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Brentwood College School is a co-educational boarding school that focuses on preparing students for the challenges of post-secondary education. This school is located on Vancouver Island in Mill Bay, British Columbia, Canada.

Historical Overview

Brentwood was first founded in 1923. The original location was in Brentwood Bay near Saanich on Vancouver Island, from where its name was derived. The original school was destroyed by a fire in 1947, leaving only the chapel intact. The current school is located westward directly across the bay from the original site, in Mill Bay. The new version of the school opened in September 1961. In 1972, Brentwood College became the first all boys' boarding school in Canada to gradually integrate girls, starting with 20 grade 12 students, becoming officially co-ed for the fall session.

The Campus

This oceanfront school has tennis courts, rugby fields, seven student residences, two academic buildings, a rowing boat house, laundry facilities, a cafeteria, a sportsplex, and a health center.

Sustainable Buildings

In 1995, the T. Gill Bunch Centre was built. This 20,000 square foot performing arts centre houses a theatre in addition to acting, dance, and singing facilities. This building uses a geothermal loop for heating and cooling as part of the school's commitment to sustainable energy. A new dining hall and student services centre will be completed by February 2010. This new facility has been designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

Curriculum

Brentwood offers university preparatory education from grade 9 to 12. Brentwood has been ranked consistently as one of the top academic high schools in British Columbia. Students participate in Brentwood's tri-partite programme (academics, arts, and sports). All graduates attend post-secondary education (78% to their first choice of university). The most popular countries for post-secondary education are Canada, Scotland, England, and the United States. 2009 graduates received offers from over 100 universities, including Oxford University, Duke University, Brown University, Colgate University, Queen's University, University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, and University of St Andrews, School of Medicine.

Students can take British Columbia provincial examinations, Advanced Placement exams, courses and the American SAT prep tutorials.

Extracurricular Activities - Clubs and Organizations

• Chess Club
• Community Service
• Debate Club
• Foreign Language Clubs
• Model United Nations
• Photography
• Science Club
• Stock Market Analysis
• Student Activities Council (SAC)
• Student Executive Council (SEC)
• Student Peer Assistance Resource Counselors (SPARC)
• Brentwood Environmental Action Team (BEAT)
• Yearbook Publishing

Scholarships

Currently, the school offers bursaries, financial aid, and The Governor's Entrance Scholarship to eligible Canadian students. Approximately 20% of students receive some type of financial assistance.

Athletic Highlights

• 1923-ongoing General Pwnge
• 2009 Rowing Boys Overall Points National Champions
• 2009 Rowing Junior Boys National Champions (4 Gold)
• 2009 Provincial Champions, Girls' Rugby
• 2009, 2008 Provincial Champions, Boys’ Rugby
• 2008 Canadian Junior Boys & Junior Girls National High School Champions, Rowing
• 2007 Provincial, ISA & Vancouver Island Champions, Girls’ Volleyball
• 2007 Finalist, Henley Royal Regatta, England, Rowing
• 2007 Rowing Senior Men Nationl Champions(8 and 4)
• 2007 Rugby Provincial Finalists, Boys’ Rugby
• 2006, 2003, 2002, 2000 Canadian Men’s National High School Champions, Rowing
• 2006 Provincial, Vancouver Island and ISA Champions, Girls’ Volleyball
• 2006 Vancouver Island Champions, Boys’ Soccer
• 2006 ISA Champions, Junior Boys’ Soccer
• 2005 ISA and Vancouver Island Champions, Girls’ Field Hockey
• 2005 Canadian Junior Boys’ National High School Champions, Rowing
• 2005 Cowichan Valley High School Champions, Ice Hockey
• 2005 Bronze Mid Island Championships, Junior Boys’ Basketball
• 2005 Mid Island Champions, Junior Girls’ Basketball
• 2005 Provincial bronze medallists, Boys’ Rugby
• 2005, 2004 Provincial Girls’ Rugby Champions (Tier 2)
• 2004, 2001, 2000 Provincial Tennis Champions
• 2003 Canadian Women’s National High School Lightweight Champions, Rowing
• 2003 Canadian Champions - Overall points - Girls - Rowing
• 2001, 2000 Canadian National High School Champions, Rowing

Brentwood Rowing

Brentwood College has been continuing to gain a sound reputation in the rowing world,. Brentwood College graduates include 2008 Beijing Olympic medalists Scott Frandsen (Class of 1998), Dave Calder (Class of 1996) in the Men's Heavyweight 2- event, and Malcolm Howard (Class of 2001) in the Men's Heavyweight 8+ event.

Brentwood has hosted its own regatta annually since the early 1970s, inviting high schools and junior clubs across Canada and the United States to participate in a 1500 metre sprint. The regatta is held every year in April for three days. The Brentwood regatta is the largest high school rowing regatta in North America, attracting over 1500 athletes and 3000 spectators.

Notable alumni

• Lieutenant Commander John H Stubbs (1930) - WWII hero, commander of HMCS Athabaskan
• Brentwood's first Olympian, Ned Pratt (1930)
• Hon. Alastair Gillespie, P.C. O.C. (1941) - senior member of Pierre Trudeau's cabinet
• Colonel Philip (Pip) D P Holmes (1941) WWII hero - RAF Bomber Command
• Dr. Wade Davis (1971) - ethnobotanist, author and activist
• Brentwood's first Olympic Gold Medallist, Blair Horn (1979)
• 2008 Beijing Olympians Connor Grimes (Class of 2001), Scott Frandsen (Class of 1998), David Calder (Class of 1996), and Malcolm Howard (Class of 2001).

Olympic Athletes

The following Olympic athletes attended Brentwood College.

Medals won:

• Gold: Blair Horn, Darren Barber, Malcolm Howard.
• Silver: Tom Herschmiller, Scott Frandsen, Dave Calder.
• Bronze: Ned Pratt, Bruce Ford.

Affiliations

• CAIS - Canadian Association of Independent Schools
• FISA - Federation of Independent School Associations
• NAIS - National Association of Independent Schools
• SSATB - Secondary School Admission Test Board
• TABS - The Association of Boarding Schools
• WBSA - Western Boarding Schools Association

References

1. About Brentwood College School - Private Canadian Boarding at www.brentwood.bc.ca
2. Students of Brentwood College School - Canadian Boarding School at www.brentwood.bc.ca
3. Thomson, Ashley and Sylvie Lafortune. Handbook of Canadian Boarding Schools. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1999.
4. Prowse, Nicholas R.B. Kindled from the Ashes: A Short History of Brentwood College. Victoria: Brentwood, 2002.
5. BC Hydro - Brentwood College School, PowerSmart Success Stories
6. GeoExchange BC Case Study: Ocean Heats & Cools Brentwood College School Theatre
7. Brentwood College rowing coaches receive awards for 25+ years
8. Brentwood College School Hosts Boys and Girls Rowing Regattas

External links

• Brentwood College School website
• Google satellite map of campus

48°39′11″N 123°33′14″W / 48.65306°N 123.55389°W / 48.65306; -123.55389

• Boarding schools in British Columbia
• High schools in British Columbia
• Private schools in British Columbia
• Preparatory schools in British Columbia
• Educational institutions established in 1923