On Saturday, December 14, 2024, Canterbury School had two teams of fourth-grade students compete in the FIRST® LEGO® League Tournament at Dunbar Middle School.
The Extravaganza 2024 Diamond Anniversary, presented by Busey Bank, was an unforgettable celebration of Canterbury School’s 60 years of academic excellence! Together, we raised almost $800,000 during the event! Thanks to the incredible generosity of Dr. Daniel and Mrs. Chely Dosoretz, $575,000 of that amount was matched, bringing our total to a record-breaking $1,365,000! This remarkable achievement ensures brighter futures for our students.
In a special milestone, we also completed the $1 Million Dosoretz Family Fund for Academic Excellence Challenge Match. Before Extravaganza, we raised $425,000 in donations to the Canterbury Fund, with the final $575,000 contributed during the event. These critical funds are already strengthening our school by enabling us to recruit, hire, and retain the most talented and innovative faculty, ensuring an unparalleled educational experience for our students.
Canterbury School Art Honor Society (CAHS) is proud to announce the induction of 37 new members in a ceremony on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, in the Ellenberg Libary.
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, Middle School Independent Science Research students showcased their projects to a panel of Upper School student judges.
On Friday, December 6, 2024, Canterbury School’s Ellenberg Library buzzed with activity as students gathered for a special Project Linus volunteer event led by Leena A. ’27. The turnout exceeded all expectations, with students working together to craft an incredible 130 blankets for children in need.
As athletes progress through their careers, the intensity of the pressure they face escalates. The more visible and successful they become, the higher the expectations—both from themselves and others. For many athletes, this pressure, combined with perfectionism, can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being, often leading to anxiety. While a moderate level of anxiety can enhance focus and performance, an excess or lack of it can be detrimental. The key is to understand the impact of pressure and perfectionism and develop strategies for managing these emotions in a way that optimizes performance.
As part of our ongoing commitment to community outreach, Canterbury School is proud to partner once again with Nations Association Charities to provide stockings for their annual holiday party. We invite you to contribute a variety of items to help fill stockings for boys and girls in need. Donations will be gratefully accepted through December 16.
The Canterbury Model UN Team had the incredible opportunity to travel to Williamsburg, Virginia, for the 38th annual William & Mary High School Model UN Conference (WMHSMUN XXXVIII). The event took place November 15-17, 2024, on the campus of William & Mary. With more than 700 delegates from around the world in attendance, our team worked hard throughout the week, with several Cougars bringing home prestigious awards!
Ever since the release of Carol Dweck’s highly influential book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, the conversation around growth and fixed mindsets has gained momentum over the years. But what exactly are the differences between the two mindsets? A growth mindset is the belief that we can build and develop our skills. In a growth mindset, we believe that we have the capacity to learn and grow. A fixed mindset is the belief that our skills are set, that we have what we have, and that we cannot change them. In a fixed mindset, we believe that we don’t really have the capacity to change and learn.
On November 15, 2024, Canterbury School had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Dawn Belamarich, President & CEO of Collaboratory to speak with the Upper and Middle School students as part of our Leadership Institute for Tomorrow, or LIFT initiative. A dynamic speaker and innovator, Dawn engaged students with her insights on fostering creativity and collaboration in today’s interconnected world.
Congratulations to Stephan S. ’27 on his outstanding performance in the Mathematical Association of America AMC-10 Competition at Florida Gulf Coast University. Stephan placed first in the competition, showcasing his exceptional mathematical abilities.
The Canterbury Model United Nations (MUN) team recently traveled to Orlando to participate in the annual KnightMUN conference, held at the University of Central Florida from November 8 to November 10. All twenty delegates represented Canterbury with impressive skill and diplomacy across a range of committees, and several students earned awards for their outstanding contributions. Special thanks to Shannon Frank for chaperoning the trip and supporting the team’s success.
The Canterbury School Arts Department proudly congratulates our Junior Thespian Troupe 89393 on their outstanding performance at the District Competition, held on November 8-9, 2024, at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts.
Step aside, Mr. Kirschner—there were new Head(s) of School in charge!
