Brentwood's unique Tripartite Programme puts academics at the core of a challenging 21st century curriculum, while creating extensive opportunities for all students to participate in athletics and the arts.
Tripartite Programme
The unique Brentwood Tripartite programme is specifically designed for students seeking a variety of exciting academic, athletic and artistic options. Students attend academic classes in the mornings, six days a week. They participate in athletics and arts on alternate afternoons. As all academic classes are held during the morning, students do no have to choose between academic courses, and arts and sports electives, as happens in traditional timetables in most schools. Many afternoon groupings also facilitate beginner to advanced enrollment to suit the students' prior experience rather than grade level.
Academics
Brentwood's academic morning includes 5 blocks (Monday to Friday) and 3 blocks on Saturday, with a 20 minute 'cookie break' in the morning between the 3rd and 4th block. Lunch signals the end of the academic morning. While the Grade 9 Foundation Year offers a core curriculum for most students, students who are advanced in languages and mathematics may study at a higher level. The Grade 10 Exploration Year offers a number of electives, creating pathways for more specialized course selection in the Grade 11 Focus Year. In Grade 12, all courses, other than English 12 or English Literature 12, are elective. The Advanced Placement (AP) programme is fully established in Grades 11 and 12.
Athletics
All students participate in our sports programme. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons are designated as ‘sports’ afternoons. Sports on an afternoon can occur anytime between 2:00 pm and 7:15 pm. Competitive athletes may also be involved in extra training on the other days as well as extra competition on the weekends. At Brentwood we take full advantage of our oceanfront setting. We are pleased to offer sports options such as rowing, sailing, and outdoor pursuits, which involves canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.
Arts
All students participate in our arts programme. Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons are designated as ‘arts’ afternoons. There are 4 blocks on Fine Art afternoons which run between 2 pm and 6 pm. Most students must select at least 2 arts blocks. Students can select options in performing arts, dance, traditional music, modern music, visual arts, camera arts or technical arts.
Weekly Routine
Ask prospective students about the idea of going to class on Saturday morning and the response is likely to be negative. Ask current Brentwood students about finishing academic classes by 1:15pm every day, and having afternoons free for athletics and the arts and having longer holidays, their response is positive. Even though our students attend classes 6 days a week, they don't attend school more than anyone else; those days are given back to them with extra days off around spring break, midterm, and other holidays. Brentwood's schedule is unique and few Brentonians would change it. They like Brentwood's distinctive rhythm, which is a product of our tripartite programme.
Weekly Routine
Monday to Friday
* On Wednesdays, students have a sleep-in morning. Breakfast is from 8:00 am - 8:45am. The first class starts at 9:10 am. The rest of the daily schedule follows the regular academic programme. | Saturday
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Sunday
After the hectic pace of the weekly programme, Sunday is a less structured, more relaxing day. Students may enjoy the many campus amenities (such as the sports complex, playing fields, waterfront, library, etc.) while maintaining contact with staff throughout the day. Students may attend the services at local churches if they wish; the School will provide transport, if requested. We also provide a bus for skiers and snowboarders to Mt. Washington during the winter months.
- Cereal breakfast is available from 8:00 am. A full brunch is served between 10:00 am and 12:00 noon.
- A sandwich/cookie break is available between 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Dinner is served between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm.
- The dorms are quiet until 11:00 am. Students meet their houseparents around 11 am, at 5:00 pm, and again at 9:40 pm.
- All grade 9 and 10 students check in with a member of staff in the cafeteria between 3:00 and 3:30 pm.
- Grade 12's, with permission, are given 'local leave' for the afternoon.
Longer Holidays
Thanks to our unique Tripartite Programme, students attend classes on Saturdays. This allows us to ‘give back’ these Saturdays to the students, providing them with longer holidays. Because our students are coming from over 30 countries on 6 continents, families appreciate the extra time to be together. For more information about our holidays, please visit the school calendar.
