CAMPUS LIFE: Apr/May 2026

15 May 2026Mr. Ron Neufeld

Wellness: Break for Space

On April 29, students stepped out of their regular academic schedule for Break for Space, our annual student wellness day. The day opened with a keynote in the Killy Theatre from former NHL goalie Corey Hirsch, who spoke directly and honestly about mental health: his own experience, the importance of asking for help, and the role each of us plays in supporting those around us. Students then moved through two workshops of their choosing, with a B-Well Fair at Campbell Commons in between. Puppies, a ball pit, and slime—for those who needed exactly that kind of space. Julia Folk and Tanya Scheck did careful work organizing a day of this complexity; kudos!

Spring Formal

On the evening of May 2, students gathered for the Spring Formal. For many, the week had already included a rowing regatta in Seattle and the beginning of ExTENdays, which makes the energy in that room all the more impressive. Tammie Ramsey and her team put together a strong evening.

Lifers’ Dinner

On May 25, we will hold the 34th Annual Lifers’ Dinner, recognizing students who have spent four or five years as part of this community. Started by Beth Meluish, it was to recognize those students who began their time at Brentwood as early as possible. She would encourage Houseparents to choose a student speaker, who, in her words, is “not the person everyone would expect to speak”, but who knows about their housemates and the journey they’ve shared here. Steve Cowie will emcee. It is one of the quieter traditions on campus, and in my opinion, one of the best.

Student Leadership: Transition Underway

On April 9, Garth held back the Grade 11s after assembly to launch the SEC selection process for 2026/27. Applications are in; the timeline is moving. For those of you with Grade 11 students, this is the handover that will define house and student life next year. The calibre of students putting their names forward is encouraging.

Strategic Plan

At the April 30 assembly, Garth shared Brentwood’s new Strategic Plan with students and livestreamed for those who couldn’t be in the theatre. The broader community rollout continues. The plan emerged from two years of consultation: surveys, focus groups, board sessions, and a great deal of listening. For those of you who responded to a parent survey last year, your input is included.

The People Behind the Houses

What you, as parents, see at this time of year—from the Formal, the Lifers’ Dinner, and the ExTENdays adventures to competitive athletics finals—is possible because of what you don’t see.

Right now, our Houseparents, Assistant Houseparents, and Boarding Faculty Assistants are navigating the most compressed stretch of the school year: AP exam wrap-up, midterm leave logistics, end-of-term transitions, student wellness check-ins, and the daily rhythm of eight houses running at full tilt with spring fever thrown in.

When a leave plan falls through with days to spare, it is a Houseparent who catches it and a BFA who steps up to cover. When a student is struggling to finish the year—academically, emotionally, or both—it is the people in the house who show up first, coordinate with the Health Centre and the counsellors, and hold the thread until a plan is in place. When there is a storm, it is the house staff who are asked to be the calm, visible, and deliberate presence.

None of this appears on a schedule or agenda. It is simply what the boarding staff do here, every day, without fanfare. This feels like the perfect time to call out this special level of care at Brentwood. Thank you.