UNVEILING OF THE CELEBRATORY MURAL AT THE T.GIL BUNCH CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS

Six months in the making, the mural celebrating the promise and potential of our student performers was unveiled on Wednesday evening at the T.Gil Bunch Centre to an invited and appreciable gathering of Brentonians. Board members, parents, faculty and friends of school gathered first in the Killy Theatre to hear our new junior choir conducted by music teacher Elizabeth MacIsaac and accompanied by Director of Music, John Williams. Although at the “baby step” (Digby) stage of their artistic journey at Brentwood, their charming performance attested to the high standards of excellence expected in all of our Fine Arts programmes.

The gathering then moved out to the foyer to pay tribute to Victoria’s Bill Adams, the artist and set designer who conceived and executed the mural of sixteen individual oil paintings, representing each of the performance courses offered at Brentwood. Mr. Adam’s relationship with the school began with his superior set designs for Musical Theatre’s “My Fair Lady”, the last musical staged in the old auditorium. When we moved into the new facility, everyday of rehearsal for “Crazy For You” saw him gazing at the empty brick wall that faced audiences coming into the foyer. In June of 2004, he approached me with the idea of creating a mural of paintings that would be inclusive of both successful alumni and present students. We brought the concept to Head of School, Mrs. Pennells. She enthusiastically agreed and approached the Krysa family for financial support. With their blessing, the research began. Over the summer, we explored the archives, with the able assistance of Michelle Fairbanks, our graphic designer, presenting a variety of versions of the mural to the administration for discussion and approval.

What you see as you come into the Bunch is in fact the symbolic realisation of “ De Manu In Manum”. Bordering the sampling of students are two of our most successful career performers: Ben Butterfield and Kevin Mambo. The individual student performers who are painted have made recognisable contributions to their programmes. The hands at the piano and the tap shoes pay tribute to the legion of those students who have thrilled us with a variety of accomplishments on our stages. Group and ensemble pieces represent all of those who "tread the boards" to sing, play or act, whether for school celebrations or public performance. They all bespeak the passion and commitment that we all strive to achieve in our creative work. They all should inspire us to see what is possible when we “educate our imaginations” (Frye).

Edna Widenmaier (Head of Fine Arts)

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS PART II

On Friday and Saturday, happy Brentwood students could be seen all around campus, smartly dressed in their number one uniforms, with parents in tow. The second Parent/Teacher/Student interviews were taking place and the campus was abuzz with parental expectations of excellence from their students' first term at Brentwood.

Teacher Jane Jackson stated that her favourite part of the two days worth of interviews was “Seeing the interaction between the students and their parents and how differently they act in front of parents compared to in front of me.” Ms. Jackson told me that one girl’s parents were shocked and very pleased when informed that she was incredibly impressed with their daughter’s organisational

skills and neat binder… apparently that’s something that has changed since the student has been at Brentwood.

In effort to raise money for building wells in Zambia, an ongoing campaign by the school’s student body and Student Activities Council, a silent auction of student artwork and the sale of calendars featuring student artwork was also held over the course of the two days. Cirisse Stephen and Kira Gersten handled the calendar sale with charm and grace and Sarah Williams was in the process of tallying up the bidding totals when she was interrupted and asked to pose (below) in front of some of the vivid artwork that had just been sold.

The Friday afternoon interviews were followed by the evening performance of the annual Christmas By

Candlelight concert. Many parents were able to enjoy this performance before whisking their students away for weekend leave for one more weekend of fun before the exam cram starts and the campus becomes a very serious and studious place.

Story and Pictures by: Ellen Kutscher (Grade 12)

THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW PATH (BUT NOT THROUGH THE AIRPORT)

In Brentwood, a standard way of recognition for achievement in academics, sports, and the arts is through the awarding of Colours. These pins are then worn on the number-one blazer. Though some are envious of these awards, it is the award-holders’ viewpoint we now consider.

Think of the difficulties that these people must undergo, each and every day. As some of us walk the straight and narrow path, these Colour-wearers veer back and forth, frantically trying to stay straight. This is not, as you may believe, a moral commentary, but simply a practical one. The sheer physical challenge of having huge amounts of weight on one side of the body or the other is immediately apparent to anyone who has carried grocery bags: when a bag is carried in one hand, you have a constant tendency to swerve towards that side.

If he gets any more Colours, he may end up in that fireplace! (Kevin Lee, Grade 9)

Not just that, but with the weight of all those Colours altering the wearer’s center of gravity, he or she will constantly lean to one side! Imagine a young Karl Marx attending Brentwood: try as he might, he could have been forced to turn and lean to the right, had he worn his Colours on that side!

