize and encourage.”
In her 28 years at Canterbury, she’s
accompanied students to France and
Quebec. She also leads the French Academic
Team, 27 students from grades eight
through 12 who compete in a statewide
championship every year.
“Every person develops different parts
of themselves,” she says, “but, still, we
belong to one human tapestry. That’s the
perspective I bring to class. I try to bring
out those threads which build on personal
identity and use the tool of language to help
my students connect to the world.”
Sharon Curiel, who teaches
Spanish to Lower and
Intermediate School students,
enjoys bringing the language to
life by relating cultural experiences
she had while teaching in Mexico.
First grade students Grady Lucas
and Payton Vest
Photo by Rafael Hernandez ’15
Kathryn Wilbur with her students
on the steps of the Senneterre School
during the 1978-79 school year.
Dr. Konstantin Georgiadis, head of the
Social Sciences Department and a teacher
in the Upper School, grew up in Greece and
taught in Tanzania and Indonesia.
Living in underdeveloped countries,
he witnessed the brutal conditions under
which people struggled to better their lives.
“It’s a humbling experience,” he says. “It
makes you realize we are not alone in the
world and that hunger, poverty, and the
inequitable distribution of resources can
only be resolved through an understanding
of other cultures and consensus.”
He brings that message to his students,
both in the classroom and through activities
such as Bridges, an academic and cultural
exchange program which links Canterbury
students to their counterparts in Turkey
and Greece through the Internet and inperson visits.
He helps students understand what
makes them Americans and how that
differs from, and intersects with, what
makes someone Turkish or Greek.
It’s a theme that runs through the
5
Konstantin Georgiadis
explains some intricacies of
global economics to sophomore
Phyllis Lee.
Photo by Rafael Hernandez ’15
Mary Beth Fletcher (lower
left) with some of her students
(and fellow teacher) in Kunduz,
Afghanistan.
6
Canterbury curriculum.
“That kind of awareness would not be
there without teachers who had worked
overseas,” he says.
Dr. Mary Beth Fletcher is a learning
specialist who works with students in the
Lower and Intermediate Schools, primarily
on reading and writing.
She and her husband joined the Peace
Corps in the 1970s and soon found
themselves in northern Afghanistan. After
a two-month immersion course in Farsi,
they landed in Kunduz where Mary Beth
taught English as a foreign language at the
local girls’ school.
The school had a primitive blackboard
and the girls sat two or three to a bench,
writing in tiny spiral notebooks in which
they used every inch of space.
Some days they weren’t able to cross the
town’s main street because Russian tank
convoys filled it or nomadic tribes were
passing through with camels and big dogs.
She spent two years there. Shortly after
she left, the Russians invaded.
As she works with students here, she
says, “I try to communicate an appreciation
for cultural differences and help them
see similarities between themselves and
children elsewhere. I try to help them
appreciate the environment that they are
in. To this day I’m grateful that I can turn
on a tap and drinkable water comes out.
Not to mention the indoor plumbing!”
Mr. Dan Van Campen, who teaches
social science in the Middle and Upper
Schools, has a huge world map on the wall
behind his desk and knows his way around
it. Before coming to Canterbury, he taught
at international schools in Saudi Arabia,
Lebanon, London, Germany and Austria.
In Saudi Arabia, he enjoyed teaching
students of nine nationalities and absorbing
the culture, but the country’s laws made life
difficult.
“Everything was illegal,” he says. Travel
was strictly regulated; no alcohol was
allowed. He spent much of his free time
taking in the culture of Dhahran, Rijad
and Bahrain. Playing tennis, swimming
or traveling to someplace less restrictive
occupied his off hours. Walking in the
nearby deserts collecting remnants of
shredded pieces of Scud or Patriot missiles
left as a result of the Gulf War was also a
pastime. A local expatriate made them into
earrings or necklaces.
“The lack of freedom was probably the
biggest eye opener for me,” he says.
After a year, he headed to Dusseldorf,
then to the International School of Vienna.
He learned to speak German and embraced
the rich culture and freedom. “You couldn’t
walk downtown in Vienna or Maria Hilfer
Strasse without hearing music waft out of
the many churches,” he fondly remembers.
His last post was in Beirut, not long after
the Gulf War. When Israeli war planes began
flying over the city breaking the sound
barrier and rattling windows, he decided to
head back to the United States.
Thirteen years later, Van Campen is
uniquely qualified to talk with students
about the Arab Spring and the experience
of living in Europe.
“When something comes up in the news,
I can relate what happened when I was
there,” he says. “The students are interested.
You can tell they’re with you. I love to tell
stories and they love to listen. I think it’s
part of teaching the whole child.” n
Dan Van Campen in the
Hofuf Camel Market in
Saudi Arabia, circa 1991.
Last December, Head of School Tony Paulus was invited to address the community
of the Universal Academy of Florida (UAF), an Islamic school in Tampa. Paulus and
UAF Superintendent Dr. Kem Hussain suggested forming a partnership between
Canterbury and UAF to learn about culture and best educational practices from
each other.
In a letter, Dr. Hussain thanked Paulus for his “willingness to join us at the
Universal Academy Annual Banquet in Tampa, especially when I take into account
the schedule you have! You are an asset to the independent school community, and
your school as well as the Florida Council of Independent Schools, is very fortunate
to have someone with your talent, natural disposition, and scholarship as the Head
of School and Vice President of the Council, respectively. Your love for education
and what you do is evident from your work and service beyond the parameters of
your immediate institution to support independent education.”
Dr. Kem Hussain
7
CREATIVITY
Creativity
in American
school-age
kids is
declining as
a result of a
“diet of drill
and kill,”
says Patrick Bassett,
president of the
National Association of
Independent Schools.
Canterbury School is bucking the
national trend when it comes to bolstering
creativity with experiential learning.
“Experiential education is the integration
of school and life,” says Head of School Tony
Paulus. “Life does not happen in 45 minute
blocks of isolated time in classrooms, so
as educators, we must challenge students
inside and outside the classroom.”
During the academic career of a
Canterbury student, he or she might swim
with sharks at Seacamp in the Florida Keys,
stand atop a 40-foot telephone pole during
a ropes course at Cedarkirk, a camp in the
mountains of North Carolina, or travel to
Istanbul or Washington, D.C.
Preston Cline, director of Wharton Leadership Ventures Program at the University
of Pennsylvania, feels independent schools,
like Canterbury, are doing the best job at
offering experiential programs for students,
which help shape creative problem-solvers
and leaders.
“Effective leaders need to engage in
lifelong learning, belong to a community
of learning and seek experiences that will
stretch them as individuals,” Cline says.
