Take a sheet of plastic, a water sprinkler, gravity, a twenty-yard run-up to the launching site and an endless stream of fearless bodies, and the resultant mixture is a brief respite from exam review. Out on the lawns of McKenzie house last week, Brentwood's answer to the Cresta run provided a refreshing distraction from the imminent final papers.

Right: Jessica Lin, the nonchalant style.

The last night of the term, Friday evening, is traditionally reserved for House outings. Various venues and activities are chosen, ranging from the ever-popular lake-side barbeque to adventure playgrounds. The first order of business is inevitably fun and games, and with the pent-up energy accumulated over examination week bursting to find a release, these are usually vigorous and attract full participation. After the games comes the necessary food and refreshments, usually in the form of a barbecue with Houseparents demonstrating their culinary expertise. All houses have their own individual traditions on the final night, involving speeches, presentations, skits, and tearful farewells.

Alex House spent the afternoon and evening at the David and Sarah Mais residence on the banks of Fuller Lake. This proved to be an ideal spot for the girls, with lawns to accommodate the games and picnic that followed, and plenty of opportunity to enjoy a splash or two in the lake. The Alex House procedure for the evening involves skits by each grade group as a farewell to the grade 12 students and a reply by the grads themselves (below, left). Another feature of the evening is the passing of the flame, where the grads bequeath their mantle of senior students to the grade 11 class (below, right).

       
   Samantha Baxter and Jessie Haines       Celina Saari and Laura McCarthy              Julie Piazza and Anna Uno       

Alexandra House outing photo credits: Richard Curry and Kelsey Norton           

Ellis House enjoyed the afternoon at the Victoria paintball site, scrambling around the bush dressed in sweaty battle fatigues improving the profit margin of the General Paint Company. Supper was taken by the side of Spectacle Lake with Head Chefs David and Lisa McCarthy presiding. Fortunately, the local smoke detectors were not working.

Ellis House outing photo credits: Dewi Griffiths      

The Awards Ceremony is to honour those students winning subject prices and the major trophies for citizenship, achievement, and demonstrated potential. Presenting the prizes this year, were Mrs. Lynn Eyton, Chair of the Board, and retiring masters Robert Cooper, Nick Prowse, and John Queen. During the ceremony, both Nick and Robert gave an address, the full text of which can be seen at the following links: Rob Cooper (who gave a speech to the Graduating Class at the morning ceremony), Nick Prowse, John Queen. 

Nick McLean, valedictorian for the class of 2001, brought the afternoon to a close. The text of his speech can be seen at Valedictorian address.

The full list of awards and winners can be seen on the Awards Page. 
(all awards made at the internal Awards Day ceremony can be seen at Internal Awards)

If you were able to join us for the final Invitation to Music conducted by Robert Cooper, you witnessed the heartwarming outpouring of affection and admiration for our incomparable Director of Music. For the last twenty-eight years, Bob has inspired generations of Brentwood’s musicians, including internationally renowned Canadian tenor, Ben Butterfield. From the first bars of melody from the junior band to the celestial heights of our concert choir, our maestro has engaged novice to virtuoso from Chopin to Rachmaninov. Musical theatre, vocal solo, choir, concert band, piano, strings, church organ, professional orchestra: Bob has covered the musical spectrum with an eclectic and ambitious repertoire, conducted in his own inimitable style. His passion for excellence is evident in every note. Racing driver, raconteur, and connoisseur, Bob will set aside his conductor’s baton till the gala opening concert for the T.Gil Bunch Theatre. Arriverderci, maestro nostro!

A. M. Pennells    

Joining the teaching staff in 1966, Nick is an illustrious Brentwood pioneer. Over the decades, in addition to being a master teacher of history and English, Nick has served as Housemaster of Ellis, Senior Academic Advisor and Director of Academic Counselling Services, coach of the 1^st XV and Colts rugby (and of curling!), Editor of the Brentonian newsletter, Coordinator of Alumni Affairs, and faculty member of the Search Committee for the Head of School. As a fitting culmination to his extraordinary career, Nick was named Senior Master this past year. In 1998, his exceptional contribution to Brentwood College, highlighted by his outstanding academic leadership, was recognised by the rarely presented Hugh R. Stephen Award. Nick is a Brentwood icon, a true guardian of the flame. Wade Davis described him on national television not only as a master teacher, but as a dreamweaver. De Manu in Manum, Nick will pass the torch to all members of the faculty on June 30. It will be a landmark in the history of Brentwood College.

