There is a wonder in the air when one wakes up to a fresh snowfall. Take those first steps out the door and witness countless tiny jewels covering everything. It is a simple magic that strikes straight to one’s heart and lifts spirits, and lips, into a smile. To a few Scrooges, it just means more work, more slipping, more damp and more cold. While it may be tempting to let these challenges cloud our eyes, we must brush them away and embrace the feeling of pristine snow flakes landing upon our face, lighter than feathers, and the comforting sound of snow compacting underneath our boots. Then maybe we will catch a glimpse of winter wonder once again. 

Not everyone can recognize snow like this, and it is incredibly hard to express how it makes people feel. For most, snowfall is not as poetic as the fall of pristine snowflakes; it is just simple fun. It broadens the possibilities: sudden battles strike up across the fields, fought by people armed with an endless supply of ammunition, and elsewhere snow is gradually rolled together to create snowmen and forts. People begin to frolic. 

On the West Coast, winter weather usually comes in two options: raining or about to rain. A snowfall is like stepping into a perfect dream. Sure, sunshine in the first and third terms is fantastic too, but summer is not the only beautiful season, nor is it the only time that Brentwood students can have fun.
    
Unlike some places in Canada, Brentwood is never crippled by snow. The school has an incredible team of maintenance workers who begin work before daybreak to clear steps and salt walkways, keeping ice-related injuries to a minimum, and they make sure that both day students and teachers can make it onto the campus roads safe and sound. They are so good at this, in fact, that several years ago, Brentwood was the only school in the province of British Colombia to not have a day cancelled due to snow. 

Stories spread quickly of teachers who wake up early to go and pick up other teachers, making sure everyone can be here for a day of learning. As frustrating as that may be for students, we have to admire their dedication. Many teachers live quite far from campus, and they make a slow and steady trek to Brentwood amidst the snow and ice. 

Wandering around campus yesterday afternoon, there was a host of staff and students out in the snow. Mr. Sullivan, House Parent of Ellis, brought his puppy out onto the soccer field for the Australian Shepherd’s first glimpse of snow. Elsewhere, Aidan C was practicing flight… and landing face first in a snow bank while around him students attempted to sled down some of Brentwood’s slopes. The aura of the campus on Wednesday was one of playful joy, with each person experiencing the snow in their own way, whether it was battling the cold, making snow angels or throwing snow balls. 

The snowfall was a terrific break in the middle of what has been for many a very busy school year. With December exams and break over, we have jumped straight back into the thick of things. Rehearsals for the musical are becoming more and more encompassing, schoolwork is beginning to pile up, and, for many, competitive sports are just starting to take off. The situation brings to mind Robert Frost’s “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” and its closing insight. A short break is important, “But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.”

Jonathan B-E