ACADEMICS: 2025/26

20 June 2026Harold Wardrop, Director of Teaching and Learning

The academic program at Brentwood is designed to engage students, pique their curiosity, and develop their critical and creative thinking, as well as their social and personal responsibility. Supported by a caring and committed faculty, our students embrace the challenges of demanding courses, all while finding joyful moments in their academic pursuits.

This year, our faculty engaged in a professional development series with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. Over the course of three sessions, our teachers completed the first module of the Learning Blueprint Program. This training translates the science of learning into practical classroom strategies, focusing on the literal mechanics of how the brain processes, retains, and retrieves information. The insights gained from Dr. Horvath have already started to shape our teaching practices. Next year, Dr. Horvath will lead a session for our students in September, and in the following months, students will work through modules that will equip them with a deeper understanding of their memory and study habits—so they can take active ownership of their learning.

We were also incredibly fortunate to have Beau Wagner, a Coast Salish artist and educator, working with us on campus this year. Beau’s approach to carving is rooted in teachings from local Indigenous Elders, highlighting the deep connections among art, community, and the natural world. Numerous students across different grades and disciplines had the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning experiences with him. By sharing his craft, Beau helped our students appreciate the cultural significance of the Western Red Cedar and the stories embedded in his work. His presence brought a real sense of local history and traditional knowledge directly into our daily lives.

Beyond these specific initiatives, our Academic Program continued to prioritize active, engaged learning. Whether they were exploring tide pools, debating ideas, building detailed models, running their own businesses, conducting original research, or dissecting specimens, our students gained practical experience across their core courses. We are extremely proud of what they have accomplished this year and look forward to seeing how they apply these lessons in the future.

Where Students Choose To Be