December Rites

12 December 2013Jim Ganley

Brentwood students are presently walking, driving, ferrying and flying their way home for a well-deserved and much-anticipated December holiday. After almost 100 days of classes, arts and athletics this fall, and a week of exams, they are ready for a break. A boarding school relies on a host of routines to keep a community of 460 students and 150 staff humming along happily and productively. Some of these routines eventually become rites. Here are a handful of Brentwood rites from the past week that I think our alumni will remember fondly: Last Thursday, Mr. John Garvey extended his “Invitation that Cannot be Refused” and, as a result, Friday afternoon saw the Grade 9s and 10s moving more than 300 desks and chairs from classrooms into the Woodward Sportsplex, transforming it from a basketball gym into an Exam Centre. Yesterday, before their festive Christmas Luncheon, the Grade 11s (see banner photo) played their role in the dance of desks and returned them to their rightful classrooms so we’re ready to roll again on January 7th. Speaking of the luncheon, faculty and staff juggled flaming torches, strummed guitar and mandolin, served lunch, sang carols, and bused tables as students enjoyed their final meal on campus before the holidays. After lunch, Wednesday afternoon featured in-house cleanup followed by House dinners. Only the annual Rogers House Polar Bear Plunge interrupted the cleaning tranquility of the afternoon. 25 boys leapt into the chilling waters of Mill Bay (and most made a very hasty exit). Speaking of exits, we return to Mr. Garvey, faculty member since 1971, whose “firmness makes [our] circle just, / And makes [us] end where [we] begun” to paraphrase John Donne. Since 2:00 a.m. this morning Mr. Garvey has been on duty in Crooks Hall signing students out as they left campus to catch flights far and wide. May you, your family, and friends also enjoy your much-loved routines this Holiday season. Jim Ganley, Website News and Blog Editor

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