“This is important because of the rapid
rate of change in our society. There is a
strong tradition in independent schools
for experiential education and it is vital to
continue that tradition to produce strong
leaders.”
At Canterbury, experiential learning
begins in Lower School and culminates in
an Upper School Outward Bound course
or an opportunity to pursue academic and
cultural programs abroad.
Intermediate School science teacher Mr.
Mark Summit offers “Wilderness Mondays”
to his fourth-grade students. Once a week,
they step outside on the 32-acre Canterbury
campus to study the science that surrounds
them.
“The kids listen because I’m making
a connection to real life,” Summit says.
“Everything around us – the ponds and
marsh grass and the birds they attract, the
mud, bugs, sun, clouds, the air itself – it’s
all science. Students connect that what they
read in their textbook was written about
real life.”
Ms. Sheena Neese, Outward Bound
coordinator and a Middle and Upper
School Spanish teacher, knows the benefits
of teaching outside the classroom. She has
taken students on grueling trips to the
Everglades and the mountains of North
Carolina.
“Students must make all the major
decisions during the trip,” she says. “They
Chris Maddox, a senior, helps Isabelle
Ferraro, Pre-K 4, shovel dirt to cover a new
tree’s roots. In response to an assignment in
their leadership class, Chris and Samantha
Dalesio (standing in back) have created a
new Canterbury tradition. Each year, Pre-K 4
students will plant a tree on campus. The prekindergartners think the tree will grow “really
big” by the time they are seniors in 2025.
8
Students in Intermediate School science teacher Mark Summit’s class look forward to Wilderness
Monday when they trek outdoors to learn about the environment on the school campus and then
journal their findings.
cannot use technology, are often sleepdeprived and generally uncomfortable.
Everyone walks with his or her own pack
and is forced to survive and come out the
other side.”
“The experience empowers students and
changes lives, and I’ve seen a lot of kids
come out of their shells to become leaders
during the course,” Neese says. “Those
kids find more confidence to lead in the
classroom. Outward Bound is a new branch
in their brains that encourages them to try
new things.”
Brittany Backstrand, a 2010 Canterbury
graduate who attends Notre Dame,
participated in two Outward Bound trips
in ninth and tenth grades. She took the
leadership skills she learned outside the
classroom and applied them to her studies
and peer group.
“Outward Bound was the most formative
thing that ever happened to me,” she says.
“I was really shy and quiet and didn’t know
many people when I was a freshman at
Canterbury. After those experiences, I
gained a new self-confidence academically
and emotionally.”
No longer a wallflower, during her
senior year, Brittany was elected senior
class president, homecoming queen and
prom queen.
The skills that Backstrand and other
students acquire from experiential
education are essential tools for students
in this generation, Middle School science
teacher Ms. Diane Amundson says.
“We have to train students for the
world,” she says. “Many of these students
are preparing for jobs that don’t even exist
when they graduate from Canterbury. If
you are not creative or a critical thinker,
how will you fare? Creativity and critical
thinking are the most essential tools for
successfully navigating the world in which
we live. Because of experiential learning,
Canterbury students possess these skills,
which allow them to stand out at college
and to potential employers.” n
9
The secret to good
COMMUNICATION:
practice, practice, practice
“For the 21st
century, the skill
of communication
will entail
mastery of
three fluencies:
technology,
writing and
speaking.”
– Patrick Bassett,
President, NAIS
One of the major ways in which Canterbury
students distinguish themselves is through
their extraordinary communication skills.
Mrs. Melissa Wilson, director of college
guidance, says college admissions officials
frequently comment on Canterbury
students’ superior ability to express
themselves.
“Our students have engaged in adult
debate and conversation for their entire
educational careers,” she says. “Small
classes, exceptional faculty and built-in
critical thinking skills allow Canterbury
students and graduates to converse
intelligently, and respectfully, about any
topic.”
That ability -- whether it’s public
speaking, one-on-one conversation,
writing a research paper or blogging on the
web -- is critical for success, says educator
Patrick Bassett, president of the National
Association of Independent Schools.
Today’s students -- often referred to
as “digital natives” because they have
Canterbury students learn how
to speak in front of audiences at
an early age. Grace Smith, grade
three, talked to classmates about
her favorite family tradition –
making strawberry pie with her
grandmother, Peggy White (seated
at right). Third grade teacher
Kathy Gilstad says public speaking
helps students build confidence.
“Choosing the right words that best
express thoughts and emotions is
something our students learn the
more they speak in front of others.
The grade by grade progression is
quite noticeable.”
10
grown up using technology -- don’t need
a great deal of instruction when it comes
to finding their way around a computer or
the Internet. But what they write there -and how they express themselves in person
-- are skills which Canterbury students
start working on early and build upon
throughout their school years.
Dr. Ron Young, who teaches the
freshmen Ancient World History, explains
how he cultivates the ability to write
critically: “Ninth graders have to start by
reading critically. I give them a lot of time
to get out books and read and make them
take notes. They dislike it and resist it. They
are good at picking out names, dates and
facts, but what I really want them to do is to
be able to read a section and not just spew
back facts but tell me the significance.”
It’s hard for them at first, he says, but
they become adept at it after a few months.
Students read not only textbooks but
original documents such as the Epic of
Gilgamesh for ancient Mesopotamia, ancient
law codes such as Hammurabi’s Code, or
religious works such as the Book of the Dead
from ancient Egypt.
“Showing them how historians get
information makes them better critical
thinkers,” Young says.
Although Gallup polls routinely find that
fear of public speaking almost always tops
the list of people’s most dreaded activities,
it’s not likely among the concerns of
Canterbury students.
Ms. Marge Dougherty, an Upper School
English teacher, says students are required
to take a semester-long speech class in
which they must read a children’s story,
interpret an advanced piece of literature,
deliver a eulogy, explain a process, give
an informative speech, perform a live
commercial, debate and much more.
“They must always know their audience
– and plan their speeches to appeal and
relate to that audience,” she says. “They
Delegates from the Canterbury Model United Nations (MUN) team returned victorious from the highly prestigious and competitive
Princeton Model United Nations Conference. The delegates demonstrated diligence and fortitude as they spent more than 20
hours in spirited debate during the four-day conference. More than 900 delegates from 51 schools participated, including teams
from five out of the top 10 high school MUN programs in the nation. More than half of our delegates placed, earning Canterbury
the award for Outstanding Small Delegation (second place).
