I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE... NEW YEAR?

Last Sunday, Brentwood students heard the warnings as their airplanes taxied down Victoria’s runway, or on the radio as they ferried over from the mainland; Vancouver Island was the victim of a snow storm. Travelling though Victoria en route to the school, the situation did not seem as bad as it was made out to be, but the further down the Malahat the bus containing the students tumbled, the more the wet and mild Cowichan Valley they had departed three-and-a-half weeks ago became transformed. Students who had not been present for the actual storm were shocked to see their playing fields buried, and dorm houses hidden, by what was reported to be 3 feet of snow! Winter came to Mill Bay in full force at the beginning of 2005. Not even the Grade 12 lifers have ever experienced this much snow, leaving teachers to ponder at the last time they saw Brentwood snowed in so deep.

Other than the sheer shock and awe of fickle nature, student’s minds were preoccupied with other thoughts; "Do I have to wear a kilt?", "Is my heater working?", "Do we still have to play rugby?" and, most importantly, "Will school be cancelled?"

Excellent questions, that even the faculty were pondering Sunday morning as they prepared for the onslaught of returning boarders. To the chagrin of the student body, Brentwood College was one of the only schools in Cowichan Valley to attend school that bright and biting Monday morning. Shawnigan Lake, on the other hand, despite only a short distance further west, received a more than 4 feet of snow and Shawnigan Lake School had their classes cancelled until later in the week.

Kilts, heat and sports? Oh my! In addition to the option of tights under the kilt, the chill allowed our girls to wear their black pants for the entire week; what a treat! Walking through Mackenzie, many girls kept on their down coats and wore their sheepskin boots or moccasins in the comfort of their own dorms.

As all individual space heaters were confiscated after the recent fire inspection (which found them to be a fire hazard), it was necessary to adjust the temperatures in individual dorms. This was done by the Maintenance men, who were also kept busy regularly salting pathways, and coming in on their day off to clear pathways before students arrived.

And sports such as rugby and cross country, what did their coaches opt to do while fields were buried under snow and roads slick with slush and ice? On Tuesday, the cross country team found themselves up at B-field playing a rousing game of British Bulldog, so they could pack down the snow for the rugby boys Thursday practice. The girls rugby team found their practice squished down into the science corridor on the bottom floor of the new academic block, and did their drills with the faces of National Merit Scholars and renowned Brentonians Ben Butterfield and Pip Holmes looking on. While Mr. Mike Flynn is hoping for more snow to hit for his ski program, the popular wish of sports coaches and those having to take detours from their normal traveling routes due to ice and yellow caution tape is for a warming trend to arrive soon.

Story and Pictures by: Sydney Black(Grade 12)

Picture: Mike Flynn

Picture: Dave McCarthy

Picture: Dave McCarthy

THE MYSTERY OF THE MIDNIGHT HOWLER

It all began one dark and snowy night. Mrs. Eileen Mais, the mysterious houseparent of Alex house, knew something was wrong. Her cat, and partner in crime, had gone out for a midnight stroll and hadn’t been seen since. There were only two reasons why a prowler such as Stimpy would leave without an explanation: either his wandering, yellow eyes had found a better hangout, or he was in grave danger. Not wanting the suspicions of her girls to intervene, Mrs. Mais covered her doubts with an inscrutable mask of calm. All she could do was wait.

Later in the week, during the silence of prep, several students heard what they believed to be a call from the afterlife. The long high-pitched whines were coming from every direction, stifling the air. They came from the walls. Many a spirit before had

been known to haunt the corridors of Alex, but none struck fear into the hearts of the helpless as badly as this one. All logic was abandoned. The only person the girls could think of to pull them back into reality was the realist residing at the end of the hall. Yes, Mrs. Mais was sought out, only to immediately recognise the yowls of her accomplice, Stimpy.

Later that night crowds gathered to watch as the bravest of men from the maintenance department scaled their ladder onto the icy roof. To no avail, they brushed away the snow, only to find… the roof! Disappointed, and with nothing more to see, the crowds evaporated, and girls attempted to comfort the puzzled houseparent. Later that night, however, Mrs Mais was awoken by her roommate's calls from somewhere within her own walls. By staying calm and using her cat dictionary Mrs. Mais guided Stimpy to her attic door, and the lonesome twosome were reunited once more.

Story and pictures by: Jennalee Desjardins (Grade 12)

A LITTLE IN-JEAN-IOUS FUND-RAISING

Brentwood is, by all definitions of the term, a global community, claiming students with backgrounds ranging from Germany to Japan to Nigeria and Chile. It is no wonder, then, that we find ourselves so emotionally and financially entrenched in global affairs; tragedy being certainly no exception. Thus in the face of the environmental monster which most recently swept through Southern Asia, the students and faculty of Brentwood have once again risen to their feet in unanimous defiance of the beast.

