Festive Houses

It’s past December 1st and there isn’t a singular snowflake on the ground. As a student from Northern Alberta, I don’t normally get that holiday feeling unless my surroundings are caked in white, however, in our houses we have a long list of festivities lined up for the approaching weeks up until our Winter Break starting on the 14th. All the students and faculty start to feel reassured that a well-deserved break is on its way when we start to see the beautifully lit trees go up around the fountain. Vibrant lights wrap the boarding houses and are strung from tree to tree on the way to Crooks Hall. Inside Crooks, an enormous tree stands tall and decorated, lighting up the dining room.  In the next two weeks there are also school-wide events that everyone is looking forward to such as the Student Holiday Party and Snowball as well as many more within the houses.  Tomorrow after sign in there will be Christmas music blaring and students dancing around the halls of their houses with tinsel in their hands. This is by far one of my favourite times of the year. On Tuesday in Alex house, we will be meeting in our Big-Little sister groups to assemble an abundance of little gifts for a less fortunate child in the Cowichan Valley. Then, after we are finished putting our gifts together, we get to put together gingerbread houses! While I look forward to going home and spending the holidays with my family, there’s nothing like decorating and celebrating a successful term with my Brentwood family.  Finally, on the last night before break commences, each house will spend the evening having dinner and taking part in their own traditions. In Alex House, we venture out into Cowichan Bay and have a wonderful meal at a the Cow Bay Cafe. After dinner, each grade creates a skit or sings a song and performs it in front of the rest of the house. To end off the night, we exchange gifts and reveal ourselves as Secret Santas.  Even though many of the girls cannot wait to leave and travel home for a much deserved break, we all know that we will be just as excited to come back. It has been a great term and I look forward to the New Year with my Brentwood family. Happy Holidays! Hannah C, Alex ‘19