Cav Games

Canterbury is an interesting place in a lot of respects. Before I began working here, I had a stereotypical attitude about what this place is all about. Rich white kids, a puffed-up appreciation for high test scores and AP exam success, and just a generally aristocratic view of the world. Boy, was I wrong!

People here work very hard, they treat each other well, and they earn every bit of success that they achieve. Teachers and students are multi-talented. The school blends a diverse set of races, religions, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school is growing and blossoming under the watchful eye of people who genuinely care about not only the strengths of the school, but also the areas where we encounter challenges and need to find ways to be better. In other words, it's a successful "work in progress."

Today, the unique culture of Canterbury allows us to set aside an afternoon for something known as Cav Games. It's a time for everyone here to blow off some steam, dress in some outlandish outfits and colors, and to participate as teachers and students in "competition" against other teachers and students in a wide range of games and contests. The closest thing I can compare it to is the "class struggle" days of long ago where the four classes challenged each other in tricycle races and egg tosses and wiffle ball games.

Canterbury has its own set of competitions. Games like tug of war and dodge ball are old stand-bys. But we also have gym soccer (what's Canterbury without a soccer match?), can-can (you'd have to see it to appreciate it), and a spirited game of Jeopardy - the Canterbury version - to conclude the day. Points are earned, a trophy (and associated bragging rights) is awarded, and we all ease into the weekend secure in our belief that nobody anywhere is doing silly stuff like this. Everyone gets into the act as we take pride in our colors and fight for the honor of our House. It's a lot of fun, a mindless reprieve from the sometimes high-pressure nature of our college prep curriculum. And, without a doubt, it is uniquely Canterbury.