Winter Wonderings

29 January 2014Joanna L

I would like to make an announcement. It might be a little outdated, sure, but it seems worth mentioning. I would like to announce that as of the 21st of December 2013, the shortest day of the school year, the winter solstice, passed.

Winter on Vancouver Island doesn’t have the same ring to it as say, Toronto, or Edmonton, or Yellowknife, but, like it or not, it’s still cold. Despite the damp chilliness though, there are definitely perks.

Is it a little disheartening to wake up to the blaring of your alarm on a weekday morning and find outside resembles the middle of the night? Of course it is. There’s a second when you glance at the clock just to make sure you didn’t accidently set it for three a.m., but after that, after you’ve hauled yourself out of bed and headed down to the cafeteria for a hot breakfast, at least there are some killer sunrises to restore your inspiration for the day. Looking out across Mill Bay as the sun rises red and gold behind Mount Baker and the Saanich Peninsula does have the unintended effect of not only dazzling you with beauty, but also restoring some of your faith in the day.

Maybe the paths are a little slippery in the mornings when there’s a bit of frost here and there, but it’s not often that you get actual ice, so those of us who are used to a warmer climate (I’m from Australia) don’t have to worry too much.

For clothing, there is, of course, the expected: coats, jackets, scarves, boots and all those other cozy accessories, but the must haves are the more waterproof articles: rain jackets, Wellingtons, and umbrellas. Because as all those from the West/Wet Coast will tell you, when it rains an average of 158 days a year, you get used to going about your business as if nothing is unusual. It could be much worse anyway, try complaining to the rest of Canada and they’ll say “At least it’s not snowing and minus 30 with the wind chill.”

So unhindered by the logistical issues of snowstorms and ice that most other regions of Canadian have had to deal with this year, winter term is actually fairly busy and exciting for Brentwood. For the rowers, the winter doesn’t really stop progress on the water in preparation for the spring term racing season as long as you remember to bring an extra jacket! Competitive sports of basketball, ice hockey and squash seek the indoors while the company and crew of the Brentwood musical gear up for the Musical Theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof in late February.

With the days getting lighter and students and teachers busy working on winter projects, you can be sure that this term’s activities will set us up for a great remainder of the term as we look forward to the warmth and sunshine of the third, and final term: Spring.

Joanna L, Alex ‘14

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