Team members are: (l to r): Derek Wu, Lila Gutstein, Chelsea Ankenbrandt (honorable mention), Nick Thompson, Andrew May,
Varun Varshney (best delegate), Steven Schwartz (best position paper), Noelle Spencer and Abby Neill (best delegates).
are evaluated on their body language,
gestures, eye contact and variance of their
voices.”
Content, depth of research, word
choice and delivery are also graded.
Bahar Shah, a 2009 graduate now in her
senior year at MIT, says her experiences
at Canterbury gave her a huge head start
when she entered college.
“There are so many types of people and
situations there that you get prepared for
almost anything that might come your
way later on,” says Shah, who is majoring
in math and computer science with a
minor in literature.
“Through the Model United Nations,
you get comfortable standing in front of a
group, of identifying and communicating
your thoughts and opinions,” she says.
“The science fairs are all about giving
your presentation fluidly, talking to
people who have been in their fields for
many years and being able to connect on
a professional level.”
Yet another opportunity to practice
communication is by serving as a tour
guide when families visit.
“Our guests repeatedly express how
impressed they are with our students’
maturity, their confidence and how
articulate they are about their school,”
says Ms. Julie Peters, director of
admission. “Parents will come to me and
say ‘I want my child to turn out like that.’”
That’s how NBC-2 news anchor Kellie
Burns felt after several visits to the
school. She was so impressed with the
students’ poise, manners and enthusiasm
for learning, she wound up enrolling her
son in Pre-K 4.
During an Upper School leadership
class at which she was a guest instructor,
she stated, “I’m not teaching a class. We’re
engaging in conversation. I’ve been in
some high school classes where I might as
well have been talking to a wall. Here we
were so deep in conversation, I finally had
to tell the class to leave.”
Shah, who will go to work for Microsoft
once she graduates, says her Canterbury
education “put me three to four years
ahead of the curve.” n
11
CRITICAL THINKING
Re-examining
and
re-defining
12
For Mr. Ken Hansberry, the importance
of critical thinking in education essentially
boils down to a few questions.
“We’re helping transform our students
into the adults we hope they will become,”
says Hansberry, Middle School director.
“We all want them building self-confidence,
creating solid relationships and feeling as if
they have options in life.”
Canterbury’s Middle School faculty helps
students foster critical thinking by asking
essential questions. These unanswerable
questions address the most important
aspects of a course, helping students focus
their learning and allowing students across
the academic spectrum to simultaneously
be challenged and have an opportunity to
shine.
“By making the questions thematic,”
Hansberry continues, “courses across
disciplines build connections. For example,
in the seventh grade, all questions revolve
around the theme of identity. In English,
the question is, how does conflict shape our
identity, while in History the question is
how does the concept of justice shape American
identity.”
“This integrated teaching style pushes
students to think deeply about issues,” says
Mrs. Jo Marie De Angelo-Hughes, Upper
School director.
“We don’t teach just to prepare students
for standardized tests,” she says. “We may
have practice SATs, but we’re really teaching
kids to take the knowledge, the ability to
think and reason, to the next level. We want
them to take the topic they are learning in
literature and math and tie things together.
All of the subjects are interrelated.”
Critical thinking plays out in strong SAT
scores as well, she says. Last year’s scores
not only exceeded local, state and national
averages but surpassed the average scores
of all independent schools.
“It shows how much we’re doing with our
kids without teaching to a test,” she says.
“I attribute it to the phenomenal teaching
that goes on in this school. Teachers know
their subjects deeply and are passionate
about what they do.”
Mr. Mitch Vitale, Upper School math
teacher, is passionate about his subject. He
likes to shake things up for his Upper School
students. Sometimes he puts a pattern on
the board and lets it sit there until someone
comes up with an idea.
“If students can process information,
they can attempt any problem,” he says. “I
don’t memorize formulas, I derive them. A
lot of students want to plug in things and
get an answer. But if you can trigger an idea,
it will trigger another and it’s like a road
map. And, if you have a road map, it makes
learning interesting and easier.”
No matter what a student’s life
aspiration, finance, science, arts or athletics,
Vitale shows them that critical thinking is
relevant. He translates real life situations
into math problems.
Vitale appreciates that the Canterbury
curriculum allows faculty the freedom
to spend a half-hour on just one
problem. “Students learn by struggling,
brainstorming and collaborating. They
share ideas and then struggle with the
problem again. During this process, I give
hints but never the answer. To me, this is
when students begin to understand critical
thinking.”
Dr. Ron Young teaches Upper School
social sciences including Ancient World
History. Many students wonder why they
have to learn about events that happened
so long ago, he says.
“To think critically, we have to look for
patterns and trends in ancient society that
are similar to today’s problems and issues,”
he said.
Students may choose to participate in
history fairs where they pick topics and can
create papers, plays, documentaries etc.
Last year a Middle School documentary
about the fall of the Berlin Wall qualified
for the national history fair competition.
Critical thinking is essential for success
in life, says Mr. Tony Paulus, head of school,
who also teaches a leadership class to
sophomores, juniors and seniors.
There are so many opportunities for
students to think critically including
science and history fairs, high level research
through the Bridges cultural exchange
at schools in Turkey and Greece and the
Canterbury Model United Nations team,
which ranks 12th in North America. “They
are competing nationally to develop and use
their leadership skills on an international
stage,” he says.
Dr. Konstantin Georgiadis helps make
some of that happen through Canterbury’s
Bridges program, which focuses on a
cultural and academic cooperation with
students in Turkey, Greece and Shanghai.
“Problems of management of resources,
sustainable development and the
elimination of poverty challenge all nations
today; their resolution requires critical
thinking skills,” he says. “These are realworld issues.”
Critical thinking is deeply ingrained in
the Canterbury curriculum, says De AngeloHughes.
“It’s the whole package,” she says. “We
don’t just have smart kids. This education
is a living organism that we are constantly
modifying to fit the pulse of what’s
happening in the world to keep our students
ahead of the game.” n
SAT
Lila Gutstein, a junior, solves a simple
motion problem in physics: distance = rate x
time. Understanding concepts like this helps
students make reasonable decisions about
what to believe and do; to figure out how and
why something works is the basis of critical
thinking.
CANTERBURY
LEE COUNTY
FLORIDA
NATIONAL
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Mean Scores for
Class of 2012
620
489 492 496
588
616
603
481 492 514
614
592
469 476 488
13
New program will help
BRIDGE CULTURAL GAP
between East and West
The Cambridge Program will give Canterbury students one
more advantage for competing in an ever-shrinking global
economy and perhaps even for collaborative efforts to
finding solutions to global environment issues.
