Campus Life – Changes I’ve Seen

8 March 2019Marius Felix, Deputy Head

As Mrs. Felix and I get closer and closer to retirement, students who know I attended Brentwood have asked me what Brentwood was like when I attended (1974-1977), and what has changed? Well, much has changed, but perhaps not as much as one may think. Some of the facilities changes are obvious – Brentwood's physical plant continues to evolve and improve and more recent additions (Allard and Hope Houses, The Killy Theatre, The Arts Building, Crooks Hall, the McNeill Centre and the Foote Centre) are the most obvious. Perhaps less noticeable have been the significant upgrades in all of the boarding residences and in our unseen infrastructure. In 1974, when I arrived as a Grade 10 student in Privett House, the walls in the hallways and dorms were varnished plywood and the floors, polished linoleum – Spartan accommodations would be an understatement compared to the dorms of today! The old classroom block, now demolished, and the old Main Building, a vestige of the days when the Brentwood site was a solarium for people with physical challenges, were functional but nothing like the accommodations and teaching spaces we enjoy today. Many claimed the Main Building was haunted, and some still believe that Alex House remains haunted. A massive change was introduced to Brentwood in 1973, when we took the bold step of accepting girls into the School (the first boarding school in Canada to do so). Ironically, it was one of the reasons that I came to Brentwood and not Shawnigan, a school which became co-ed in 1988. I fondly remember playing a rugby game vs Shawnigan (an event which the student populations of both schools attended). Brentwood lined up on one side of the field and Shawnigan on the other. Cheering was as intense as the game itself, all in good fun. At half-time, both teams huddled around their coaches to get their insights and instructions, while the fans continued to cheer back at forth. The Shawnigan fans, enthusiastic and passionate, at one point yelled, "We've got spirit, yes we do, we've got spirit, how about you!". The Brentwood fan response, led by several of our females students, was classic – "We've got girls, yes we do, we've got girls, how about you?" and the Shawnigan fans were left speechless. One Shawnigan lad said, "How do you respond to that?" Of course, all of as as players heard this, and we started giggling, much to the consternation of our very serious coach, Mr. Prowse, although he did have a good laugh afterwards, especially as we won the game on the day. The other significant shift has been the introduction of technology. The invention of the Apple Computer to a mass market in 1976 started the steady and remarkably fast technological revolution, which we are still in the midst of. When I graduated from Brentwood in 1977, the most sophisticated piece of technology was the self-correcting electric typewriter. As a result, the majority of our free time as students was spent in the gym or on the fields, playing pick-up sports. None of the houses had TVs so Saturdays were either spent watching a movie in the old assembly hall, or at a School Dance (live bands were brought in three time a year). Mostly, we spent a great deal of time chatting with our friends, playing board games or cards and getting to know our teachers – a massive benefit. There were no cell phones or computer games, no internet and as a result, we created some tremendous relationships, without today's distractions. Another massive difference has been the urbanization of Mill Bay. While I was here as a student, there was no Rusty's, no Thrifty Foods, no uptown mall complex, no SubWay, no Tim Horton's, no A&W, no McDonalds, no Coop, no Shell station, no Mill Bay Sushi, no Mill Bay Grill. There was a small convenience store where the CIBC Branch is now (same building) and an Esso Gas Station (now long gone) with a coffee shop. Across the highway, was a small elementary school, that has since been demolished, and behind that site, acres and acres of forest and farmland, through which we ran of Inter-House Cross Country Races. What continues to define Brentwood, in 1974 and in 2019, are the programs and most importantly, the people. The Tripartite Program in 1974 was similar to today, although the number of arts and sports offered was far less! Nonetheless, being exposed and learning about areas outside one's comfort zone was powerful and has helped generations of Brentwood students to discover areas of interest they might not have been exposed to. The other factor, that I believe is the elusive "secret sauce" that has remained unchanged, are the people. Brentwood has always had staff who have dedicated their lives to teach, inspire and help develop young people. This teaching does not always happen in the classroom. The staff in 1974 were every bit has caring and kind as they are today. Then, like today, the students were as fond of the catering staff and laundry staff as we were our teachers and houseparents. When I have hired or helped to hire new employees, I say to them as part of the hiring process, that "everything we do here as a Brentwood staff, is designed to elevate the student experience". Using the last three weeks as a snapshot, this is what the staff and students have accomplished:

The service trip to Belize provided a transformative experience for our students

We received a snow dump (60 cm in two days)

Most of our facilities and food services staff, and most of our teachers, found a way to get to school. This meant we had one “snow day” (which the students thoroughly enjoyed), while the local school district had as many as four.

Many staff started their work days early and stayed late to make sure students were fed, kept safe and taught.

Kindness Week ran, as did the wonderful musical West Side Story

Our Debating Team won the provincials. Our Senior Boys Basketball Team won the Island Championships and are off to the Provincials and our Grade 9 Boys Basketball team also qualified for the Grade 9 Provincials.

Our Hockey team played their hearts out all season and had a great showing at the Ross Cup

Java Hut – our annual talent show, was another great success

Careers Day ran with great success

Multiple international dinners were offered

While I cannot recall what students accomplished in February and March, 1977, what I certainly do remember is that we were always engaged, always pushed by our teachers and coaches and above all, we understood that as students, we were cared for in the most authentic and genuine ways. So yes, the School has changed, but the best parts have always been here and I am sure will continue long into the future. Marius Felix, Deputy Head