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On the evening of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Canterbury School welcomed parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends of the School for the inaugural Class in Session, a new event designed to bring guests into the heart of what makes learning at Canterbury so distinctive. Through a series of interactive mini-classes led by Upper School faculty, attendees experienced firsthand the curiosity, rigor, and creativity that define Canterbury classrooms each day.
Following a brief welcome from Head of School Rick Kirschner, guests stepped into the role of “students” and began rotating through engaging, hands-on sessions that were equal parts intellectually stimulating and genuinely fun.
The evening opened with Upper School English Teacher Mr. Mike Hibbs, who brought poetry to life with the energy and enthusiasm his students know well. Guiding participants through close reading and discussion, Mr. Hibbs invited the group to explore the interpretive richness of Robert Browning’s work. With thoughtful questions and lively conversation, the classroom quickly felt like a true seminar, proving that poetry does not sit quietly on a page at Canterbury.
Next, guests headed to Upper School Mathematics Teacher Ms. Caren Speier’s classroom for a mathematics lesson with an unexpected twist: Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Using the famous event as a springboard for data-driven problem solving, Ms. Speier had “students” analyzing numbers, thinking critically, and laughing along the way. It was a memorable reminder that strong math instruction can be both challenging and delightfully creative.
The final stop took participants into Upper School Science Teacher Mr. Brennan Mercker’s science lab for a hands-on look at Organic Chemistry. With goggles and gloves on, guests conducted an experiment exploring esters, a class of organic compounds formed through the reaction of an acid and an alcohol. Known for their often pleasant, fruity scents and flavors, esters play an important role in perfumes, foods, and cosmetics, while also serving as industrial solvents, plasticizers, and lubricants. The result was a classroom full of curiosity, observation, and a few surprised smiles as participants experienced the kind of authentic lab work that makes science feel immediate and real.
From the first discussion to the final experiment, Class in Session offered a lively glimpse into the daily joy and challenge Canterbury students experience in their classrooms. The school is grateful to everyone who joined us for this inaugural event and to the faculty who made the evening so engaging. With such a strong start, Canterbury looks forward to offering more opportunities like Class in Session in the future, inviting our community to continue learning together.