This program is a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Canterbury’s global reach is about to
expand exponentially through its new
partnership with the Cambridge Institute
of International Education.
The Massachusetts-based non-profit
organization specializes in matching
students from China with U.S. schools,
aiding in recruitment, cultural literacy and
support for the students, their families,
the schools in which they enroll and the
host families with whom they live while in
America.
In its first year, confirmed to be the 20132014 school year, the program is expected
to include four to six Chinese students
who will spend as many as four years at
Canterbury with the aim of graduating here
and attending an American university.
“They value our educational program,”
says Julie Peters, Canterbury’s director
of admission. “They appreciate our small
student-to-teacher ratio. In China, classes
can have 60-80 students and the curriculum
is test-driven. Facts, rather than analysis,
are the staple of their educational
experience, but they know analytical
thinking is essential to their success. They
also appreciate a liberal arts curriculum.”
The Chinese students’ presence will
enrich learning for their American peers
as well, she says. Asian students are
curious, motivated learners. Enrolling
these students at Canterbury will allow
us to broaden our diversity, strengthen
14
our ability to educate students of different
backgrounds, foster meaningful cultural
exchanges and increase global exposure for
our own students
The school has operated a cultural
exchange program called Bridges for several
years. It connects Canterbury students
with their counterparts at private schools
in Turkey, Greece and Shanghai. Students
work on research projects together, both
online and through periodic exchange visits
to each other’s countries.
“Our students thrive on the Bridges
project, our academic and cultural exchange
with schools in Turkey and Greece,”
Peters says. “We see how it enriches their
perspective on the world. This will bring one
more dimension of that to our students.
With nearly 20 percent of the world’s
population in China, it is imperative that
our students learn as much as possible
about the Chinese people, their culture and
their language. From a global economic
position, this only makes sense.”
Peters sees great potential for growth as
the program matures, including bringing
in additional students and possibly hiring
someone to teach Mandarin to our own
students.
To find out how you can be part of this
exciting new program – including hosting
a student, contact Julie Peters, director of
admission, at (239) 415-8945. n
Corporate
Partners
Money For Nothing,
Just a Click Away
Brigitte Henning, mom of two
Canterbury freshmen, Caroline and Natalie,
is a tireless fund raiser for the school. Every
day, she determinedly works to manage the
Free Ways to Support Canterbury School
campaign.
School fund raising is no longer only
clipping Box Tops. While those little labels
are certainly important (each one is worth
10 cents for schools), Box Tops is just the
tip of the iceberg. Last year, Canterbury
received $4,560 from corporate partners
such as Amazon.com, Target and Box Tops
for Education.
“These programs are so easy to use.
It’s free money, we just have to claim it,”
comments Brigitte. “Each year we increase
our earnings, but there is still much more
potential. Everybody, parents, students,
grandparents and friends, can help
Canterbury just by shopping smart!”
Brigitte hopes Canterbury will be able to
cash in from online shopping. “If you are one
of the millions of people who shops online,”
she comments, “then shopping through
the Box Tops Marketplace earns cash for
Canterbury.” From household supplies to
clothes, electronics, and even vacations,
almost anything can be purchased through
the Marketplace. When shopping through
the Box Tops Marketplace, the stores donate
up to 15 percent of qualified purchases back
to the school.
Heard of a little place called Amazon.
com? Going to Amazon.com through
Canterbury’s Amazon.com SchoolRewards
Link, gets the school (absolutely free to
users) up to 10 percent of every purchase.
When shopping at Target, consider
Brigitte Henning, parent volunteer
who coordinates Canterbury’s
Corporate Sponsors program, holds
Box Top$ coupons.
Photo by Rafael Hernandez ’15
using a Target REDcard. Available in debit
or credit, users save five percent off of
purchases, plus, Canterbury School receives
one percent of the amount of each purchase
from Target’s Take Charge of Education
program.
There are endless ways to leverage
your purchases and obtain free cash
for Canterbury School. For a complete
list of instructions and links, click on
to the Canterbury website, look for the
“Supporting” tab and click on “Free Ways
to Support the School” or log on to:
www.canterburyfortmyers.org/free
15
Canterbury Connect
Business Directory
One of the greatest Canterbury advantages is our community. Because of this, we’ve created
an online directory, Canterbury Connect, to link you to the vast array of businesses and
services offered by those in the Canterbury community.
Canterbury parents, faculty/staff, alumni and parents of alumni receive complimentary
listings for their and/or their spouse’s business or service. Also, any business sponsoring a
Canterbury event or activity at $500 or above receives a complimentary listing for the year.
Having your business in the directory is easy. On the Canterbury website, go to Quick
Links and then to Canterbury Connect. The directory is seen by anyone who visits the
school’s website. Last year the site received more than 100,000 hits. That’s great exposure
for businesses.
If you have questions about Canterbury Connect or if you would like information on
sponsoring a Canterbury event, please contact the Development Office at (239) 481-4323.
PRESENTS
SAVE
the
DATE
Saturday, April 20, 2013 • ACI Hangar, Page Field
16
Nicole Laquis
Caring for health and safety of entire school
Juggling a serious career as a nurse
practitioner, a hectic volunteer schedule
and four active young children who
are Canterbury students (Bradley ’27,
Charlotte ‘26, Christian ‘24 and Nathaniel
‘23) may seem like an impossible task, but
Nicole Laquis makes it look easy.
Nicole is one of Canterbury’s two school
nurses and is the school’s health and safety
coordinator. Holding a master’s degree in
nursing from Yale University and a B.S. in
biology from the University of Maryland,
Nicole, is extremely qualified to manage the
care and safety of Canterbury’s students
and faculty.
With a ready smile, Nicole soothes
the playground bumps or sniffles and is
uniquely qualified to care for serious health
problems. On a busy day, Nicole triages
and treats up to 50 students. In between,
she administers medication and identifies
vision and hearing problems that impact
learning. The services of Canterbury’s
nurses allow students to stay in school,
parents to stay at work and teachers to
continue teaching.
When asked what she enjoys most about
her job, it’s not the lure of the cure that
Nicole talks about. “I love being the ‘school
mom,’ she says. “When I walk down the
hallway, I always get hugs and smiles from
the children.”
As Canterbury School’s Health and Safety
Coordinator, Nicole maintains all health and
sports physical documents and responds to
audits by the health department. She is also
responsible for all the drills on campus (fire,
lock down, inclement weather) and for all
the medical equipment on campus.
Engaging students in wellness activities,
Nicole can be found teaching throughout the
school. She may teach pre-kindergartners
about their hearts or first aid to seventh and
eighth graders. She also performs vision
and hearing exams on students in certain
grade levels, hosts flu shot clinics and CPR
classes for the staff, and she has hosted a
sports physical exam clinic for Canterbury
athletes.
