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| Week 15: 2nd February 2005 | Next
Edition: Wednesday 9th February,
2005 |
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This
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Almost as old as the earth itself, and perhaps even older than Mr. Burrows, is the rivalry between Brentwood and Shawnigan Lake School. This rivalry has been kept alive, not through bloody territory battles or underhanded espionage, but through our thriving sports programs. Celebrated face-offs in field hockey, volleyball, rugby, basketball, and, of course, ice hockey. We all know that there is nothing like the stagnant chill of an ice rink mixed with the pungent and charming aroma of perspiring adolescent hockey players — this allure drew almost the entire Brentwood campus out last Saturday. Shawnigan had an equally large turnout entering the rink, row upon row gaudily adorned in harsh yellow and black. But that did not help them. The Brentwood attire varied from the conservative denim and red t-shirt combo to the full # 1 uniform; from weird arrays of fish nets to field hockey socks and face paint. Special mention goes to Dave Van Haren and his exceedingly appropriate deer mask. As the teams entered the ice, mixed echoes of team chants, jeers and catcalls filled the Harassment Free Zone. Tempers flared while the temperature sank as the referee threw the puck down, starting the game. The odds entering the game were reportedly 50-50, Shawnigan having beat Brentwood once already with a very close score of 4-3 earlier in the season. This time, however, the product of weeks of practice (or lifetimes, for some), did not disappoint the crowd, with the team playing honourably and energetically. Brentwood won the game with an outstanding score of 4-1, a hat-trick for team captain Steve Pointon and the fourth goal by Adam Bensted. |
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Aiding the team may have been the diligent and good-natured coaching of Mr Flynn, or the support from the crowd, as there were many old Brentonians (including Jim Gordon, once the star of the Brentwood team) in support as well as almost the entire school — all of them pumped up by Tom Dickens's remarkable pep-rally. Besides, where else can anyone watch a good game of hockey nowadays? MVP of this dramatic sporting display was none other than Mr. Kenneth Ukrainec, the team’s goalie, who managed to make some outstanding saves. A large vote of thanks is due to every one who came out in support and as well as one to the team for their fruitful efforts. And thanks for hockey. Story and Pictures by: Sydney Black (Grade 12) |
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 Expectant players waiting anxiously at the bench. |
 The astonishing Ken Ukrainec, receiving his celebratory MVP hug from Mrs. Pennells |
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This year's musical is a story of New York gangsters and their endless obsession with a crap game. They win, they lose, they sing and dance. They chase the unattainable women. With catchy tunes, gruelling dance numbers and outrageous acting, this year's show is ambitious. But now it is getting down to the wire... With about a month to go "Guys and Dolls" is at the forefront of every cast member's mind. Few knew what exactly they were getting into when signing up for 'the musical' during the first block of fine arts. It seemed simple enough: be dramatic, over the top. The early weeks were relaxed, despite the director's warnings, but the cast soon realised that a mere flair for dramatics would not be enough. As former participant Kelen Epp says, "Sometimes it just gets to be too much. The weak are flushed out." You need an ear for music and accents, coordination for dancing, time management and, most importantly, a strong stage presence. For many, practice will continue until the eve of opening night.The cast has |
 The female chorus is all smiles |
 We all have our artistic differences..... |
already given up their Sundays, only to spend hour upon hour in the dance studio. Repeated lines, moves and songs are being drilled into their heads. They live, breath and sleep musical theatre. Not only are there actors, dancers and singers, but there is also a distinct aura seeping from behind the curtains. This year, the musical theatre class is collaborating with a small contingent of the theatre production class. These 'techies' signed up by choice to do all the grunt work will also master the craft of sound and lighting. This team is led by the Sarah O'Born, Ashley Van Order and Hanako Okano. The three O's are frequently spotted running about in sweat pants with a clipboard in one hand and a script in the other. Time is running out, but with a little bit of Lady Luck and some doll to blow on your dice, you may wind up front row center. Story and pictures: Jennalee Desjardins (Grade 12) |
 Actors Nick Snetsinger and Josh Hollenberg |
 Dancing in the 'Hot Box' |
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Three years ago, the Brentwood yearbook dramatically changed its formatting process. Initially, the yearbook was put together in a very primitive way. Before the digital camera boom, the yearbook team was putting the pages together using the old fashioned “cut and paste” process. Mr. Steve Cowie, who has been the yearbook coordinator for the last four years, explained the process; after all the pictures were accumulated, they needed to be cut to the proper size and pasted onto a layout, using a hot waxing device. |
