Issue 26 • March 8, 2024
- From the Deputy Headmaster and Upper School Principal
- Enrollment for the 2024-2025 School Year
- IB Visual Arts Exhibition 2024
- Fill Your Bottles with Confidence
- Updates from the Activities Office
- Activities Schedule
- IB Calendar of Deadlines for 2023-2024 School Year
- College Visits
- SAT Testing at Brent
- School Uniforms
- Sick Child Guidelines
- Closing of School – Cancellation of Classes
- Upper School Calendar of Events
- Communicating with the Upper School
From the Deputy Headmaster and Upper School Principal
Dear Upper School Community,
Dear Upper School Community,
At Brent, our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLRs) are the guiding principles that shape every student’s education. These ESLRs are the cornerstones of our collective identity. As we collectively embrace and embody these principles, we cultivate a community that excels academically and thrives in character, compassion, and a shared commitment to positively impacting the world.
In our last newsletter, I highlighted what it means to be an effective communicator. This week, I’ll dive into our last ESLR and the value of being a lifelong learner.
Becoming a lifelong learner is a transformative journey that extends beyond formal education, emphasizing continuous intellectual growth and curiosity. Intellectual curiosity propels individuals to explore diverse topics, fostering a love for learning that transcends traditional boundaries. In an ever-evolving world, being self-directed in one’s educational pursuits becomes essential. This self-directed approach empowers individuals to take ownership of their learning journey, tailoring it to their interests and goals, thereby promoting a sense of autonomy and personal responsibility.
Applying acquired knowledge to enhance one’s life experiences is a hallmark of a dedicated lifelong learner. The ability to translate theoretical understanding into practical application not only enriches personal development but also contributes to the broader community. Making informed choices becomes a natural outcome of this process as individuals critically evaluate information, weigh alternatives, and apply discernment in decision-making. Reflecting on and evaluating learning experiences for the purpose of self-improvement further solidifies the commitment to continuous growth, fostering a mindset of adaptability and resilience in the face of challenges.
A lifelong learner employs a diverse range of strategies to enhance learning opportunities. These include leveraging various learning resources, seeking mentorship, engaging in collaborative projects, and embracing new technologies. By adopting a multifaceted approach to learning, individuals can navigate a dynamic and interconnected world, staying at the forefront of innovation and contributing meaningfully to their personal and professional spheres. Pursuing lifelong learning is not merely an educational philosophy; it is a commitment to ongoing self-discovery, adaptability, and the realization that learning is a lifelong adventure with no predetermined endpoint.
Being a lifelong learner holds profound significance to me. As a leader in education, my dedication to lifelong learning is a driving force behind my approach to leadership and administration. By consistently seeking new insights, staying informed about cutting-edge educational practices, and engaging in ongoing professional development, I strive to model the importance of intellectual curiosity and adaptability for our school community. This commitment allows me better to understand the evolving needs of our students and faculty, ensuring that our educational environment remains innovative and responsive to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Dr. Brett Petrillo
Deputy Headmaster and Upper School Principal
Enrollment for the 2024-2025 School Year
IB Visual Arts Exhibition 2024
Join us at this year’s IB Visual Arts exhibition as we celebrate the diversity of human expression, reminding us that despite our differences, we are bound by the common thread of our humanity.
“Throughout history, the arts and humanities have helped men and women around the globe grapple with the most challenging questions and come to know the most basic truths. In our increasingly interconnected world, the arts play an important role in both shaping the character that defines us and reminding us of our shared humanity”.
– Barack Obama
The IB Visual Arts Class of 2024 is proud to present the works of artists Maria Catherina Anica Asuncion, Daniella Bernal, Kyungyoon Bella Kim, Hyunseo Sera Lee, Bernadette Nicole Ortiz, Mio Oshimi and Tatiana China Webb in the Higher Level class and Kira Ellis, Logan Tyler Fisher, Jean Frances Flores, Dana Wynne Heron and Sachiko Ikeda in the Standard Level class.
Step into the world of “Hominum” – where the essence of humanity is illuminated through diverse artistic lenses. Hominum is “human” in Latin. This exhibition delves into the intricacies of the human experience, drawing on a myriad of themes and motifs that resonate with us all.
Embark on a journey where each student artist’s unique perspective weaves a tapestry of shared experiences, from the commonplace to the ideal. Explore familiar subjects such as sports, movement, emotions, work, grief, childhood, addiction and the every day, alongside more abstract concepts like faith, feminism, dichotomy and passion. Through various media, including traditional and digital forms, immerse yourself in collections that provoke thought, evoke memories, and challenge perceptions.
As you traverse the exhibit, encounter three-dimensional masterpieces and witness the convergence of artistic styles from Pop Art to Surrealism, Expressionism, and beyond. Every piece tells a story, inviting you to contemplate the complexities of our collective realities.1
Fill Your Bottles with Confidence
Occasionally someone asks about the safety of the water coming from our drinking fountains. So, we decided to let the whole community know about our process.