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Evan D. ’32, Lydia D. ’33, Carina F. ’32, Samantha P. ’34, Andy P. ’37, Asher M. ’30, and Naomi D. ’35 took over as Head of School. They got an inside look at what it takes to lead a top prep school while also enjoying some of Mr. Kirschner's favorite activities.
Camary Williams, Canterbury’s Head Girls Basketball Coach and Middle School PE/Health Coach, has been honored with induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Cape Coral High School.
Our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, a cherished tradition at Canterbury, is now in full swing, benefiting Nations Association Charities and the Gladiolus Food Pantry.
On October 1, 2024, Canterbury alum Marina Curry '20 visited our Freshman Seminar classes to share valuable insights from her recent studies in history.
On October 18, 2024, Canterbury School hosted its second annual Founders’ Day Celebration, a day marked by reflection, honor, and community. This year’s event was particularly special as the school celebrated its 60th anniversary, paying tribute to the people and milestones that have shaped Canterbury’s legacy.
Canterbury's Thespian Troupe 5782 brought home 27 awards from the local Southwest Florida Theatrical Society (SWFTs) competition hosted at Cypress Lake High School on October 4-5, 2024.
Canterbury School is proud to share that we have earned PLATINUM recognition on the 2024 AP School Honor Roll! The Advanced Placement School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results and broadening access for students.
Rebecca Yu He, our Middle and Upper School Chinese Teacher, was awarded Most Valuable Teacher at the 2024 Florida Foreign Language Association, titled "Building Belonging through Language, Culture, and Connections". The conference was held September 26-28 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista South in Kissimmee.
It is no secret that emotions are going to show up before, during, and after games and/or practices throughout a person’s athletic career. We also understand that emotions can either enhance or interfere with performance. The challenge for athletes is being able to determine his/her preferred level of arousal that allows them to perform at their optimum. Understanding what emotional state you need to be in is critical for athletes to perform their best. Using a ranking system to gauge arousal levels and their impact on performance can help athletes, coaches, and parents tailor strategies to individual needs. Here’s how this can be applied practically:
Five Canterbury students have been named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program! Congratulations to Laith A. '25, Dusty D. '25, Alexander E. '25, Jessica M. '25, and Kyle S. '25 on being awarded this distinguished honor.
Congratulations to Canterbury’s Model United Nations (MUN) team for an excellent performance at the VikingMUN (Model United Nations) Conference at Bishop Verot High School on Saturday, September 21, 2024. We had eleven delegates participate with many taking home awards.
The future of Canterbury Swim and Dive looks exceptionally bright! With the all too familiar challenges of weather all outdoor fall sports face, the young Canterbury Swim and Dive team is rising above mother nature and off-campus practices.
This week, Middle School students came together for a meaningful reflection on Canterbury’s Honor Code during a special assembly. Held at the start of each semester, the Honor Assembly emphasizes the importance of making responsible choices, exercising good judgment, and upholding strong character.
We are thrilled to announce that Anika K. ’25 has been named a National Merit Semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®). This prestigious honor places Anika among the top academic achievers in the country.
On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, David Shepard ’09 returned to his hometown of Fort Myers and stopped by Canterbury to speak with Upper School students about his journey as both an artist and fashion designer. Shepard shared how his background in botany has shaped his creative process, allowing him to infuse purpose into his clothing, telling meaningful stories with each piece. He also emphasized the importance of scalable designs, explaining how each drawing opens up new possibilities for creativity.
We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Literati Book Fair! This event is an opportunity for students of all ages to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. The fair will take place from September 12 - 20, 2024, in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
We are excited to announce that the 2024-2025 Lower School Character Council is off to a fantastic start! This year’s council features five dedicated fourth-grade ambassadors who will represent the pillars of character throughout the Lower School. Our ambassadors are Rory B. ’33, Lydia T. ’33, Camden E. ’33, Shea M. ’33, and Hudson K. ’33.
On Friday, August 30, Canterbury School was honored to host a special guest speaker from Minding Your Mind, a national non-profit dedicated to providing mental health education for students from kindergarten through college.
On Tuesday, August 27, Canterbury Upper School students and faculty gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the school's Honor Code. This important assembly, held at the start of each semester, emphasizes the significance of making ethical decisions, exercising sound judgment, and embodying strong character.