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Captions and articles were also pasted to the layout sheet using the same method, and once all the layout sheets were complete, they would all be sent off to Friesen’s Yearbook Company in Manitoba to be photocopied and assembled together to make the yearbook. Sometimes, a single layout page could take up to three hours to complete. Training the five student photographers who work on the yearbook team to use this “cut and paste” method was also very time consuming. Three years ago, however, the team went digital. Ms. Michelle Fairbanks, Brentwood’s Graphic Designer and assistant to Mr. Cowie, began working on the yearbook team two years ago. Today, she selects most of the digital images that will go into the yearbook from the special archive gallery, which contains thousands of photos. As she works in the graphic field, she is also responsible for creating the letterheads and logos that go into the book. The switch to digital imaging allows Ms. Fairbanks to resize, edit and touch up the photos, and it gives the yearbook a much more “uniformed” look. When selecting which photos will go into the book, Ms. Fairbanks looks for pictures with good quality, and a wide range of shots that include students from every grade and every house. Mr. Cowie prefers the digital technique because it makes for a much cleaner layout, and gives him and his students much more flexibility when taking pictures. Also, there are a greater number of colour pages than before. Another change; the inside covers of the book now contain a picture of the graduating class, whereas previously, they used to contain a standard picture of the Brentwood campus, or a view of the water. Students on the yearbook team also find it much easier to learn about the digital camera as opposed to learning the “cut and paste” technique. Digital imaging results in a very clean cut yearbook with a wide variety of photographs, that students look forward to receiving every September when they return to school. Story and Pictures by: Amy Weinberg (Grade 12) |
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It was an afternoon out of a horror movie for some. For others, standard Grade 12 practice. Regardless of the students' personal feelings, Wednesday afternoon was hands-on review for the upcoming Biology provincial examination. The smooth slightly pink-toned bodies lying on the lab desks, each curly tail and closed eyelash perfectly formed, miniature hooves in quiet repose, greeted each Biology 12 AP student. A shining scalpel grinned menacingly from the side. The first cut, an act that sent several students to the library for a less graphic review, was a challenge that had to be overcome for the real dissection to begin. Before, the tiny form was a baby pig awaiting a student's discerning eye and stomach. After, it was a puzzle of organs, arteries and veins prodded into revealing its secrets. |
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Once the pig had lost most of its recognisable characteristics, even the most squeamish students were able to return. The lip-curling grimaces and moral convictions only lasted as long as the fragile skin encasing the fetal pig's more interesting attributes, the complex system contained inside. From within the 25 cm specimen, a 1.5 m long intestine was drawn forth in fold after fold. This curiosity was just one of the integral workings uncovered by Mr. Pennells's army of student biologists. Emotions zipped from gross to cool throughout the afternoon as students lost their inhibitions and dived (literally with hands and metaphorically with minds) into the body of the experiment. Story
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Andrea Norlund (Grade 11) |
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Robbie Burns Day: to some, the words arouse a fierce national pride. To those not Scottish, however, last Tuesday may have passed unnoticed. Fortunately, Brentwood’s resident Scot, Alistair Thompson, was ready to stop just such a catastrophe, with two methods of making sure the day could not be ignored: Scottish poetry and Scottish cooking. The trick to having a successful Robbie Burns Day is primarily to have an authentic Scotsman. Well-practiced imitations are all well and good, but when push comes to shove, a Scottish “ach” beats out a Canadian “eh”, and indeed, the first Scottish fine art to be displayed was oratory: Mr. Thompson read several poems by Burns to an assembled audience. The English Literature 12 classes had this particular blessing bestowed on them Tuesday morning; they listened as line after line of cranreuchs, coulters, foggage, and brattles was read to them. The second art is culinary: cooked sheep innards. The preparation of haggis is a secret known to few, and according to many, the secret of preparing good haggis is |
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to none. Fortunately, haggis appears nothing like its component parts: an
odd form of synergy occurs, with each evil canceling out the other, leaving
the product appearing quite edible, if unusual. The final product: an odd
looking, yet somehow digestively rewarding concoction, as sampled by the
students of Ellis House. Of course, having tasted it, the ingredients are
revealed: sheep intestines and stomach, along with whatever else the chef
cares to throw in. Sounds like fun? Those involved were evenly divided,
with some believing that Robbie Burns Day was meant primarily for the enjoyment
of the Scots, who could concoct all sorts of odd traditions for foreigners
to engage in (first, you take the sheep, then throw away all the edible
parts…). Others, fortunately, did enjoy the cultural experience. Even
the haggis was a hit with some: a limited few could be seen having it for
breakfast the following morning, and most confessed that it actually tasted
fine.
