Full Stomachs and Full Hearts: A Brentwood Thanksgiving

21 October 2025Liza D, Mackenzie '26

On Thursday, October 9, 2025, the Brentwood Family came together for a ceremonial Thanksgiving dinner. Each brother-sister house walked over together, spick and span, in their #1 uniforms, some more put together than others.

This year was a special one because our new Head of Student Life, Mr Neufeld, had organized a brand new way of organizing the large, sometimes chaotic student body. The new “route,” as Mr Toby Collis Handford, Assistant Houseparent of Ellis and soccer coach, put it, allowed all houses to be located together in the belly of the dining hall, emphasizing the feeling of a community coming together.

As per tradition, the order of who eats first is every student’s biggest concern and brings out the true competitiveness of each house. As Mr Neufeld made his way to the stage set up by Ms Britton-Foster and her team of Theatre Production students, conversations amongst students were lulled and ears were perked. Students were in for another surprise as it was announced that this year, the house with the most lates to class was to eat last, which seems unfair, but additionally, after they ate, they were to stay behind and clean up our beautiful Crooks Dining Hall. This new system of organizing the students worked so well, and everyone was left content. “Things are only impossible until they’re not possible,” Mr Neufeld shared.

As students made their way to the buffet to grab their Thanksgiving dinner, a chorus of “Oohs” and “Aahs” filled Crooks. The food looked great, smelled great, tasted great, and left us full for days. “That was some of the best food I have had in a while,” Tolani S, Privett ‘26 exclaimed. Brother and sister houses sat at the same tables and broke bread, shared laughs, and grew closer. Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, and on behalf of the entire Brentwood family, a huge thank you goes out to the amazing Food Services Team for their tireless, hard, skillful work, Mr Neufeld, Ms Britton-Foster, and everyone else who helped organize this memorable event.

How could the night get any better, you may ask? Brentwood’s talented performers treated us to a beautiful cabaret after dinner featuring songs like “Love on the Brain” by Rihanna, and “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac. The R&B Band, led by Mr Michael Keddy, Head of Music, sang their hearts out, wooed the crowd and left us speechless. “My jaw was on the floor from how well they sang,” Josephine D, Mack ‘26 stated.

Delicious dinner and captivating cabaret, anyone? I present to you Brentwood’s Thanksgiving dinner. Happy Thanksgiving, Brentwood!

Liza D, Mackenzie ‘26

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