As if her busy schedule isn’t enough,
Nicole finds time to volunteer locally with
six non-profits.
Nicole was recognized in Gulf Shore
Business Magazine (Sept. 2012) as one
of the area’s 40 under 40 Rising Stars. The
Canterbury community benefits greatly
from Nicole’s expertise and professionalism.
Vermont ranks first in
the nation for school
nurse to student ratio
(1:396) while Florida
ranks 48th (1:2,537).*
Canterbury School’s
ratio is 1:303.
Nicole Laquis was recognized as one of Gulf
Shore Business magazine’s 40 Under 40
Rising Stars. Photo by Erik Kellar Photography
*From the National Association
of School Nurses’ website
(August 2011)
17
1. Winners of the Upper School science fair (l to
r): the team of Emma Wynekoop and Jessica
Castillo (both juniors), first runner-up; senior
Cheyenne Reynolds, best in fair; and the team
of Natalie Henning and Madison Noall (both
freshmen), second runner-up. Not shown, top
winners in the Intermediate/Middle schools:
Myesha Choudhury (grade 6), best in fair; Emily
Javedan (grade 5), first runner-up; and Jay
Chandar (grade 8), second runner-up.
2. Grandparents’ and Grandfriends’ Days were
enjoyed by all!
3. Upper School students studied for mid-terms up
until minutes before exams began.
4. This year’s Carnival was a huge success with
games, food, dancing and prizes for kids of all
ages.
5. Kindergartners ran through the hallways
looking for the elusive gingerbread men. When
they finally found the runaways, the children
decorated and ate the cookies.
6. Fifth graders took to the stage in the production
of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
7. Upper and Lower School students teamed up for
a buddy activity as they colored decorations to
adorn Thanksgiving food boxes for the annual
Nations Association food drive.
8. Never too old to play dress up, Upper School
students had fun at the Halloween costume
parade.
9. iPads were a welcome and exciting addition to
the classroom this year.
10. The fall Upper School play was the hilarious The
Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood.
11. The Canterbury community made a difference
for thousands of people when more than 4,000
pairs of socks were delivered to the Salvation
Army for their sock drive.
12. Eighth graders donned climbing gear for the
high ropes course at the three-day Pathfinder
camp.
13. The varsity football team fought their way to the
state championship, but lost a heartbreaker in
the last second of the game.
14. Homecoming class wars included high-spirited
relay races.
15. The new Pre-K 3 program is educational and
entertaining for the entire school!
16. Seventh graders, equipped with life jackets,
readied themselves for snorkeling while at
Seacamp in the Florida Keys.
18
2
1
7
6
11
12
5
3
4
8
9
10
16
13
15
14
19
Going for the
Gold
Photo taken in 1966 when Canterbury School was located on
Palm Avenue in Fort Myers. Shown are retired Canterbury
Spanish teacher Señora Nisla Tolp with two students and Vimita
Handlon who was visiting the school.
As Canterbury School approaches its 50th anniversary
(October 9, 2014), planning for a year full of activities is
underway. We’re not the oldest independent school in Florida.
That honor belongs to Academy of the Holy Names in Tampa,
founded in 1881, but we have been the only independent
school in Fort Myers since 1964.
Would you like to help plan and coordinate some of the events
for the year? The committee is discussing reunions, a parade,
picnics, a car show, a gala and more. It will take hundreds of
hands to make 2014-15 the most memorable in Canterbury’s
history. Contact the Development Office at (239) 481-4323
to offer your expertise and/or assistance.
And, speaking of history, we’re looking for your memories of the
school, faculty, staff, facility, courses or trips. Serious or funny, all
recollections are welcome. There is an online form you can complete.
Log on to www.canterburyfortmyers.org/history
20
Head of School Named
Vice President of Board of Directors
Florida Council of Independent Schools
Anna Smith, co-chair of the Canterbury School board of trustees, announced that Head
of School Tony Paulus was recently elected vice-president of the board of directors for the
Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), the professional education association that
accredits independent schools in Florida.
Dr. Barbara Hodges, executive director of the Florida Council of Independent Schools,
commented, “The leadership skills of Tony Paulus were observed very quickly by Florida
heads of school when he first took over the helm of Canterbury. As a result, Tony was named
to the Accreditation Commission in 2009 and was subsequently elected to the FCIS board
of directors in 2010. Tony was named the chair of the FCIS Accreditation Commission in
2011. In all of his service to FCIS, he has demonstrated strong decision-making skills and
true leadership. It seemed natural to tap him as the next FCIS vice president. Tony will
bring international, national, and state independent school experience to this office; Florida
independent schools will be the beneficiary.” n
Tony Paulus
Strictly
Politics
By Suzie Shin ’13
Suzie Shin, the creator of Strictly Politics, a
political cartoon she authors for Canterbury
School, is currently a senior. An eighth grade
civics class piqued Suzie’s interest in political
cartooning, and her original pieces have appeared
in About Canterbury since then.
21
And the Survey Says....
NAIS Canterbury Parent Survey
The Canterbury faculty and administration thank all participating parents for providing your perspectives via the May
2012 Parent Satisfaction Survey. Canterbury parents were asked to provide feedback regarding their choice of an independent
school as well as their Canterbury School experience.
Survey Instrument and Respondents: Canterbury School utilized an online, anonymous survey authored and administered
by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The survey was administered in May 2012. A total of 165
responses were received representing a 37 percent return.
The results from this survey will provide benchmarks and guideposts for future work. The survey comments reinforced our
commitment to educational excellence, and also helped identify areas where we can improve our performance. Each of the
areas has been carefully analyzed and will be placed in improvement plans.
A Snapshot of Survey Results:
99% 99% 98% 97%
96%
92% 90% 90%
Independent school education is composed of
academics and other school experiences. What is
most important to you?
(Identified as important or very important.)
99%
99%
98%
97%
96%
92%
90%
90% Quality of Faculty
Leadership Development
Academic Resources (e.g., books, technology)
Character Development
College Placement
Safety
Advisory System
School Facilities
95% 95% 95%
91% 89%
80%
75% 73%
Important Factors Beyond Academics
(Identified as important or very important.)
95%
95%
95%
91%
89%
80%
75%
73%
22
Academic Resources
Standardized Test Prep
College Placement
Academic Tutoring
Community Service
Clubs & Organizations
Athletics
Extracurricular, drama, arts & music
89% 86%
84% 84% 81% 81%
80% 76%
72% 71% 71%
How well is Canterbury preparing your child in the
following areas?(Identified as well and very well.)