Chelsea Theriault, who lives with her family in Chennai, a coastal city in southern India, returned from the Christmas break sickened by the utter destruction of her neighbors’ houses, and the level of sickness, death and — most of all — helplessness present among the citizens of her own town. To combat this feeling of powerlessness, Chelsea single-handedly organised a jeans day at Brentwood for a local non-profit charity in Chennai coined "Asha for Education".

This organisation, originally founded by a group of Indian UC Berkeley students to provide education for poor Indian children, has since begun a very impressive relief

effort to help the families most affected in southern India back to their feet. So far, more than 78 families have been provided with direct grassroots aid, including paid rent for five months, school supplies, and money for food, clothing, cooking, clean water and kerosene; all for less than $200 each.

Although the final tally of the money earned from last Friday’s jeans day has yet to be made, Chelsea estimates earnings upwards of $900, a sum capable of rebuilding the lives of at least five affected Indian families. As for Chelsea, she wants everyone to be assured that the money will go directly to the people of India as her mother is personally carrying all funds raised back to the country when she returns home later this month. “You hear about what happened and just feel compelled to help,” she says. “Who knew what a difference a pair of jeans could make?”

To learn more, feel free to visit Asha’s website. www.ashanet.org/chennai/projects/tsunami_relief_saf.htm

Story and Pictures by: Berit Anderson(Grade 12)

BARRIERS OF BRENTWOOD

Returning to Brentwood is always a stressful occasion, and this last holiday was no exception. The hurdles that confront students on the last day at home are both physical and mental. The physical ones are usually easiest: each student must run, jump, and swim as far as possible from whatever means their parents intend to use to send them back. As always, these efforts will prove unsuccessful, and the barrier of distance will be surmounted, no matter how far an international student may have to travel. Some, more pragmatic or more optimistic than others, will find their odyssey stops there. A few twinges of regret may strike, but for the most part, they have accepted their return, and many even look forward to it.

The self-formed mental barriers, unfortunately, often prove harder for many to surpass. All students can relate to the terror that

Time: 7-45 am. Subject: David Summers, Grade 11
Status: Holiday Mode

strikes when arising before noon changes from a joke in poor taste to a fact of life. The purging of the idleness in which many students indulge over breaks is not a pleasant process, and is one that many would wish to avoid. To this end, three main strategies are suggested:

1) Book flights through third world nations and obscure destinations like Madagascar, Siberia, the South Pole, the Moon, and Yellowknife (listed in order of obscurity). Since these flights are few and far between, an inconvenient schedule can certainly extend your break for a few days until an appropriate plane departs.
2) Suffer as many injuries and illnesses as possible. Make them long lasting, but preferably not lethal, and find a doctor who tends to take vacations over Christmas and January. An appointment, as you know will be necessary, will be forced to wait until February. Until then, a strict regime of surfing, skateboarding, and visiting friends is recommended. However, school work would certainly exacerbate your condition, and should be avoided… like the plague.
3) Pity. As a last resort, break down, wail, scream, and cry. Realise that your end is near, and pull whatever heartstrings possible to avoid such a fate. Tears are a necessity, not a suggestion, and the more the better. Be careful not to irritate, however, as such things will only increase the odds of being sent back quickly.

All of these strategies have been used before, and many certainly will be again: this list, therefore, only contains the barest minimum of possibilities. To all those at Brentwood, better luck next time, and those still at home, Happy New Year!

Story and Picture by: Nicolas Chesterley (Grade 11)

All night snow came upon us
With unwavering intent
Small flakes not meandering
But driving thickly down. We woke
To see the yard, the car, and the road
Heaped unrecognisable.

An empty sickbed
An indented white pillow
In weak winter sun

The strong imagery of winter included in the symbolisation of death portrayed by Richard Wright’s haiku shows the continuation of an idea based back in classical literature. Brentwood College, however, throws all such ideas and structures aside as it plunges through the barrier of January life to continue its existence in 2005.

Story by: Andrea Norlund (Grade 11)

DREAMS OF A MORE EXTRAVAGANT (OR NOT) SORT

The teachers and administration members at Brentwood College School are wise, devoted, intelligent, and each of them have been hand picked for their love of teaching, organisation and incredible skills in the classroom and school offices. Although most of them could never imagine doing anything in any field other than education, some do hold on to hidden longings. Have you ever wondered what some of those greater dreams are? When you sit listening to Mr. Wardrop in math class have you ever had the slightest inkling that he would rather be karate chopping bad-guys with Jennifer Garner a.k.a. Sydney Bristow of Alias?