We are thrilled to announce that Canterbury’s 2024 SOUP Literary and Art Magazine has received an Award of Excellence for its stunning cover design in this year’s prestigious Florida Print Awards.
We are proud to announce that Dhira S. ’29 has secured second place in the Grades 6-8 division of the Invention Convention Americas 2024, presented by RTX.
We would like to welcome you to our Optimizing Mental Performance Blog. Our goal is to provide education, tips, and strategies and inform parents of the content we are teaching to our student-athletes in our newly formed mental performance workshops this year.
Canterbury School is pleased to announce a $1 MILLION MATCHING GIFT from Dr. Daniel and Mrs. Chely Dosoretz on behalf of their family to create the Dosoretz Family Fund for Academic Excellence.
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Canterbury School began a new tradition of holding a Senior Investiture to kick off the new school year. This event formally recognizes seniors as campus leaders. The Class of 2025 enjoyed lunch and officially received their senior shirts. To conclude the event, Canterbury alumna and Middle School History Teacher, Kim West ’87, shared a special message with the graduating class.
We are thrilled to announce that our school's 2023 yearbook, The Lair Volume 49, has been recognized by our publisher, Balfour, in the 2024 Yearbook Yearbook.
Canterbury School Hosts Second Annual Back-to-School Athletics Night, Unveiling New Performance Focus
On Friday, August 9, 2024, Canterbury School proudly hosted its second annual Back-to-School Athletics Night, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead. The evening was filled with anticipation as students, parents, and staff gathered to celebrate the school’s athletic program and its ongoing commitment to excellence.
Canterbury School welcomes several new faculty and staff members for our 2024-2025 school year. Each joins our community with an outstanding background and a commitment to academic excellence.
The newest edition of The Lair, Canterbury’s yearbook, has officially been released! We want to acknowledge Mr. Grey and the yearbook staff for their dedication to crafting this wonderful book filled with creativity and unforgettable memories.
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, students from the Class of 2028, along with their parents and members of Canterbury’s faculty gathered in the Murphy Sports Center to celebrate the accomplishments of those preparing to leave the Middle School.
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, our fourth-grade students wrapped up their year-long Entrepreneurship project with a special presentation detailing the success of the Cub Cave.
Twenty Canterbury students were inducted into the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society on Monday evening in the Performing Arts Center in an intimate ceremony with family and teachers.
Seven Canterbury Track and Field student-athletes traveled to the University of North Florida to compete at the FHSAA 1A State Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, May 15.
The National English Honor Society (NEHS) members of Canterbury’s Upper School and some of our Lower School students in second to fourth grades recently teamed up to write short stories.
Members of the Canterbury Track and Field team are headed to the state championships after a stellar performance at regionals on Tuesday, May 7, at IMG Academy.
Canterbury students in kindergarten through fourth grade showcased their business skills in the Lower School Entrepreneur Competition on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in the Performing Arts Center.
SOUP is Canterbury's literary and art magazine that comes out every spring, and it's a great opportunity for Upper School students to have their work "published."
We want to congratulate seven of our student musicians in Middle School for being selected to participate in the Symphonic Celebration at the University of South Florida. This special event, which took place on April 26 - 28, 2024, features students from all over the state.
On Wednesday, May 1, the World Languages Department gathered in the Ellenberg Library to induct students into the American Sign Language (ASL), Chinese, French, and Spanish Honor Societies.
Canterbury's track and field teams had strong showings at the FHSAA Track and Field District Championships on Thursday, April 25, at Community School of Naples.
The Canterbury boys and girls track and field squads had strong showings at the Private 8 Championships last week, April 18-19, 2024, at Evangelical Christian School.
Canterbury School’s chapter of the National English Honor Society (NEHS) is proud to announce the induction of 29 new members in a ceremony on Monday, April 15, 2024, in the Performing Arts Center.
Canterbury's chapter of the Science National Honor Society (SNHS) welcomed more than 50 new members on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in a formal induction in Canterbury's Performing Arts Center.
Congratulations to our student musicians in Middle School on bringing home a couple of trophies from OrlandoFest, a premier music and performing arts festival.