Take caution, however: the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley, and even the best planned Robbie Burns Day can fail, leaving us nought but grief and pain. Of course, such fears of the future are part of us: forward, tho' we canna see, we guess and fear, anticipating what will happen next year. Maybe the parents and remainder of staff will brave the haggis! But there's a problem: is that our guess... or their fear? Story
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Nicholas Chesterley (Grade 11) |
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When a blanket of fog rolls in each night on schedule, obscuring the vision of one's own nose, and the rain seems never to lessen or to increase, merely continuing its slow monotonous drizzle day in and day out, the Brentwood lifestyle begins to lose its charm and excitement. It is at this time of year that an empty bed in the Health Centre becomes more and more of an attraction. Glum faces line the campus walks and with no end to the monotony of classes yet in sight, and everyone seems to share a similarly blasé view of life as we know it. The administration recognises this syndrome and does its best to counteract it, scheduling red Saturdays, ski days, extra sleep-ins, and field trips. Unfortunately, even Mrs. Pennells cannot control the weather and with a sickening lack of snow on Mount |
 Kira and Amanda: a bored duo, as of yet uneducated on the art of spicing up the Brentwood lifestyle |
 Chelsea Theriault gathers sand for her own personal in-room beach party |
Washington, the traditional
school ski day has been thrown to the ground of the cutting room floor.
To help rectify this situation, a few suggestions appear below to help the
students of Brentwood spice up their usually dull second term.
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 Chad Kanovski, after taking a little risk, is pleasantly surprised by the attention he receives from Amanda Pedersen |
If you're the type of person who hates beach parties, doesn't believe in spending money on vanity and uses their pencil as a prop for holding open their box of Timbits, you might just have to sit out the Brentwood storm for a few more weeks. Luckily, mid-term break is quickly approaching and with it the requisite tests of subject material covered since Christmas. In all likelihood, boredom will not be a problem at all. Story and pictures by: Berit Anderson, Grade 12 |
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So what are the bonuses of being a Grade 12 student at Brentwood? Well, there's always the usual spare block, 11 p.m. bedtimes, the honour of holding the title "prefect", and being on school duty for a whole day every seven weeks... but besides that, not much. Making up for nearly all of the shortcomings of the Grade 12 year at Brentwood is the weekly, optional getaway to Victoria dubbed "Sunday Leave". In addition to traditional weekend leave, which is open to all grades, this coveted privilege allows Grade 12 students to hop on the island bus down to Victoria for the day. Once there, they may enjoy the amazing Royal BC Museum, the I-Max theatre, long tours of the parliament building, a trip to the Wax Museum...or, as most prefer, a day of shopping and dinner and a movie out with friends. All that is needed is Houseparent permission and a bus ticket, which is readily available at switchboard and voila! A day of freedom is yours. |
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Students enjoy the shopping, movie and entertainment opportunities that Mill Bay cannot offer, and a moment to relax and get away from the stress of applications and study. It is a perfect chance to get a birthday present that cannot be found in Mill Bay's one gift store, or a new CD from A&B Sound. All Grade 12's are extremely grateful for this weekly option and count it as one of the favourite features of "senior" year. Story and picture by: Ellen Kutscher (Grade 12) |
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The
Rowing Club entered 60 athletes in the 20th Annual Monster Erg Championships
at the University of Victoria last Sunday. The results have not been posted
on the internet but when they do you will be able to find them at http://regattas.uvic.ca/
Although there are too many of the students to name who did their best and achieved goals set by them or for them, the five winners are shown at right. We are very happy and pleased with the entire Club’s performance, attitude, effort and sportsmanship throughout the day. |
The five winners were: Sebastian
Kallos: Liam
Harrison: Joni
Toews: Tessa
Felix: Lindsay
Rinning: |
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The next big test will be the Head of the Shawnigan on February 19th and the Head of the Mill Bay on February 20th. There will be Brentwood crews in both regattas. Due to commitments to other programs the number of crews racing on the Saturday will be selective so as not to interfere with other fixtures. On the Sunday we will be racing a plethora of crews in a wide variety of divisions and events. Please come out and support the 2005 Brentwood College Rowing Club Brian Carr (Head of Rowing) |
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BASKETBALL The
Senior boys basketball team heads into its final game against Shawnigan
needing a win to challenge for first place. With a 4 and 1 regular season
record, the team can, with a strong performance next Tuesday, secure first
place in the league. Yesterday, the Senior Boys defeated Chemainus in
a hard-fought game. Julian Snellgrove sank some key foul shots late in
the game to secure a four-point victory. Julian had a season high 31 points
and 17 rebounds. Sean Seamann had 8 points, and Noah Stevens added 6 points.
Clayton
Johnston |
