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Welcome to Brentwood! 1
It’s that time of year again! As the hot summer days begin to cool off, we must replace our beach bags with backpacks and turn our attention back to school. For us Brentonians, this means checking off items from a packing list and travelling to campus to move in for the school year. For new Brentwood students, this time is inevitably an emotional one: filled with excitement, nerves, and a lot of questions.
If you’re feeling nervous, you’re not alone!
Leaving your friends, family, and home behind for a totally new environment is a big transition to make, but luckily it’s a transition that every Brentwood student undergoes and the school is designed to support this adjustment. Upon arrival, after being greeted by our friendly student Orientation Assistants, you will find that you are not just joining the Brentwood community, but several other smaller communities within the school. Between the familial bonds you will form within your boarding house, the friends you will make in the classroom and on the sports field and arts studios, and the Monday mornings you will spend with your advisor group, meeting new people and forming connections happens naturally.
At a school with so much to offer, the best way to make the most out of your experience is to get involved. “Take part in many different activities because there are lots of opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and develop relationships” advised Mrs Warner, Houseparent of Alexandra House.
The boarding houses are the core of Brentwood’s school culture. Each of our eight houses is a group of 60 to 70 built-in sisters or brothers and is set up to be one giant family. Each house has a Houseparent and an Assistant Houseparent: two staff members who live and work in the house and whose job it is to be your parents away from home by checking in and supporting you with whatever needs you may have. There are also BFAs (Brentwood Faculty Assistants - often recent university graduates) and your housemates, ranging across all grades who you will get to know extremely well. From house bonding activities to weekly meetings, and cooking together in the kitchen, you will become very familiar with the friendly faces of those in your house.
If you are ever feeling lost or homesick, just know that everywhere you look there are students just like you who are incredibly eager to help. “The adjustment to boarding life isn’t easy, but the culture that the houses have makes that adjustment so much easier and the fact that everybody is going through the same things helps a lot too” remarked Privett House Captain, Ariel C, Privett ‘23.
Still nervous? That’s okay! We know that there are a lot of emotions surrounding this big adjustment, which is why Brentwood holds Orientation, a jam-packed three days full of activities ranging from learning the layout of the campus, to bonding with your housemates, to the first Interhouse Events of the year! It is a chance to get your bearings, get your questions answered, and have some fun before classes start.
These next couple of weeks are going to be extremely busy and even overwhelming at times, but this transition marks the beginning of your time at Brentwood. I think I speak for all of the Brentwood community when I say we can’t wait to meet you and help make this transition as smooth as possible. Get excited, because starting next week, you will begin to make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Maxine P, Alex ‘23
If you’re feeling nervous, you’re not alone!
Leaving your friends, family, and home behind for a totally new environment is a big transition to make, but luckily it’s a transition that every Brentwood student undergoes and the school is designed to support this adjustment. Upon arrival, after being greeted by our friendly student Orientation Assistants, you will find that you are not just joining the Brentwood community, but several other smaller communities within the school. Between the familial bonds you will form within your boarding house, the friends you will make in the classroom and on the sports field and arts studios, and the Monday mornings you will spend with your advisor group, meeting new people and forming connections happens naturally.
At a school with so much to offer, the best way to make the most out of your experience is to get involved. “Take part in many different activities because there are lots of opportunities to meet new people, try new things, and develop relationships” advised Mrs Warner, Houseparent of Alexandra House.
The boarding houses are the core of Brentwood’s school culture. Each of our eight houses is a group of 60 to 70 built-in sisters or brothers and is set up to be one giant family. Each house has a Houseparent and an Assistant Houseparent: two staff members who live and work in the house and whose job it is to be your parents away from home by checking in and supporting you with whatever needs you may have. There are also BFAs (Brentwood Faculty Assistants - often recent university graduates) and your housemates, ranging across all grades who you will get to know extremely well. From house bonding activities to weekly meetings, and cooking together in the kitchen, you will become very familiar with the friendly faces of those in your house.
If you are ever feeling lost or homesick, just know that everywhere you look there are students just like you who are incredibly eager to help. “The adjustment to boarding life isn’t easy, but the culture that the houses have makes that adjustment so much easier and the fact that everybody is going through the same things helps a lot too” remarked Privett House Captain, Ariel C, Privett ‘23.
Still nervous? That’s okay! We know that there are a lot of emotions surrounding this big adjustment, which is why Brentwood holds Orientation, a jam-packed three days full of activities ranging from learning the layout of the campus, to bonding with your housemates, to the first Interhouse Events of the year! It is a chance to get your bearings, get your questions answered, and have some fun before classes start.
These next couple of weeks are going to be extremely busy and even overwhelming at times, but this transition marks the beginning of your time at Brentwood. I think I speak for all of the Brentwood community when I say we can’t wait to meet you and help make this transition as smooth as possible. Get excited, because starting next week, you will begin to make friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
Maxine P, Alex ‘23