89%
86%
84%
84%
81%
81%
80%
76%
72%
71%
71%
Delivering an overall challenging academic
curriculum
Reading and composition
Math
Health/PE
Literature
History
Working collaboratively & as a team
Sports & exercising regularly
Visual Arts
Science
Public speaking
90% 89%
80%
Overall Canterbury Experience
a. 90% of parents would definitely recommend
Canterbury to a friend or colleague.
b. 89% of parents agree or strongly agree that
Canterbury offers a welcoming environment for
both student and family.
c. 80% of parents are satisfied or very satisfied with
their children’s experiences.
The head of school, senior administration and
board of trustees have carefully reviewed the
survey results and have identified three key
areas of opportunity for the school.
Technology Integration
The survey did not measure the use of
integrated technology in the curriculum.
However, significant work has been done with
faculty, students and leadership to determine
the most appropriate course of action to
provide Canterbury students the advantages
of technology in their learning environment.
Completed:
• Creation of a comprehensive Technology
Plan that outlines how technology can enrich
both faculty teaching and student learning
across the curriculum.
• School directors are working collaboratively
to ensure a continued commitment to a
seamless curriculum with the implementation of instructional technology across
curriculums.
In Progress:
• An independent audit of Canterbury School’s
technology program throughout the entire
school.
Faculty retention, recruitment & development
Ninty-nine percent of parents felt that the
quality of the faculty was important/very
important. A recent NAIS survey deemed
this as an area critical to the healthy growth
of independent schools. Thirty-six percent of
current independent school faculty will retire
by 2016, with only 8 percent of college students
entering college with a pursuit of teaching.
Completed:
• To aid in teacher retention, the school
undertook a comprehensive review of faculty
benefits.
In Progress:
• Development of faculty proposals for
professional development awards through
the Edward E. Ford Foundation grant. These
proposals will provide seed investment
dollars for faculty to develop cuttingedge programs that will build or enhance
curricular offerings.
Communication
75 percent were satisfied with overall school
communications, yet 56 percent of survey
respondents felt that there was opportunity to
improve communication.
Completed:
• Launch
of
Weekly Wednesday,
a
comprehensive e-communication holding all
the news, events and activities for the week.
• Development of the school’s Facebook page
to serve as a quick source of news, tidbits and
activities on campus.
In Progress:
• A website redesign to aid in ease of navigation
and dissemination of information. The
project will include operations that are
interconnected through the website.
Keep up w
ith
Canterbur
y
on a daily
basis.
Like us on
Facebook
(Canterbur
y School Fo
rt Myers)
Follow us o
n Twitter
@Canterbu
ryFtMy (#C
SFM)
23
Cougars
Make the Move to 11-Man Football
Online registration begins in March
LF
I
C
O
G
Proceeds benefit Canterbury athletics
R
ATHLETI
CLUB
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The Colony Golf & Bay Club
Check the Canterbury website
(www.canterburyfortmyers.org)
for the team roster and listing of upcoming
games.
C
2nd Annual
Cougar Athletic Club
Golf Classic
for first-year programs. Marciano hopes
that for the 2014 season, the team will be
included in the local 2A district.
“There are many more opportunities in
the 11-man game for local contests to let
our kids shine and earn the recognition
they deserve,” says Marciano.
The team begins a rigorous off-season
program in January. May 1 marks the
official beginning of the program with 20
days of practice culminating with a spring
game. After that, the boys have a summer
full of conditioning and camps to prepare
for the challenge ahead.
“I believe we will surprise a lot of people
with how quickly we will be able to compete,”
says Marciano. “Our kids are special and
will never back down from a challenge.”
COUGA
The time is right. Next season, 11-man
football begins at Canterbury.
Within the past three years, the six- and
seven-man teams have amassed a 33-6
record, one state title and a state runnerup finish, prompting the decision. “All the
pieces are in place beginning with a weight
room that is second to none in this area.
The players are excited and ready to put
Canterbury football on the map,” says Dr.
Mike Marciano, head football coach. This
marks the first 11-man team since the
football program shut down in the early
1980s.
Back then, football was different. “The
program ended due to lack of interest,”
Marciano explains. “Today’s kids are
searching for a sense of belonging in the
school, and football, in my opinion, is the
greatest team builder a young person can
be exposed to.”
Next season the team plays a 10-game
independent schedule as mandated by the
Florida High School Athletic Association
S
C L AS
www.canterburyfortmyers.org/golf
24
Fall Sports Wrap Up
By Athletic Director Marc Taglieri
The fall sports season was one of the
most successful in recent memory with
outstanding participation in all of our
programs. More than 160 student-athletes,
from grades 6-12, participated in our
programs. All of the varsity teams finished
their seasons with records over .500 and a
combined 77-16 record.
The season saw the first 11-man Middle
School football team in school history.
Twenty-five boys in grades six through
eight led the way as they battled on the
field against some of the best middle school
teams in Southwest Florida.
At the high school level, the volleyball
team, behind the exploits of junior Carol
Marie Galloway and seniors Becca French
and Emma Galeana, repeated another
quality year finishing with 19 wins.
set the new mark with a time of 1:55.58.
The season also marked the end of one of
the best seasons in Canterbury swimming
history as Hannah Albion advanced to the
Florida High School Athletic Association
finals for the fifth consecutive season.
The Cougar varsity football team advanced
to the FCAPPS State Championship for
the second consecutive year behind junior
quarterback Alex Rabinowitz and seniors
Wyatt Smith, Tommy Quigley, Matt
Sweeney, and Luke Felts. The Cougars fell
just short of repeating as state champions,
losing a heartbreaker to Clearwater
Academy in the final seconds of the game.
This team, under the direction of first-year
Head Coach Mike Marciano, has paved the
way for a shift to 11-man football next year.
(See related story on the previous page)
Cheerleaders
MS football team
The cross-country, swimming, and boys’
and girls’ golf teams all advanced to regional
tournament play.
The cross-country team was led on the
girls’ side by siblings Katie and Kendall
Flaharty and on the boys’ side by Swedish
foreign exchange student Tim Waldenback.
Tim ran 18:08 to break the long-standing
record held by Ryan Butcher ‘01.
The golf teams both advanced to the
regionals after finishing second at
districts behind the stellar performance
of sophomores Carson Burton and Ryan
Arrison. The girls’ team advanced behind
the break out performance of sixth grader
Hannah Bailey. With such young teams, the
future remains very bright for both teams.
