50p
Day Student Start Up
Returning day students will remember the joy of being a part of a boarding house - without having to live at the school. It was always a plethora of fun and an aura of sisterhood/brotherhood while meeting new friends who are from all around the world. Sadly, this year, due to the COVID-19 virus, the Grade 9-11 day students are currently unable to enter the boarding houses, and are assigned to the Foote Centre as their new on-campus home.
That being said, the Foote Centre has been an incredible success. Each student has a locker in their cohort region on the lower floor (Alex & Whittall, Rogers & Allard, Mackenzie & Ellis, and Privett & Hope) and have the upstairs common area of the Foote to relax and eat their cookie break snacks that are distributed each morning.
I asked my sister, Brooklyn F, Alex ‘23 how she is enjoying the new day student system. She said “It is nice being back at the school and having a place to go in between classes, but it can get boring not being able to be in the boarding house with the rest of my boarding friends.”
The day student schedule has provided safety and is a thorough attempt at keeping everyone secure from COVID-19. After being dropped off in the parking lot at the north end of campus, students enter the Foote Centre in a socially distanced single file line where they sanitize their hands, pass by a thermal scanner for fevers, and then sign in with Mr Langer. After this, we are welcome to wait in the lounge until their class, or if the student is in Grade 12, they can grab their cookie break snack and head to the house.
In our Grade 12 advisor meeting with Mr Gage on Monday, he asked us what was going well in the house, and what was not. The boys had a large amount to say about what was going well, specifically how everyone was just happy to be back, but we could not find something to complain about. To start the conversation, I brought up the topic of how, as a day student in the house, it is hard getting to know everyone. Though Grade 12s are allowed in the house, we are not permitted to enter any boarders’ rooms at this time. Mr Gage had a valid point to say: “I do sympathize with you, but, to be frank, you’re not the ones I feel bad for. The ones that have most of my sympathy are the younger day students.”
After hearing this, the boys and I have started planning some activities to help the other day students feel more a part of the house, such as an outdoor basketball game or pizza on the plaza. I am hopeful that soon enough the rest of the day students will be able to join back into their respective boarding houses and enjoy the full Brentwood experience.
Dale F, Whittall ‘21
That being said, the Foote Centre has been an incredible success. Each student has a locker in their cohort region on the lower floor (Alex & Whittall, Rogers & Allard, Mackenzie & Ellis, and Privett & Hope) and have the upstairs common area of the Foote to relax and eat their cookie break snacks that are distributed each morning.
I asked my sister, Brooklyn F, Alex ‘23 how she is enjoying the new day student system. She said “It is nice being back at the school and having a place to go in between classes, but it can get boring not being able to be in the boarding house with the rest of my boarding friends.”
The day student schedule has provided safety and is a thorough attempt at keeping everyone secure from COVID-19. After being dropped off in the parking lot at the north end of campus, students enter the Foote Centre in a socially distanced single file line where they sanitize their hands, pass by a thermal scanner for fevers, and then sign in with Mr Langer. After this, we are welcome to wait in the lounge until their class, or if the student is in Grade 12, they can grab their cookie break snack and head to the house.
In our Grade 12 advisor meeting with Mr Gage on Monday, he asked us what was going well in the house, and what was not. The boys had a large amount to say about what was going well, specifically how everyone was just happy to be back, but we could not find something to complain about. To start the conversation, I brought up the topic of how, as a day student in the house, it is hard getting to know everyone. Though Grade 12s are allowed in the house, we are not permitted to enter any boarders’ rooms at this time. Mr Gage had a valid point to say: “I do sympathize with you, but, to be frank, you’re not the ones I feel bad for. The ones that have most of my sympathy are the younger day students.”
After hearing this, the boys and I have started planning some activities to help the other day students feel more a part of the house, such as an outdoor basketball game or pizza on the plaza. I am hopeful that soon enough the rest of the day students will be able to join back into their respective boarding houses and enjoy the full Brentwood experience.
Dale F, Whittall ‘21