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Parent Blog: From South America With Love
A group of our current parents will be blogging intermittently to help prospective families discover more about Brentwood by sharing personal stories, insights and advice. At Brentwood, students choose to be here; this blog, written from a parent's perspective, is designed to help families better understand the transition. If you would like to send us your own blogs and stories, please email karen.reburn@brentwood.bc.ca
From South America With Love
I have had the great joy and privilege of watching all three of our children attend Brentwood and develop into wonderful, well-rounded individuals, but I still haven’t figured out how to get them to “Number 1” their rooms at home!
I have attended nine closing day ceremonies, ten move-in days, and watched in amazement at the stunning buildings added to an already beautiful campus. The buildings are, of course, a remarkable accomplishment and a wonderful learning environment, but for my husband and me, Brentwood has always been about the school culture, the excellent staff, and the tripartite education offered.
Our two daughters started Brentwood while we were living in South America, with very sketchy phone lines and a 17 hour trip between us and them. It was extremely hard and a little heart-breaking to leave our first one, who arrived solo in Grade 9, in the fall 2002. When her younger sister joined her as one of the last Grade 8 classes the following year, I was less apprehensive because I knew firsthand how open the lines of communication were to the school and of the dedication of the teachers and students.
My second daughter recalls with fondness how as Grade 8s, her class all traveled in a herd (strength in numbers?) and her wonderful house parent coming into her “three man” room almost every night and talking with them for quite a long time to make sure things were okay (and sometimes getting in trouble with her spouse for keeping the girls awake!) The last day of Grade 12, I saw a lot of tears, and a few misty-eyed teachers.
My son started Brentwood after we returned to Canada because Brentwood was now our “family school.” We sent three very different children to Brentwood and we watched as all three identified their talents, interests, and were nurtured, encouraged and inspired to perform to their full potential. This year, as we moved our son into Brentwood for the last time, I paused to reflect on how different it was from the very first time.
I remember being worried if we had labeled all of the socks (don’t do it!), if we had brought all the right items (the Walmart in Duncan is very close), meeting the other roommates and parents and wondering if they were as nervous as we were, and trying to figure out where to get the pillows (thank you student volunteers). I was so desperately focused on the details to avoid thinking about the good bye. It’s the same every year, but it gets easier as the kids bounce back to school, happy to see their campus and friends.
N. S., Distance Parenting since September 3, 2002
I have had the great joy and privilege of watching all three of our children attend Brentwood and develop into wonderful, well-rounded individuals, but I still haven’t figured out how to get them to “Number 1” their rooms at home!
I have attended nine closing day ceremonies, ten move-in days, and watched in amazement at the stunning buildings added to an already beautiful campus. The buildings are, of course, a remarkable accomplishment and a wonderful learning environment, but for my husband and me, Brentwood has always been about the school culture, the excellent staff, and the tripartite education offered.
Our two daughters started Brentwood while we were living in South America, with very sketchy phone lines and a 17 hour trip between us and them. It was extremely hard and a little heart-breaking to leave our first one, who arrived solo in Grade 9, in the fall 2002. When her younger sister joined her as one of the last Grade 8 classes the following year, I was less apprehensive because I knew firsthand how open the lines of communication were to the school and of the dedication of the teachers and students.
My second daughter recalls with fondness how as Grade 8s, her class all traveled in a herd (strength in numbers?) and her wonderful house parent coming into her “three man” room almost every night and talking with them for quite a long time to make sure things were okay (and sometimes getting in trouble with her spouse for keeping the girls awake!) The last day of Grade 12, I saw a lot of tears, and a few misty-eyed teachers.
My son started Brentwood after we returned to Canada because Brentwood was now our “family school.” We sent three very different children to Brentwood and we watched as all three identified their talents, interests, and were nurtured, encouraged and inspired to perform to their full potential. This year, as we moved our son into Brentwood for the last time, I paused to reflect on how different it was from the very first time.
I remember being worried if we had labeled all of the socks (don’t do it!), if we had brought all the right items (the Walmart in Duncan is very close), meeting the other roommates and parents and wondering if they were as nervous as we were, and trying to figure out where to get the pillows (thank you student volunteers). I was so desperately focused on the details to avoid thinking about the good bye. It’s the same every year, but it gets easier as the kids bounce back to school, happy to see their campus and friends.
N. S., Distance Parenting since September 3, 2002