Varsity golf team
Cougar swimmers sent 11 athletes to the
regional meet. The team was led by the
school record-setting 200-free style relay
team of Lindsey Tague, Hannah Albion,
Kelly O’Connor and Karlie Olmstead, who
25
‘81
Class of 1981
Former students, Manya (Mary) Skorupski
and Brett Vartdal, D.M.D., have two
daughters, Sophia and Gwendolyn. Manya
is the youth outreach coordinator for Saint
Columbkille Catholic Parish in Fort Myers.
‘86
Class of 1986
The Suncoast Chapter of the National
Academy of Arts & Sciences nominated
Assignment Editor Janet Wilson and the
WINK-TV 11 p.m. news team for an Emmy
for their segment about the Edison Mall
shooting.
‘89
Class of 1989
Kim Clements, Ph.D., reached a milestone
in her career: 15 years as a school counselor
in the Lee County school district. She
recently co-authored an article that was
published in the Florida School Counselor
journal about using technology during
guidance classes to teach students how to
deal with bullying.
‘98
Class of 1998
Paul Precoda and Beverley Griffith-Precoda
’99 announced the arrival of eight-pound,
12-ounce Alex Ross on August 24.
‘99
Class of 1999
Jessica Hinkle is an independent theatrical
lighting designer in New York City. In the
fall, Jess enjoyed working at the same
studio where Sesame Street shoots its new
material.
‘00
Class of 2000
Annika Reese Franklin was born on Oct.
3, 2012. She is
the first child for
Drs. Josh and
Supriya Prabhu
Franklin.
The
family resides in
Houston where
Supriya is an
anesthesiologist.
‘94
Class of 1994
Some late-arriving news from Craig
Durrance: Craig lives in Los Angeles and
is engineering/producing/song writing.
He was nominated as engineer/mixer for a
Grammy Award a few years ago for Leona
Lewis’ song “Bleeding Love.”
‘96
Class of 1996
Chris Rothwell lives in the lower Florida
Keys with his wife, Lauren, and sevenyear-old daughter, Lexi. They are expecting
a second daughter in late January. Chris
loves his profession - meteorologist for the
National Weather Service in Key West.
‘97
Class of 1997
David and Alanna Gluhm Gehring are the
proud parents of Ethan Nicholas Gehring,
their first child. Ethan was born December
9 and weighed seven pounds, six ounces.
They live in Houston, Texas.
26
Amanda and Eric Rubenstein welcomed
their first child, Isabella Eden, in June.
Eric is an energy strategist and trader for
Citicorp in Houston, Texas.
After composing a few more minutes of
music, Mark Stahl will have completed a
bachelor of music in composition from
Portland State University. He teaches music
fundamentals to middle school and high
school students through the Metropolitan
Youth Symphony in Portland, Oregon.
Mark also holds a BA in Psychology from
the University of Miami.
‘01
Class of 2001
Lisa Carron and Aaron Lamb were married
in Atlanta on November 3, 2012.
returned to Florida for several months to
accumulate the flying hours required for a
commercial pilot’s license.
In July, Kim Egolf published her first novel,
My Dear Sophy. Currently Kim is writing
some stories, another novel, and teaching
English composition at Xavier University in
Cincinnati.
Hannah Keirnes, M.D., and Jake Lovejoy
were married on Sept. 2, 2012. They live in
Nashville.
Rebekah Kushner, Ph.D., is teaching upper
school science at Woodward Academy in
Atlanta.
Mathé Mosny graduated from Princeton
with a degree in operations research and
financial engineering. He works as a senior
analyst at Hutchin Hill Capital in New York
City and was selected in December 2012 as
one of Forbes magazine’s Top 30 Under 30
in finance.
Elissa Rosen, M.D., completed her first
international marathon in Queensland,
Australia, with a personal record of 3:34:49.
She spent a few weeks touring Australia and
New Zealand before returning to work as an
assistant professor
at the University of
Colorado, Denver.
Another daughter
for Kristin and
Bjorn Rosinus:
Emily Rose was
born on December
2 weighing six
pounds, 13
ounces.
Class of 2002
Rosalyn Daitch is working in D.C. after
spending time in India where she did
research on the education of girls in rural
communities.
Among 100-year-old oak trees and under
an arbor on the site of their future home
near Gainesville, Florida, Joy Mueller and
Sgt. Marlon Mendoza were wed on April 8,
Easter Sunday. Her father helped Joy build
the arbor and he performed the marriage
ceremony.
In October, Brian Smith was included
among ColoradoBiz magazine’s 25 Most
Influential Young Professionals. Brian’s
company, “The Space Creators,” converts
warehouse space in older industrial areas
of Denver into office and workspace for
small businesses, start-ups and artists.
The magazine states, “With creative use of
open space and active event management
Space Creators builds communities as well
as offices.” Brian received both BS and MS
degrees in finance from the University of
Denver.
Rachel Spear, Pharm.D., is excited to
be joining her father’s company, Spear
Pharmaceuticals, where she will concentrate
on developing new generic dermatologic
products.
‘03
Class of 2003
James Ford and Sarah Wells Shivers were
married on Sept. 30, 2012.
Tamir Bergman and Marissa Rubenstein
will be married on May 30 in Tel Aviv,
Israel. Tamir is an engineer with Intel and
Marissa is completing her master’s degree
in education and special education.
Ryan Fredericks was chosen to participate
in this year’s Leadership Bonita Springs
class.
While studying business management
at the University of Stirling in Scotland,
James Gollin spent a semester abroad…in
Kansas! Until recently, James was working
in London doing new media sales but has
27
Agus Galmarini and fellow Notre Dame
grad, Danny Ward, were married at South
Seas Plantation on December 1.
Kieran Sultan, M.D., is a resident in
pathology at Penrose St. Francis Health
Services in Colorado Springs.
‘04
Class of 2004
Danielle Daitch is in her third year at
Thomas Jefferson University Medical
School in Philadelphia.
Stephanie and Tyler Fritz announced the
arrival of “daddy’s little girl,” Elaine Anna
Fritz, on Oct. 11. Lainey weighed eight
pounds, 10 ounces and measured more
than 21 inches long.
Travis Kwok is the video coordinator for the
University of Florida women’s basketball
team. He coordinates all aspects of the
Gators’ film and video needs, including
opponent scouting, film exchange, film
breakdown, managing the video room and
supplying coaching staff with game film. In
addition, Travis oversees video projects for
the team’s website.
‘06
Class of 2006
Carly Emerson completed her master’s in
speech-language pathology at Florida State
University. She is practicing at a skilled
nursing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
‘07
Class of 2007
Daniel Adler is in his first year of law school
at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy,
Virginia.