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Canterbury's chapter of Mu Alpha Theta welcomed 17 new members into the prestigious society with a short ceremony in the Ellenberg Library.
Congratulations are in order for junior Anika K. '25 on finishing third overall at the 2024 Florida Gulf Coast Catholic Forensics League (FGCCFL) Novice Debate Championships.
The Canterbury Arts Department would like to shine a light on Troupe 5782 and their amazing performances at the Florida State Thespian Festival, March 13-16, 2024, in Tampa.
Canterbury School would like to congratulate 55 of our Upper School students on their induction into the Pinnacle Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS).
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Canterbury School students, faculty, staff, and parents showcased their commitment to service during a special check presentation for their 40th Annual Marathon.
Congratulations to junior Natasha A. ’25 for recently winning first place in the Patriots of the American History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Estero Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).
Canterbury students in Lower, Middle and Upper Schools had a chance to present inventions at the 37th Annual Thomas A. Edison Festival of Light Regional Inventors Fair this past February at FGCU.
Congratulations to Canterbury's French Academic Team for their successful showing at the recent Congres de la Culture Francaise en Floride (CCCF), March 7-9, 2024, in Orlando.
Congratulations to varsity track and field runner Justin H. '24 on being selected as our Athlete of the Week for the week of February 26- March 3, 2024.
On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Canterbury School honored 34 Middle School students as they were inducted into Canterbury’s Acme Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society.
Canterbury's Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter traveled to Orlando over the winter break to compete at the 24th Annual State Leadership Conference.
Upper School Chinese students traveled to Lake Highland Preparatory School, March 1-2, 2024, to participate in the 18th Annual Florida Statewide Chinese Competition.
Canterbury's Model United Nations team traveled to Washington D.C. over winter break to compete in the North American Invitational Model United Nations Conference (NAIMUN LXI).
Congratulations are in order for the thirteen Middle and Upper School students who represented Canterbury at the 2024 Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Engineering Fair.
Wellness Week is an annual special emphasis on the importance of all aspects of foundational wellness skills in our students that we can continue to foster all year long.
The Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) released its winter sports Player and Coach of the Year winners for each classification this week, with Canterbury sweeping the honors in three sports!
The National Speech and Debate Association recognized the accomplishments of Canterbury Scchool students Ella C. '25 and Anika K. '25 by officially inducting them into The National Forensics League Honor Society.
Four Canterbury students have been named Finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Zach B. '24, Michaela F. '24, Alexa G. '24, and Aaron S. '24 on being awarded this distinguished honor.
Canterbury School would like to recognize the many amazing student artists who recently participated in the 2024 ArtFest Art Under 20 Juried Art Competition in downtown Fort Myers. All of our students should be proud of their talent and hard work!
Sophia B. '26 had the honor of representing Canterbury in the recent All-State Band performances at the Florida Music Educators Association Conference, January 10-13, 2024, in Tampa.
More than 50 Upper School students traveled to Estero High School on Saturday, January 27, to participate in the the Regional HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) Competition.
Canterbury Model United Nations (MUN) delegates had strong performances at the VikingMUN Conference hosted at Bishop Verot on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Canterbury juniors Anika K. '25 and Ella C. '25 traveled to Tampa for the Florida Gulf Coast Catholic Forensics League (FGCCFL) All Events 5 Debate Tournament at Robinson High School on January 20, 2024.
Six Upper School students have been selected to represent Canterbury at the upcoming Thomas A. Edison Regional Science Fair in February at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Canterbury's Model United Nations (MUN) chapter traveled to Columbia University in New York City to compete in the Columbia Model United Nations Conference and Exposition (CMUNCE) on January 11-14, 2023.
Congratulations are in order for nine Lower School students who have inventions advancing onto the Thomas A. Edison Festival of Light Regional Inventors Fair, presented by SONY Electronics, Inc.
The Canterbury varsity boys wrestling team surprised critics at the 2024 FHSAA Dual Districts on Friday, January 5, at First Baptist Academy in Naples.
Congratulations to varsity soccer player Josh H. '26 on being selected as our Athlete of the Week for his performance during the last week of school in December.
On Tuesday, December 12, Canterbury's DECA chapter traveled to Florida Gulf Coast University for the regional competition against fellow District 7 chapters.