Out With The Old, In With The New

26 September 2022Lucy M, Mackenzie ‘23; Photo by Bud Patel

Every fall, the Head of School, Mr Bud Patel graciously hosts a series of BBQs with each house group of Grade 12s, starting with Whittall on September 13, and most recently, Mackenzie, my house, on the 21st. Mr. Patel’s house is set on the wooded edge of the campus overlooking the tranquil Millstream estuary; it’s the ideal place to have this event, away from the busyness of Brentwood, and provides the perfect space for us to reflect on the year ahead as new leaders of this school.

The evening began with a warm welcome from our highly esteemed Mr Patel and a delicious array of healthy food prepared by the Brentwood Food Services Staff. Conversations ensued, from stories from back when the Patel daughters were in MacKenzie House to a discussion of our newfound prefect roles and the multitude of responsibilities that lie ahead. And finally, Mr Patel gathered us around, armed with three questions that he intends to ask every Grade 12 student: “What do you like about Brentwood?, How could Brentwood improve?, and What sets Brentwood apart from other schools?”

Of course, these are not the easiest questions to answer, especially when the Head of School is asking them, but every reply was respectfully candid and had something new to offer. As we made our way around the table for each question, people highlighted the amazing staff, campus, and student-led groups such as OMNI, BEAT, and BWELL that we all appreciate and benefit from.

“I am incredibly grateful for the many academic opportunities Brentwood has granted me” stated Laila R, Mack ‘23.

Naturally, as any conversation about Brentwood would mention, the incredible sense of community and family was emphasized throughout the night. The BBQ marked a thoughtful start to the beginning of our last year, as so eloquently stated by Mr Patel, “Everything you do this year at Brentwood will be your last time doing it.” Mr Patel reminded us that this was our final chance to be together as a group and that there would be many memorable lasts: our last Mackenzie Open House, our last Snowball, our last cookie break.

As our first, and last, Grade 12 Fall BBQ came to an end, we gave each other hugs, took our goodbye selfies, and off we went, back to Mack, feeling more of a closer kinship not only to each other but also to Brentwood as a whole. The Grade 12 torch has officially been passed down!

Lucy M, Mackenzie ‘23

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