Welcome to the Brentwood Grade 8 Program website!

The purpose of this site is to provide a single place for students and parents in the program to keep informed of program happenings. 

Current information will be updated routinely.

Sincerely, 

Ms. Ramundi and Ms. Waugh

Grade 8 students can earn colours in Academics, Sports, and Arts

ACADEMIC COLOURS

Colours - On final reports, Proficient in all academic subjects and Learning Skills, with at least Often

Heads Award - On final reports, Proficient-High in all academic subjects and Learning Skills, with at least Often

 The following courses are used for calculation:

• English

• French 

• Math

• Science

• Social Studies

SPORTS COLOURS

To earn Sports colours, students must participate in at least one sport each term, compete on at least two A-team sports over the school year, and earn Proficient-High or Extending in PE every term. In addition, students must achieve Often or Habitually in their Approaches to Learning Skills Assessments for PE every term. 

ARTS COLOURS

To earn Arts colours, in addition to their regular rotation (Musical, 2-D Arts, and Music), students must participate in at least one Arts elective for the year, earn Proficient-High or Extending in their regular rotation classes and Approaches to Learning Assessments of Often or Habitually in each class of the rotation and the final term for their optional Arts class. 

SUBJECT AWARDS

A subject award is given to a student who embodies excellence, grit, and joy in each of these subject areas:

• Arts

• English

• French

• Math

• Physical Education

• Science

• Social Studies 

Each Grade 8 Program student will require the following supplies: 

• One large zip-up style binder with 6 dividers

• Pencils

• Pens (blue and/or black)

• Pencil kit

• Pencil sharpener

• Ruler

• Pencil crayons

• Scientific calculator ($15.00-$20.00 - please do not purchase a graphing calculator)

• A personal laptop

• Athletic dress: 

  • 1. • black Brentwood shorts

       • Brentwood logo t-shirt (black, red, grey or white) 

       • Brentwood logo pull-over or hoodie for colder days outside

       • non-marking-sole runners for inside use

       • runners for outdoor use

• Musical rehearsal dress:

  • 1. • comfortable bottoms, easy to move in (sweatpants, shorts, leggings)

       • a comfortable t-shirt (does not have to be a Brentwood top)

       • extra pair of socks

       • on the days we rehearse on the stage, you will be asked to wear runners or your school shoes

Please ensure supplies have an easy-to-read, hard-to-remove name label. 

Note that the school store has competitively priced school supplies. 

The Grade 8 Program is a complete program that includes both arts and athletics. However, if your child would like to become more involved, there are extracurricular offerings in athletics and arts for the 8s. 

We encourage our 8s to participate in these extra offerings for several reasons. First, students can withdraw from these extracurricular arts or athletics if they find the time commitment too demanding. Second, 8s receive the same instruction and opportunity as the older students, and their participation in the extracurricular activity is noted on their report card by comment, but they do not receive a letter grade or score for the course; there is no 'penalty' for trying something new. Finally, it is a wonderful opportunity to build their relationships in the broader Brentwood community. 

At the same time, while it really is an excellent opportunity to try something new, it is okay not to participate in these extras! Some students have commitments outside of school that are also important, some students need more 'down time' than others, and some students need more time to manage the demands of an already busy Grade 8 Program. 

If students wish to register for extracurricular arts and/or athletics, please review the tentative options below and be prepared to engage in a conversation with Ms. Ramundi and Ms. Waugh on the first day of classes. By that time, we will know accurately which extracurricular art and athletic opportunities will be available to the 8s, and we will support the 8s in signing up for those activities. 

Brentwood uses an Advisor program as one important way to ensure all students have a strong connection and continuous support from an adult in the Brentwood community. In the 9 - 12 school, those adults are teachers or house parents or RFAs (Resident Faculty Assistants). In our Grade 8 Program, Ms. Ramundi and Ms. Waugh are the Advisors for all Grade 8 students. 

As Advisors, we are the main contacts at the school for parents. We are the go-to adults for your children at all times. We guide, support and advocate for your children. We care for and want the best for your children. 

Please use the contact information on the Contacts page of this website to touch base with Ms. Waugh and/or Ms. Ramundi at any time. We want to hear from you regarding any question or concern, no matter how big or small. We will contact you regularly with updates as well. 

Together, through good communication, we can help your children have a wonderful year. 

Students will receive their Brentwood student cards near the end of September. The student card has two main purposes: printing and purchasing on campus. 

Printing is free. Students can print to any printer on the Brentwood campus, including the printer we have in the Grade 8 classroom. The student card is used to log in to the printer and activate the printing job. 

Purchasing is done on campus at the school store and at McNeill's snack bar. Students load their student card with funds at the school store, and then use their student card to purchase items at the school store and at McNeill's. 

It is important for parents to realize that students are self-directed when loading their card with funds at the school store. Student accounts are charged for the amount that students load onto their card. A conversation between student and parents regarding the use of the student card for purchasing is recommended.  

Brentwood is a busy place, and students go hard academically, artistically and academically each and every day in the Grade 8 Program. Moreover, most students participate in extracurricular Arts and Athletics, which makes for an even longer day. Still, there will be homework, and gradually there will be more homework as the year progresses. To begin the year, we will go slow and steady as we set expectations and routines. 

Importantly, we want to ensure students make health a priority by getting home for a rest and a good sleep each night. We also expect students to stay home to rest and not share their bug when they are sick. Further, while we expect students to be organized and submit assignments on time, we also know that all students have different responsibilities and activities outside of school, work at different rates, and have strengths in certain areas of learning and challenges in other areas of learning. For all of those reasons, it is very difficult to find an amount of homework that is best for each student. 