Orientation challenges are not the only ones that confront wearers of Colours. The quantity of metal involved also offers problems. One might sit down at a computer to complete an assignment, only to find that having inadvertently magnetised one’s Colours, the entire hard-drive has been erased! Imagine the suffering that could result! Belt buckles, metal tie clips,

even people with braces: all present a serious threat to the sanctity of one’s Colours were they to become magnetised.

So let us pity the young, right-learning Karl Marx, who erases computers wholesale and has a close association with assorted metal objects. He can only dream of flying home for breaks, fearful of the metal detectors at airports, and is in constant danger from animals attracted by shiny objects or simply falling through a thin section of the earth’s crust, drawn down as he is by the extra weight. Who knows, he may come up with a solution: Colours should be shared out equally among the working classes. By then, of course, he would have had to move his Colours to the left.

(Note: The above article should in no way detract from the dignity of those awarded Colours)

Story and pictures by: Nick Chesterley (Grade 11)

UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

One third of the school year is almost over for the students at Brentwood College. Members of the graduating class now have only two terms left to decide what their post-secondary plans will be. However, there are two young women in the class of 2005 who have recently distinguished themselves from the rest of the graduates as two of the first acceptances and major scholarship receivers to their selected universities for next fall. Marlee Hahn and Kat Davy-Traynor are the first students to receive their letters of acceptance into the university programs of their choice. Marlee Hahn has received a merit scholarship from Baylor University in Waco Texas, totaling $40,000. Based on the information in her admission application, Marlee has been selected to receive a President’s Baylor Scholarship, providing her with $32,000 for her undergraduate studies at Baylor and an additional $4,000 will be credited to her each Spring and Fall semester. In addition to this, she has also won an Achievement Baylor Scholarship of $8,000 for her undergraduate studies. With these scholarships in hand, Marlee will be ready to conquer the Class of 2009 at Baylor University!

Brentwood College senior Kat Davy-Traynor has also received an incredible scholarship of the athletic variety from the University of Iowa. She has won a “full ride” rowing scholarship which pays for everything including travel and expenses, covering her for four years at the university and totaling approximately $150,000 Canadian. Kat is not only a senior rower at Brentwood, but Captain of the boat-house and Brentwood’s first student to sign with Iowa. Mr. Brian Carr, rowing coach and teacher at BCS described the scene as Kat made her decision concerning her letter of intent: “One sweep oar $350.00. A set of sculling oars $400.00. A new eight $30,000. A full ride scholarship to Iowa: $149,477.04. A picture of Kat signing the letter of intent.........priceless.”

Story by: Amy Weinberg (Grade 12)

THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

As the first of the salmon-coloured timetables was tacked onto the first bulletin board, Brentwood's version of Pandora’s Box opened. Exams. Or, ‘the E-word’ as people have requested it be called. Brentwood scholars have only one week before they herd themselves into the gym or auditorium to take their most important tests of this term. Those five weeks we had at mid-term have dissolved to two, and as those weeks melted away, they revealed to most students how much they need to know for their upcoming exams.
“Dr and Mrs Vander-who?”
“Who was General Montcalm again?”
“I can barely even say batholiths, let alone tell you what they are!”
'Flu's and fevers and coughs line up at Health Centre’s doors as “the e-word” creeps nearer and nearer.

How are other students dealing with the stress that exams obviously bring? Last weekend, the remaining gentleman of Ellis and Privett, along with the ladies of Mackenzie house, spent their weekend in Victoria, taking their minds off academics for an afternoon, to focus on some Christmas cheer. Carols blaring from mall speakers; red and green snowy backgrounds in store windows; Santa Hats; Egg Nog lattés at Starbucks; Victoria bore no signs of exams.

Some will be taking this weekend as their final escape before exams; the last weekend for weekend leave. Some students take to the chilly weather and their daunting future hand in hand, de Manu in Manum, nestling in to do what they may feel is the only real way to alleviate exam-founded stress — by studying.

While still others opt to nourish the athlete in them and go for a run, others do the complete opposite. Chelsea Theriault admitted that the best stress reliever for her around exam time is food: “A chocolate bar in between subject study sessions is actually a really good way to calm yourself down.”