In the following surveys, randomly selected teachers and administration members were asked the same question. While answering, dreamy, far-off looks and musings were witnessed as the teachers and staff procured answers.

The Question: "If you could have any alternate profession, occupation, job etc. anywhere in the world and money was not an issue, what would you be doing and where?"

The Answers:

Mr. McCarthy:"I would be writing books in Greece and that's it."

Mr. Yaremchuk:"If I could leave the school tomorrow... I would be a coconut harvester in Borneo."

Mr. Wardrop:"I would DEFINITELY be in the CIA with Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) and I'll bet you anything that Mr. Collis would want to be there too... I know him..and he'd like it"

Mrs. Rodford:"I would want to be a dive master in...well, anywhere warm... Jamaica!!"

Mr. Garvey: (after sitting back in his chair with a very serious look for about ten seconds) "A professional chess player in Greece."

Mr. Pennells:"I've already done this for six months, but it's still my dream... I'd be a shepherd in the highlands of Scotland. I really love the land and the rhythm of the year, I also don't mind the rain...so that's it, a shepherd in Scotland."

Ms. O'Connor:"I am actually going to do this as soon as I retire. I am going to be a volunteer worker in a third world country. Just sell all my stuff and head off."

Ms. Desloges:"I've always wanted to be in the recording industry. Working with musicians who are really passionate about what they're doing and just getting involved in the music industry."

Mr. Nichols:"I'd be in New York, working in the UN... no question about it."

Mrs. Widenmaier:"I'd be writing short stories in my garden." (Mrs. Widenmaier lives right here on Vancouver Island a short drive from Brentwood)

Ms. Mais:"Travelling anywhere warm...and I'd want to write for National Geographic while doing it."

Story and Pictures by: Ellen Kutscher (Grade 12)

HOME FROM HOME

The majority of students at the school have homes scattered around the globe. In our 'Home From Home' series, we invite students from diverse backgrounds to give some details of their home away from Brentwood.

Bermuda. What images are called to mind? As a Bermudian, I think of pink Bermuda beaches, sunny days, and custom Bermudian traditions such as Bermuda shorts and — silly to some — three-quarter length knee socks. The "hot-to-touch" beaches are one of my favourite hangouts during the summer, to swim, skim-board, and — the number one priority — relax. Summer is the one season my friends and I look forward to and those never-ending sunny days make the clear, turquoise water twice as beautiful.

Tourism is Bermuda's main industry. The tourists flock to Bermuda for swimming, scuba diving, soaking up the sun, and golfing on one of Bermuda's nine golf courses. Bermuda is also the home for the "Rich & Famous", including Patrick Rafter (the former number one tennis player in the world), Nick Faldo (the former number one golfer in the world), and , among many others, Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones. After 9/11, there was a huge influx of reinsurance companies that domiciled here. Consequently, Bermuda became the second largest reinsurance center in the world after Lloyds in London. These companies provide jobs for the majority of Bermudians.

The 48 square kilometers of secluded land that thrives in the sun surrounded by turquoise waters sounds extremely appealing. Although Bermuda seems like Paradise on Earth, it does have its occasional negatives. Don't get me wrong, being on this island is fun... but, after a while, Island fever eventually kicks in given that it only takes an hour's drive to get from one end of the island to the other, with the speed limit being 40km/hour. Unfortunately, another downside is that Bermuda is vulnerable to hurricanes. In September of 2003, Fabian (a category 4 hurricane with winds exceeding 175km/h) hit Bermuda directly, causing great damage to Bermuda's shorelines, buildings and fauna, and also caused trauma to almost everyone, leaving nothing unscathed. As Bermuda is a close-knit community, the inhabitants immediately took action to restore the island to her former state of glory. I came to Brentwood to experience what Vancouver Island had to offer — and thus to get the best of both worlds: from sunny days, beautiful beaches, and palm trees to diverse cultures, snow-capped mountains, and alpine-sports, a combination providing the best possible education.

Story and picture by: Larson Grimm (Grade 10)

GALLERY DISPLAY

The Senior Art 2D portfolio class have recently completed their latest project, a self portrait. The collected works of all class members can be seen in the current gallery display.

A few of the finished works are seen here:
Right: Stephanie Kral, Tony Kuo
Below: Meghan McGuigan, Natasha Mansueti, Kevin Jeong, and Kyla Muir.

T. GIL BUNCH CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Future presentations:

Back to Top