As teachers, we check in with all students each day to understand how students are doing and to adjust the work load for the class and/or for individuals as necessary. Students who are overwhelmed are encouraged to communicate with teachers in class or by email if they need extra support or more time. Tutorial times each day are excellent opportunities for students to receive extra support from their teachers. If necessary, and through consultation with parents, tutorial can be mandatory for students who require extra support. 

THREE BASIC KINDS OF HOMEWORK: 

• PRACTICE: routine practice of a skill. For example: 

  • • • • reading a novel

        • typing practice

• PREVIEW: reading or writing to warm up for an up-coming activity. For example:

  • • • • reading a Social Studies or Science text or article 

        • write a brief response to a news article in preparation for discussion/debate the next day 

• REVIEW:

  • • • • organize binder

        • rewrite notes

        • prepare for upcoming quiz or test (i.e. study)

To begin the year, students will have routine homework responsibilities such as these: 

1. Read a novel for 30 minutes (minimum!) every school night. 

2. Rehearse lines and songs for the musical for 20+ minutes each school night.  

3. Prepare for quizzes and tests. 

Some days require "smart casual" dress, yet smart casual is hard to define! 

Here are YES/NO lists that I hope will help guide students. Also, students can dress above this dress level (e.g. school uniform).  

YES

• Blouse

• Polo shirt

• Collared shirt

• Button-down shirt

• Sweater

• Slacks

• Dress pants

• Khakis 

• Skirt

• Dress

• Closed-toe shoes 

• Sneakers

• Flats

• Loafers

NO

• Jeans

• Sweats

• Athletic runners

• Sandals

• Hoodies

• T-shirts

Some days require "casual" dress, yet casual is hard to define! 

Here are YES/NO lists that I hope will help guide students. Also, students can dress above this level if they choose (e.g. school uniform, or smart casual). 

YES

• Jeans

• T-shirts

• Hoodies

• Sweatpants

• Tights/leggings

• Sweatshirts

• Closed-toe shoes

NO

• Ripped or torn clothing

• Revealing clothing (e.g. tank-tops)

• Inappropriate messages or symbols

• Sandals

School holidays and breaks are the same for the 8s as for the 9-12s.  Please refer to this link on the school website for dates:  www.brentwood.ca/calendar .  Note that the Weekly Schedule page on this site will be up-to-date at least a month in advance as well.

The Transportation Department should have reached out to you to see if you were interested in having your child take the Duncan or Langford day bus to and from school this year. This service does have an additional cost. 

The safety of each student is paramount. Brentwood assumes custody of care while students are in attendance and must account for students at all times through thoughtful supervision and explicit expectations regarding student location on campus. Please note that Grade 8 Program students are dismissed at the end of the academic school day (M/W/F at 3:00pm; T/Th at 2pm) and that custody of care is assumed by parents or guardians at dismissal time. 

Brentwood will continue to provide custody of care beyond dismissal time for arts, sports, or study time in the Grade 8 classroom: 

• if a Grade 8 student participates in an after-school athletic or art activity, the coach/instructor will provide supervision for the duration of that activity;  

• because Ms. Ramundi and/or Ms. Waugh will be in the Grade 8 classroom each day until 5:00 pm to supervise Grade 8 students engaged in academic activity and to offer one-on-one tutoring and general supervision of students in the classroom to work on academics;

• on M/W/F 3:00 - 5:00 and T/Th 2:00 - 5:00, when students are welcome to take a break from the tutorial sessions and before and after optional sport or art by 'hanging out' on the field in front of the classroom (Campbell Common) or in McNeill's Cafe in Crooks Hall because those areas are within a supervisory area for Ms. Ramundi and Ms. Waugh - all other areas of campus are not areas for Grade 8 Program students to 'hang out';

• in Foote Centre when students are waiting in the designated day-student area for pick up by parent or Brentwood bus.

Each day the Grade 8s are provided with a nutrition break (some sort of snack) and lunch. As our day commences after breakfast and finishes before dinner, we cannot invite day student Grade 8s to breakfast or dinner. 

There is an exception to that general policy: if your child is involved in a Brentwood activity that goes over breakfast or dinner, such as a sports team that is eating together, they are more than welcome to stay for those meals. 

Students are also encouraged to bring their own healthy snacks for a nutrition break scheduled specifically for the Grade 8 Program earlier in the day, and for the afternoon according to each student's own schedule of activity. 

Water bottles on student desks are encouraged. We keep fresh water in a dispenser in the classroom for refills throughout the day. 

We stress the importance of appropriate use of cell phones and other technologies in the Grade 8 Program. Cell phones are sometimes used for assignments because they can be a powerful tool for learning when used purposefully. At the same time, cell phones can be distracting and difficult for young people to manage and use wisely. 

To meet broader Grade 8 Program goals of collaboration and social development, and to support students in the development of purposeful and safe cell phone use,  all students will hand in their cell phones at the start of the academic day. Phones will be stored safely in the classroom and returned to students when they are required for a learning activity and upon dismissal at the end of the day. 

If you need to get in touch with your child during the course of the day, please email Ms. Ramundi and/or Ms. Waugh. If there is an emergency situation, please contact reception by phone: 250-743-5521.

If your child is going to be away, please inform both Ms. Waugh  < kimberly.waugh@brentwood.ca> and Ms. Ramundi < amanda.ramundi@brentwood.ca > as soon as you are aware they will be absent.