Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

One of the Thanksgiving Feast traditions we celebrate at Canterbury is decorating our Gratitude Tree. Students are invited to write what they are grateful for on leaves of colored paper and our high school students tape them onto the tree during the festivities. I took some time to read those heart-warming little leaves today and was touched by the barely legible handwriting of our youngest and the sophistication of our oldest students. 

Naturally, family was the number one thing for which our students expressed thanks. Friends, pets, and things related to school were mentioned with great frequency as well. Your children expressed gratitude for their teachers and their time in sports, the arts, and coursework. Their gratitude inspired me to make a few leaves of my own about the blessings of Canterbury. 

I am grateful for the loud and cheerful group of students currently decorating the MS office. I'm grateful for a place where students can play on the team and be in the play. I'm grateful for faculty members (teaching and non-teaching) in all four divisions who have great expectations for their students and a clear plan to help them succeed. I'm grateful to be an artist working in a school where 82% percent of the 2018 graduating class chose to exceed their fine arts graduation requirements. 

With a busy, exciting and meaningful array of musical performances in the month of December, I will remember the little leaves and count my blessings. May you and your loved ones have a beautiful holiday season. 

Warmly,

Ranae Butler
Fine Arts Department Chair/Artistic Director

Elizabeth Patterson was voted "Best High School Teacher" in the Fort Wayne Newspapers' Reader's Choice Awards. Check out her thoughts on all of Canterbury's holiday performances and how important they are to the students and our community by clicking here!

After appearing in the high school musical, Harley Babbit '22 and Kylin Barr '23, take their talents downtown! Both theatre lovers are working as stage managers for the Fort Wayne Youtheatre production of Frozen, Jr. Break a leg Harley and Kylin!

In November, Canterbury Orchestra violinist Jessica Zhou '22 performed in a masterclass at Purdue University Fort Wayne for internationally renowned violinist Igor Yusefovich. Yusefovich was the former concertmaster of the Singapore Symphony and is now Concertmaster for the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Jessica played the first movement of Summer from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. 

High School choir student Mallory McKibbon '23 performs with the School of Rock House Band. The School of Rock Fort Wayne House Band music program gives students ages 8-18 the opportunity to join a gigging band composed of fellow musicians.

Canterbury Early Childhood music teacher Patricia Reeves and Miles Boon '32 are performing in the Fort Wayne Ballet production of The Nutcracker. Miles dances the role of the miniature nutcracker and Mrs. Reeves is a party guest. They are doing a wonderful job representing Canterbury in such an outstanding production! There are two performances left, learn more here.

Canterbury High School student Teddy Tsai '20 created a drawing to show his appreciation for the new drum sets at Canterbury, funded by donations at last year's Laughing Cavalier. The students are thrilled with the new drums at the High School and Middle School!