While not forgetting about their oh-so-crucial exams, students are also getting caught up in the Christmas spirit (despite the tragic absence of snow). Christmas lights adorn many of the houses and there have even been Advent calendars spotted with, perhaps out of wishful thinking, a few days already missing. The countdown “two weeks and __days” has begun. The driving force for many over the next two weeks will be the glimmer of a chance that they will survive and make it home for three-and-a-half educationally-devoid weeks. Either way, no matter how crucial these exams are, the advice everyone has been hearing from their teachers and advisors, is to get plenty of sleep. It is hard to pass your English exam with half your brain asleep.

Story and Pictures by: Sydney Black(Grade 12)

I am a former student of Brentwood College, having attended in only the 5th year girls were accepted in the school. I graduated in 1978, two years after my brother. While much has changed about the school, so much remains the same. My son and daughter are the 6th and 8th members of my family to attend the school. It was my son's initiative that brought him to Brentwood. In Grade 4 he visited the school with me and decided then and there that Brentwood College was where he belonged. My reaction was quite different from that of my husband, as I had history with the school and knew my son would never regret his choice. I knew the routine, the expectations, the structure and the fun. Added to this was the fact that so many of the faculty that was there in my years were still at the school. I'm sure it is quite different for parents who know very little of the school, as was the case with my husband. While he had every confidence in the school, the idea of not having his kids at home for their high school years was completely foreign to him.

Grade eight was a tough year, there's no doubt about that. In January of that school year my son suffered from terrible homesickness. It was not uncommon to receive 5 phone calls per day and suffer through heart-wrenching sobbing. This is probably the hardest part of "sending" one's child away. I decided to call his Housemaster. His harried response was blunt "... I have 42 homesick kids and believe me your son is the least of my concerns right now"... but comforting. At least I knew he wasn't the only one crying into his wee pillow at night.

A week later he was no better. It was at this point I felt I needed to take drastic action. We had told our son the summer before that like anything he had taken on previously, we would like him to see the year through. However, that January I found myself asking him if he wanted or needed to come home. He said he thought he would. I was in shock and at a total loss as to what to do next. I told him to hang up the phone and I would call him back. When I called back I told him that everything was in place for him to come home. It was entirely his decision to leave the school if he wanted to but I would not come and pick him up. I told him that by doing so would be aiding and abetting in the biggest mistake of his life. Instead, I told him that a bus voucher with his name on it would be kept at the switchboard. At anytime of the day he could go to the Admin Building and announce that he was going home. The school would look after the rest.

Months passed and I found myself very creatively packing an extraordinary amount of stuff into my car on Awards Day. The year was over. On our drive home I turned to him and remarked about what a roller-coaster ride it had been. He didn't quite understand my remark. I reminded him of the difficult time he experienced in January and he made typically light of the subject. "You knew I wouldn't use that bus ticket, didn't you mom?" he asked. I paused a moment and responded, "I was so sure you weren't leaving that I never even made that phone call". I'm not sure who came away feeling more confident about themselves, me for knowing my son so well, or him for knowing that Brentwood was a privilege and not a right or duty.

This year our daughter joined her brother as a student. Like him, she decided it was right for her to attend in grade eight. Also like him, she has had her many days of homesickness which also takes its toll on mom and dad. I refer to myself as a fairly local parent as I know that in two hours I can be hugging my kids. It is not uncommon to drive down to watch a basketball game, field hockey match or arrive unannounced because I feel they need their mom. I'm very lucky. My kids are very lucky. I wince at the reference of "sending" my kids away. I do not feel that I am sending them anywhere. I like to believe I am providing access to one of the best experiences of their lives. Remarks such as "I know I couldn't send my kids away, I would miss them too much" definitely strike a chord. Of course we miss them terribly, but in no way feel that our close relationships have been hindered in any way. Quite the contrary. I tend to believe that I am more in touch with my children living 200+ km away than many of my friends are with children of similar ages living at home.

It has definitely had an affect on our home life, especially this year with them both away. Negative aspects such as passing by empty bedrooms, photos on the wall and quiet evenings spent in the "family room" are definitely offset by daily phone calls home, the friendships kindled, the education received, the sense of pride and confidence instilled, not to mention the reduced laundry load and saying farewell to the daily drudgery of making school lunches!!! Most kids leave home their first year of university. Ours left five years earlier. Was it the right decision? bearing in mind that they will never truly move back home again? My husband and I have absolutely no regrets. Only time will tell if our children ever do.

A Brentwood Mom (Grad of 1978!)

