Women of Canterbury Lock-In a Big Success, with a New Home!

“A dedicated time and space for all the females on campus to make connections and get to know each other.” That is how one attendee described the annual Women of Canterbury Lock-In Retreat, and everyone involved was delighted to be a part of the long-standing tradition. The Lock-In was held on January 14 with a new venue—the Ragland Commons in the Steers Center. 

Featuring icebreakers, a meditation and mindfulness session, a women’s empowerment movie (Ocean’s Eight), craft stations, and more, the event gave female members of the Canterbury community a chance to relax with friends—and make some new ones—in a welcoming, comfortable, community-building atmosphere. A number of faculty—including Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24 and Director of Health Services Colleen Cook, R.N. ’02 —joined the 45 students in attendance.

No one was more excited about it than Women of Canterbury Co-Presidents Kaly Naughton ’22 and Gigi Esposito ’22. “It’s such a fun environment spending time with everyone,” Gigi said. “I feel we’re all so busy after break, getting back into a routine, stressed about everything—so I’m just glad to be able to relax and see people I don’t see every day in the hallway or out and about on campus. We were so happy with the turnout!”

Kaly echoed those sentiments. “People get a better sense of community with the identifying females on campus,” she shared. “You get to know the faculty because a lot of the female faculty come to the Lock-In even if they can’t make it to the meetings. You really get to form strong bonds with people you wouldn’t usually know outside the Lock-In.”

As the School continues to celebrate 50 Years of Coeducation, the Lock-In served as another poignant reminder of the contributions made to this community by its female members. Started in 1991, Women of Canterbury is the School’s longest-standing affinity group. It sponsors activities, discussion groups, and community service projects to enrich the educational and social environment for Canterbury girls.

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