A. M. Pennells       

Who can imagine Whittall House without JLQ? Joining the faculty in 1969, John Queen has served as Housemaster of Whittall since 1971. He may well be the longest serving Housemaster in Canada. Beyond the Whittall halls, John was the founding chair and mastermind of the Brentwood Regatta, a competition he nurtured from modest beginnings to the internationally prestigious event it has become. On the water, John coached the Senior Boys’ Lightweight crews for almost three decades; Blair Horn, stroke of JLQ’s 1977 Lightweight crew, went on to stroke the Canadian Olympic Gold Medal 8 in Los Angeles in 1984. In 1997, Rowing Canada recognized JLQ’s outstanding achievements by awarding him the Canada Centennial Medal for coaches who have the equivalent standing as Olympic rowers. Housemaster, coach, Regatta Chair, teacher of physics, clockmaker extraordinaire, John is Brentwood’s Mr. Chips. He has served us all his days, as no other.

A. M. Pennells     

Now I shall have time to do all those things that I have never had time for. I am planning to start a small business from my new house building clocks -- grandfather clocks, wall clocks, and shelf clocks. Let me know if you are interested in me making one for you. I also have an ambition to build a two-manual harpsichord if I can ever afford to buy the kit. I want to write, to travel, to learn to play golf and to find some way of continuing to serve young people.

My address as of July 6th 2001 is;

2495 Seine Rd.,
Duncan,
B.C. V9L 3133
Tel 250-748-9935

e-mail queenj@brentwood.bc.ca

I would be delighted to see anyone who would like to visit. PLEASE keep in touch.

J.L.Q.                   

Working at Brentwood is much like being a traffic cop; trying to direct people in a variety of directions with as much style and grace as possible, all the while knowing that the citizens are depending on you for infallible guidance. I'm sure there have been a few accidents at my intersection and I apologize for any injuries incurred. I hope I have at least successfully guided a few safely on their journey.
Next year my journey takes me to the University of Victoria. My love of soccer and coaching has led me to National Coaching Institute where I plan to complete a B license in coaching studies. 
I leave Brentwood a better teacher, coach and person than I was when I arrived four years ago. It has been as much of an education for me as it has for any student. Working with the likes of Rob Maclean and John Garvey, to name a few, has benefited me greatly. I would like to thank all the staff and students for their kindness and support over the years. You have truly made my time at Brentwood an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

JJ 

CH                 

Kairn Ritchie

This summer, I will be living in Guatemala for one month, staying with a local family and taking Spanish lessons. Subsequently, I will be traveling to Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales to investigate my heritage.
I have particularly fond memories this year at Brentwood in creating and directing the play "Under Pressure" with the talented, wonderful students of the grade nine class. As well, I loved the energy and imagination of my grade eight drama classes. Finally, I enjoyed teaching drama in French to my grade 10, 11, and 12 AP classes. I will definitely miss my students and I wish them all the best in the future.

KR          

The graduating class, 2001:

Right: The tide is out, the students gone; 
          Mill Bay waits for the flood to return

Another year rolls around, another final edition of This Week published.  

This is the third year of the Bentwood Website in the current format. Expansion of empires is a natural phenomenon, and, through these three years, the weekly edition has continued to grow. Producing This Week at Brentwood provides website visitors with a unique opportunity to observe the dynamic life of the school, its myriad of components, the multitude of events, and the fascinating variety and complexity of activities around the campus. The heart and soul of what goes on each week is, of course, the students themselves, and the smiling faces in photographs give the distinct impression that life away from home is almost bearable!

A victim of its own success, the  Website has become far too involved and time-consuming for one person to manage. Next year I am hoping to encourage more student involvement in the form of articles and production, with the intent of expanding coverage and introducing a greater diversity of styles .

I would like to thank the many parents and friends of the school for their ideas and kind comments expressed in e-mails throughout the year. Please keep those suggestions coming!

Tony Crossley