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Rooted to Rise 2.0
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.
Attendees enjoyed dinner in our Hanno Dining Hall before heading to the Performing Arts Center for the presentation. Speakers included Head of School Rick Kirschner, Athletic Director Frank Turco, Associate Athletic Director Trent Carter, and Dean of Athletics Matt Booth. The Athletics Department also shared a special video to get everyone excited for the new year. Click here or scroll down to view the video. Student-athletes and their families ended the evening by meeting coaches in our Murphy Sports Center and grabbing their special edition Canterbury Athletics shirt for the school year.
Last year, the focus was on establishing a strong foundation and fostering a unique cultural environment within Canterbury’s athletics. This year, the school is building upon that foundation with Rooted to Rise 2.0, drawing inspiration from the resilient Redwood trees, whose roots extend outward to support one another rather than anchoring deeply in isolation. This metaphor reflects Canterbury's belief in the power of community and mutual support, emphasizing that "we will reach new heights by holding each other up through the obstacles, barriers, and adversity we will face in our journey together."
Last year, the focus was on establishing a strong foundation and fostering a unique cultural environment within Canterbury’s athletics. This year, the school is building upon that foundation with Rooted to Rise 2.0, drawing inspiration from the resilient Redwood trees, whose roots extend outward to support one another rather than anchoring deeply in isolation. This metaphor reflects Canterbury's belief in the power of community and mutual support, emphasizing that "we will reach new heights by holding each other up through the obstacles, barriers, and adversity we will face in our journey together."
Canterbury’s athletic department is committed to intentionally creating an environment where every individual feels heard, seen, and valued. The vision remains unchanged: to help all athletes achieve competitive greatness while discovering the best versions of themselves.
This year, the focus shifts towards optimizing the performance environment. Canterbury has identified three key pillars to support this goal: Mental Performance, Deliberate Practice, and Accountability. To enhance the mental performance aspect, the school has partnered with Dr. Melinda Kirschner and her company, For the Players. Dr. Kirschner, the former Director of UCLA Athletics Mental Health Services, brings a wealth of experience in student-athlete mental health and performance. She will lead several mental performance workshops throughout the seasons, offering Canterbury’s athletes invaluable tools and strategies.
These workshops, delivered by Canterbury’s Dean of Athletics Matt Booth, will cover topics such as emotional awareness, managing emotions, building confidence and a growth mindset, handling pressure, developing a healthy inner coach, resilience, and positive self-talk. The goal is to equip student-athletes with the skills they need to face challenges head-on, maintain their well-being, and achieve high performance in all areas of life.
As Canterbury School embarks on this new chapter, the message is clear: greatness lies within every student-athlete. The mission is to create an environment that chips away the extra layers, allowing each individual's best to shine through and achieve competitive greatness in all aspects of life.