THE 'OTHER' BRENTONIANS

Deep in Brentwood's underworld, a mysterious place of three-foot high munchkins, lurks the side of Brentwood staff that strongly contrasts with the professional exterior. Mr. Dan Norman, both teacher and father, engages children in excited conversation, comprehending every nuance of the seemingly foreign dialect, a skill probably absent on his résumé. It is hard to relate the "big kid" that rambunctiously bounces an oversize ball with the intensity of the outdoor pursuits coach or studious concern of the math and physics teacher, two other sides of the man known formally to all students as Mr. Norman. As organiser of the Staff Kids Night (a regular weekly session), Mr. Norman combines all skills to sneak the giggling invaders past the unsuspecting students.

At this exclusive festival, parents bring their children to campus to explore the wonders inside the gym. The blue gymnastic mats nestled flush to the floor become an Olympic platform where summersaults and rolls are performed for a line of applauding moms and just-too-young participants. The dads, coordinated by Mr. Norman and Mr. Tom Shadlock, take the more adventurous route by challenging a whole pack of children to a variety of races and competitions.

Everyone seems to know one another at this child-oriented gathering, which is obviously a favourite social event for all parents, be they participants or spectators.

Story and pictures by: Andrea Norlund (Grade 11)

Taking a break on the mats.

A REAL WEEKEND

Last weekend, Brentwood students got a brief taste of what it is like to have a real weekend. A class-less Saturday, not even a study block in sight. No number-one inspection. No problem!

The few students who weren’t with their parents, or on week-end leave felt the pure ecstasy of sleeping in and being non-responsive to ringing bells. No schedule, no pressure, just good ol’ fashioned fun.

Students engaged in a range of activities all through Saturday and Sunday. A variety of movies and programs were watched in common rooms. Several students chose to enjoy the luxury of zoning out or staring at stationary objects. A wise choice. One teacher was kind enough to put together a movie showing in the lecture theatre Sunday night. ‘The Power of One’ was a satisfying escape into the world of movies.

Some organised students looked ahead to the upcoming exams and saw the weekend as a study at your own leisure time. Most would rather take those last few breaths of free time before the cram for exams. Some younger students, with their boundless energy ran around and played sports. Oh to be young again…

Excessive sleeping and TV marathons; that’s what weekends are all about.

Story and pictures by: Jennalee Desjardins (Grade 12)

ROGERS HOUSE GALLEY

It was three years ago when Grade 12 student David van Haren first dreamt of opening up a store in his native Rogers House. His dream of becoming an entrepreneur became one step closer to becoming reality when the Roger's House Galley was finally built and opened at the beginning of the school year. Dave's parents Rene and Karen van Haren donated the materials for the store and began construction on it during the summer along with fellow Brentonian, Nicole Hartwig. Nicole spent long hours working on the store this summer while David was away at soccer camp. Completing the job took 5 trips to Brentwood during the summer and over 40 hours of extensive work. But by the end of the summer, a fully operational snack store was ready and waiting in the foyer of Roger's House to surprise returning students and teachers.

Magnus Gibson and David Van Haren in the Galley

Some Rogers boys joyfully called it an "on-campus 7-11." The Galley offers a wide range of snack foods for sale including soups, potato chips, chocolate bars, candies, macaroni and cheese mini-pizzas and cold beverages.

David runs the store with the help of Magnus Gibson (Grade 11) and Houseparent Mr. Ken Snow who makes regular trips to the Costco warehouse in Victoria to keep the store full. So far the Galley has been a huge success, selling over $4,000 worth of goods (all the money raised goes towards improvements for the House in terms of student comfort and entertainment). It is located at the top entrance of Rogers and all students are welcome to come and check the store out.

Story and Pictures by: Amy Weinberg (Grade 12)

RUGBY

Pictures of the Brentwood Colts playing St Michaels Schools by: Adria Hahn

JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL

The Junior A2 Girls Volleyball Team worked hard all season on establishing good basic volleyball skills. As a team they learned different game strategies and tried playing in a variety of offensive systems. This determined group of girls played against A level teams and showed great sportsmanship at all the league games. Everything came together nicely at the Mid Island B Tournament where the A2 girls played well enough in the round robin matches to place second out of five in
their pool. They lost to the number one team, Kelsey B in the semi-finals but came back to take Third Place from the Gulf Island Secondary strong B team. Placing third out of a total of 10 teams in the Mid-Island B Tournament was a terrific finish for the Brentwood College Junior A2 Girls Volleyball Team. All of them should be very proud of their performances.

Bonnie Griffiths, Coach

T. GIL BUNCH CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

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