Joanna Guglielmo and Steven Jobe are
planning a late June 2013 wedding. Joanna
is teaching third grade in Cape Coral.
Carissa Miller and Jon Tartaglia were
married at the White Orchid Oasis
downtown Fort Myers on November 2.
Francesca Schaerrer ’07 was in the bridal
party. Crissy, a registered nurse at Creekside
Pediatrics, is now a step-mom to Alexandra,
age 5. ‘05
Class of 2005
Canterbury sweethearts since seventh
grade, Michael Kushner and Marissa Tolep
were married on June 30 at the Hyatt
Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs.
Jonathan Rosen received his Ph.D. from
the University of Miami in December. His
field is international relations. Jonathan is
living in New York City where he works as a
political consultant.
Two advanced degrees in one year!! Mike
Rubenstein received his MBA in May 2012
from the University of Miami and his JD in
December.
Samantha Porter and James Didio were
married on October 27 in Fort Myers.
28
‘08
Class of 2008
Rene Fiorot is studying for her MBA at the
Crummer Graduate School of Business at
Rollins College.
Cheryl Johnson graduated cum laude
from Elon University in December with a
BA in sociology. Cheryl was honored with
membership in both Alpha Kappa Delta,
the International Sociology Honor Society,
and Psi Chi, the International Psychology
Honor Society.
Recent NYU grad and über foodie, Katherine
Kartis, is the maitre d’ at celebrity chef
Mario Batali’s New York City restaurant,
Enoteca Pizzeria, known as OTTO.
Brian Lordi graduated from Clemson
University with BS degrees in both
economics and construction science.
interviewed by ESPN radio in Asheville, by
SportsBuzz on Pulsenetwork.com and by
Sports Illustrated writer and biographer, Jeff
Pearlman.
‘10
Alana Rubenstein will be heading to
George Washington University where she
completed her undergraduate studies, for a
post-graduate degree in nursing.
Class of 2010
Danny Domingo is photography managing
editor of “Scholastic,” the University of
Notre Dame’s oldest (since 1867) student
monthly magazine. Eat your hearts out,
college football fans; Dan has been on the
field at all of the big games this year.
Class of 2009
Great news! Our three alumni at service
academies received their first choice
assignments for after graduation:
Lauren Pellecchia, a junior at Marist College
and Chris DiBiase ’09, a senior at the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point, announced
their engagement in September and are
planning to be married on June 29.
‘09
Sean Alexander, a 4th year midshipman at
the U.S. Naval Academy “service selected”
into the U.S. Marines where he will be
commissioned as a second lieutenant.
Christopher DiBiase, a 4th year cadet at
the U. S. Military Academy, was granted his
preferred assignment - U.S. Army Infantry.
After graduation from the U.S. Naval
Academy in May, MIDN Alexander
Kovensky will begin several years of study
and training for his top choice of military
careers - Marine Pilot.
In October, Gena Eddy, a senior majoring
in public policy, was named student of the
month at Stanford University.
Kelly Mercer spent last summer working in
Washington, D.C., with the EPA Office of
Water; now a senior at Wellesley College,
Kelly will be spending a big part of winter
break in Middle Caye, Belize, and La Selva,
Costa Rica, conducting water quality
research.
Jake Perper, a junior at the University of
Tampa, has a weekly program on WUTT
campus radio. Jake still maintains his
Chicago Bears blog, Bearsbacker.com,
which he started while in high school. The
blog has been so widely read that Jake was
‘11
Class of 2011
Muniele Melo and Thiago Militao were
married on Aug. 4.
Amy VanPelt, who plays center defense
for the soccer team at Oxford College of
Emory University, reported that her team’s
record this year qualified them to play in
the NJCAA Region “sweet sixteen” for the
national title.
‘12
Class of 2012
Sami Blaze got to see a lot of the country
while traveling with her volleyball team.
A first-year defensive specialist and setter
for Virginia Commonwealth University’s
volleyball team, Sami got to play in 21 out
of the 31 games this season. The team went
25-6 for the season but lost in the semifinals of the Atlantic-10 Tournament.
While most college bound students are
chillin’ at the beach in the summer, Parker
Sweet took the 63 hours of class and seven
hours of exams required to become a
licensed Florida real estate agent. He is now
a freshman at USF in Tampa.
29
Reu
2012
In
M e m o r i a m
Scott D. Schultz ’07
Scott entered Canterbury School in sixth grade and in Middle
School was recognized by the Duke University Talent Identification
Program (TIP). As a senior, Scott was not only class president, but
he was also voted “most spirited” in the yearbook’s list of senior
superlatives. His activities included Mock Trial, Model United
Nations, and band, where he played the clarinet. Frequently involved
in high school hijinks, he and Parker Lewton once dressed up as
the Brokeback Cowboys for a Sadie Hawkins’ dance. He enjoyed
the visual arts and made several short films while at Canterbury.
Rather than write a speech for his baccalaureate presentation, Scott
composed a poem. Scott graduated from Canterbury magna cum
laude and received the English departmental award.
Scott went on to a wonderful collegiate experience at Boston
College where he and Canterbury classmate Blake Carron’07 wrote
and directed a short film that won the Best Film award in the 2008
Campus Moviefest.
Not long after receiving his degree from Boston College, Scott
moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film writing. Two days
before relocating to San Francisco to be close to Michelle, his college
sweetheart (and hopefully, fiancé,) Scott died suddenly, without
apparent cause.
Scott touched many lives and the entire Canterbury community is
saddened by his death.
30
1. KC Wassman and Will
Heise (Both Class of 2010)
2. (All Class of 2009) Janine
Kennedy, Nat Liu, Hunter
Smith, Sean Alexander
and Gena Eddy
3. Meredith Listowski ’06
and Emmie Derbäck ’10
4. Marissa (Moon) Analouei
’95 and Kori (Lipman)
Howell ’96
5. Ashley Davis ’06 and
Kendahl Voelker ’07
6. BJ Rosinus ’01, Brian
O’Neill ’98, Lauren
Harris ’04 and Kelly
(O’Donoghue) Todd ’96
7. Carly Emerson, Jordan
Blue and Jennifer Harris
(All Class of 2006)
8. Susan Frantz and Erin
Williams (Both Class of
2003)
9. Adam Finney ’99,
Lauren Harris ’04 and
Elaine Sherer ’88
10. Kelsey Johnson ’96
and Erin (O’Donoghue)
Gebeau ’99
nion
3
4
1
2
5
8
6
7
9
10
31
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