Brent’s water is provided through two deep wells. That aquifer is already an excellent source of clean water, but we don’t stop there. We test our cistern and main water tank every month, and we test every drinking fountain every two months. The main tank is stainless steel and has a central filter. Additionally, we add chlorine to the main cistern twice a day to kill any bacteria, and we monitor the chlorine level daily to maintain 1-3 parts per million. Each drinking fountain is also fitted with a filter that is changed every six months. Finally, we flame the nozzles of each drinking fountain monthly to further prevent any potential bacterial growth.
So, there is really no need to purchase bottled water. Fill your water bottles with confidence. Water is still by far the healthiest thing you can drink. Staying hydrated provides a host of benefits, including the ability to think clearly and learn faster.
Updates from the Activities Office
Activities Schedule
IB Calendar of Deadlines for 2023-2024 School Year
I would like to welcome our grade 11 and 12 learners and parents. As we start the academic year, we would like both parents and students to have an idea about the different deadlines that we set for our grade 12 IB students. Please note that the dates are set from August 2023 to March 2024, and keep in mind that the deadlines have been spread out so that students can manage their time in meeting the different requirements of the course and IB program. The International Baccalaureate Organization supports the school in maintaining our IB internal deadlines. “The school’s deadlines are the IB deadlines.” Ms. Kristi Pozon, IB Coordinator.
College Visit
SAT Testing at Brent
School Uniforms
All US students are expected to report to campus in uniform each day in accordance with the dress code on pages 60 & 61 of the Student-Parent Handbook.
- Boys’ hair should be kept neat and trimmed, and all students should not have unnaturally colored hair.
- Students must also wear appropriate shoes. This means black or brown leather or ‘leather-like’ shoes: Girls’ shoes should be flats or leather-type dress shoes. As for boys, shoes are to be dress shoes or loafer style, with or without shoelaces. Shoes must be of one solid color with no logo or ornamentation.
- Students should not wear athletic shoes of any kind, including sneakers or canvas-material shoes, to school. Students will not be permitted to come to school in their PE uniform.
- Please complete the Uniform Order and Measurement form if students need uniform items. To confirm if the Tailor Shop has your size or to pre-order a custom uniform, contact: Ms. Imelda Pacayra at ipacayra@brent.edu.ph.
- Parents and students can visit the Tailor Shop to purchase items daily, Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm.
Sick Child Guidelines
Quarantine
- Asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed cases do not need to quarantine but are recommended to wear a mask for 10 days
Isolation of Positive Cases
- Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic positive cases need to home isolate for 5 days and until fever-free for at least 24 hours (without medication) and with improvement of respiratory symptoms
- Shortening of isolation may be done if patient already tested negative on antigen test before the end of 5 days but only upon evaluation and approval of the school clinic
- Moderate to severely symptomatic positive cases need to isolate for at least 10 days or until cleared by the attending physician
Masking
- Masking is voluntary on campus but required in healthcare facilities (clinic)
- All symptomatic students/staff are required to wear a mask until recovered
- Confirmed positive cases are required to wear a mask for up to 10 days
Closing of School – Cancellation of Classes
Brent International School Manila adheres to the Storm Signal Guidelines established by PAGASA – (the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration). Accordingly, when storm signals are posted over Biñan, Laguna, classes will be affected as follows:
- Storm Signal #1 Normal Operation: All Brent classes will proceed as scheduled.
- Storm Signal #2 No Classes or Activities: No students or teachers are to report; however, learning may continue in the distance learning environment as announced. School offices will remain open for the day. Administrators and office support staff report as usual if it is safe to do so.
- Storm Signal #3 and #4 No School: The entire school operation will be closed; however, learning may continue in the distance learning environment as announced. School offices and business operations will be closed.Please be aware that the storm signal for Laguna is not the same as Metro Manila’s. Weather reports regarding Manila, therefore, may not apply to the conditions at Brent.
Please be aware that the storm signal for Laguna is not the same as Metro Manila’s. Weather reports regarding Manila, therefore, may not apply to the conditions at Brent.
Every attempt will be made to contact parents, students and teachers in the event of a cancellation of classes. When available and applicable, we use corporate texts to inform those whose cell phone numbers are registered in our system. If you have not heard from the school, you can assume that classes will happen as scheduled.
If you are still unsure, calling the school at +63-2-697-9043 or +63-49-511-4330 to 33 after 6:00 a.m. or checking to see if there is a notice on our website (www.brent.edu.ph) may help.
Finally, we realize that parents have the ultimate responsibility for determining whether or not their children go to school. Even if no order for the suspension of classes has been issued, if parents feel that travelling to or from school will place their children at risk, we certainly understand and will honor their decision.
Upper School Calendar of Events
Communicating with the Upper School
Please contact the Upper School Office if there is anything we can do to help you better understand our school. We thank you all for your continued support of the people and the programs at Brent.
Please also note that we have provided the names of all Upper School faculty on our website for easy communication: http://brent.edu.ph/academics/upper-school/faculty/. For the most part, faculty email addresses follow this format: first initial and last name followed by @brent.edu.ph.
Thank you, in advance, for supporting the wonderful people and programs in our Upper School. We look forward to another great year!
DR. BRETT PETRILLO
Deputy Headmaster and Upper School Principal