Advancement

FAMILY WEEKEND & HOMECOMING

BRINGING SAINTS TOGETHER ON THE HILLTOP

The old saying is true—home is where the heart is. And that is just what Canterbury School was for the many Saints past and present who returned to campus last fall for Family Weekend and Homecoming. It was especially gratifying to see everyone after not holding these events in person the previous year due to COVID-19. Family Weekend Events

Family and friends of current students were welcomed to campus in late October for the annual Family Weekend. More than 200 guests joined students on the hilltop for two days of programming, culminating in fall festivities and athletic competitions at Homecoming on Saturday afternoon. It was a full two days for family members, who had the opportunity to: • Participate in virtual parent/teacher conferences • Hear remarks from Head of School Rachel

Stone P ’23, ’24

• Discuss (Re)Building Community, Culture, and Relationships in 2021-22 with faculty and administrators • Visit program open houses in the Steers

Center’s Innovation & Design Lab, Coleman

Digital Media Lab, and D’Amour Center for

Faith, Service & Justice • View student works of art in The Edward J.

Duffy Family Gallery • Enjoy a concert on the Steers Center terrace with cookies and cocoa, which included vocal performances by Varsity Voices, Chorale, and

Ava Faruol ’24, and jazz tunes by Mark

“Maverick” Foster ’22 and Xavier

Leone ’23

Homecoming Celebration

Following Family Weekend activities, Canterbury families and current students were joined by alumni for the annual Homecoming celebration on Saturday afternoon. All teams played at home against Berkshire School for the coveted Walter F. Sheehan Trophy, which the Saints took back thanks to several great wins for Girls’ Varsity Soccer, Varsity Football, Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country, and JV Field Hockey. The beautiful fall weather was a perfect setting for enjoying delicious barbecue fare from The Cookhouse. Families, students, alumni, and faculty mingled outside while taking in the surrounding games. Face painting, pumpkin decorating, and lawn games were big hits for the younger spectators under the tent. Alumni from the Classes of 1995 and 1996 continued the festivities at Housatonic River Brewing Company in New Milford after the last games wrapped up, celebrating their 25th Reunions over food, drinks, and live music. The Old Guard Classes of 1954–1969 were also honored with a reunion of 25 alumni—the largest to date—on Saturday evening. The classes reminisced over dinner and cocktails in the Brodie Room, and the Class of 1965 even got their band, the Kingbees, back together for the event!

Everyone was in a celebratory mood on the hilltop for the return of Canterbury’s Family Weekend and Homecoming in 2021.

NYC Christmas Party Makes a Joyful Return

The annual Canterbury Christmas Party made its festive return on December 9, bringing together more than 120 alumni and parents at The Harvard Club of New York. Guests thoroughly enjoyed gathering for the occasion and kicking off the holiday season with fellow Saints.

William “Macy” Steers, Jr. ’04, Co-President of the Society of Alumni, addressed the group. “On behalf of my fellow Co-President Patricia Rasmussen ’92, my SOA Executive Committee colleagues, Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24, and Canterbury’s Board of Trustees, I am pleased to extend a very special welcome to everyone here this evening,” he told them. “This event is a wonderful tradition that allows us to appreciate our friendships and shared affection for our beloved school. Considering the circumstances and the fact that this is our first Christmas party since 2019, it is remarkable to consider today’s turnout—truly an indication that our community has missed connecting with each other!”