News & Updates

May 29, 2020

Dear Brent Families,

We are now preparing to transition from Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Several school employees will be on campus to assist with student clearances starting Thursday, June 4. Please see the chart below for the day to visit Brent, according to the surname of your student. Please also check for any government announcements that may affect your schedule.

One (1) representative of your family should come prepared to return books and other materials, pay tuition and reservation fees, pick up students’ personal belongings and complete other year-end procedures. Please take special note, students will still not be permitted on campus as they are classified as youth and not permitted by the governing authorities to leave their household for non-essential reasons under GCQ guidelines.

In allowing individuals to come to school during this time we have developed strict guidelines to help deter the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

1. No mask, No entry. Wear face masks at all times. When wearing a facemask, make sure to wear, use, and discard it properly.
2. Temperature checks. Temperature = / > 37.5 will be isolated and rechecked after 5 minutes. Individuals with a high temperature will not be permitted on campus.
3. Practice social distancing. When in line, and whenever in the presence of others, keep at a distance no less than 1 meter from front, side, and back, at all times;
4. Disinfectant. Step on the provided doormat with disinfectant before entering the school premises. Sanitize your hands.
5. Observe proper respiratory etiquette;

• • Coughing and sneezing into a tissue or into shirt sleeve if a tissue is not available.
  • Disposing of used tissues properly
  • Disinfecting hands immediately by properly washing with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer immediately after a cough or sneeze.

Designated Days
To aid social distancing, we have scheduled a 4-day period for each family representative to visit Brent for the completion of clearances. This will be the time to return school materials, pick up personal belongings, settle balances, and to reserve for next school year. The schedule is organized alphabetically beginning Thursday, June 4 and is subject to change pending government announcements. Please take note of your day and time to visit the school in the chart below.

From Wednesday, June 10 onward families may send a representative to Brent for clearance issues as they are able. Office hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm, closed for lunch, and adjusted as needed.

Return of School Materials (Books, etc.)
We will be utilizing the school cafeteria for the returning of school materials such as library books, musical instruments, student IDs, and art supplies. Personal effects from lockers will also be available for pickup. Please follow all guidelines for entrances exits and queuing.

Personal Belongings (Lockers and Desks)
We have cleared out student lockers and desks. All school materials were checked back into the school, and students’ personal belongings are clearly labeled with the student’s name and are available for pickup in the cafeteria on the day of your scheduled visit.

Payment of Balances
The school cashier will be open on your day for settling outstanding POS, tuition balances, and paying the reservation for next school year.

Withdraw
Visit the Registrar’s Office to officially withdraw from Brent if your child/ren will not return for the 2020-2021 school year.

Report Cards/Transcripts 
Report cards and transcripts will only be provided once the clearance has been processed.

Ganzas and Awards
The quarantine delayed the printing of our Ganza, but the printer has now started the process. We expect they will be available for pick up in late June. Students’ academic awards, sports awards, and diplomas will likewise be printed, framed, and prepared once we return to campus. School level offices will notify you when they are ready.

Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster

To our seniors and your families, this is not the finale we expected. However, as with every production and event we do, the combined expertise of our faculty and staff will deliver an experience that you and your family will enjoy. The YouTube Live link will be shared via a corporate text and email to you and your parents before your big day.

May 14, 2020

Dear Brent Families,

Due to the extended quarantine for the National Capital Region and Laguna, collecting materials for clearance will be delayed until at least June 1. Detailed procedures for dropping off materials will be sent later.

In the meantime, please collect all the items on the outstanding materials list sent out by each school level, and prepare for any remaining charges to students’ accounts. It is possible drivers or parents will have to return materials since those under the age of 20 are not allowed out during a general quarantine. Please be sure to collect student ID’s and locker combinations as well.

Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster

May 6, 2020

Dear Brent Families,

We have revised next year’s calendar a second time. The first day of classes will be August 24. This will be the start date whether we meet face-to-face or are required to start online. To adjust for this later start, we have replaced several holidays with instructional days during the semester. The ability to continue with distance learning during typhoon days and the likely cancelation of some activities will also help curriculum coverage during the first semester.

The newest revision of the 2020-2021 school calendar is posted on our website. If we need to start online before moving to face-to-face, teachers will be prepared to deliver the first week of instruction without the need for students to pick up any materials.

Faculty will arrive by August 9 to provide sufficient time for class preparation and to allow for potential travel restrictions or quarantine requirements. Similarly, we request families to plan on being in the Philippines by August 9 in case there is a need to self isolate or other restrictions in place that may interfere with instruction.

Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster

May 4, 2020

Dear Brent Families,

Please see several updates below as we prepare to wrap up the school year. We enter the last few weeks of this semester on a very strong footing given the unusual global circumstances. We were able to complete three quarters of face-to-face instruction. Years of preparation with a variety of online tools allowed our faculty to pivot quickly to deliver online instruction. The situation is challenging, but we will continue to adapt as needed.

Completing the year online:
As I am sure most of you are aware, the enhanced community quarantine has been extended until May 15 for Metro Manila, Laguna, and most places where our students reside. Consequently, we have decided to complete all classes for the year online through the last day of school.

IB Seniors:
Our full IB diploma students finished all their final high school requirements as of April 29! All their requirements were submitted to IB on time. Students should receive their results from IB by early July, as usual.

Student Support:
Stress and anxiety caused by uncertainty and seven weeks of quarantine can be quite high. Our counselors have been reaching out to students, and many of our students have reached out to teachers and counselors for support. We are very cognizant of the challenges online learning creates. Please encourage your children to bring any concerns, fears or questions they have about their classes, homework or grades directly to their teachers. With a few weeks left in the school year, there is still time to work on any issues they may be dealing with.

Last Day for Nursery, Pre-K and Kinder is May 13:
The last day for Nursery through Kinder will be May 13^th. Several online year-end celebrations are being planned for the 13^th.

Last Day for Grades 1-12 is May 20:
The final day for regular classes and makeup exams is May 20. A Middle School online awards and celebration ceremony is being planned for that day as are grade level awards and celebrations for grades 1-5.

Graduation is May 22:
We continue to hold out hope for a face-to-face graduation ceremony, however, we are preparing for the real possibility of an online ceremony. Whether it is face-to-face or online, our graduation date and time will remain May 22 at 6:00pm. Details will follow when we have more information regarding the post May 15 quarantine.

Clearance:
We are hopeful that a less restrictive quarantine may allow families to return books and other materials for clearance after May 15. Perhaps at least accessing a bank for the Reservation and Reenrollment fee will become easier. We have sent out lists of materials that have been checked out to help families identify and collect what they need to return. We will plan an extended schedule of drop off times into late May or June. Once the quarantine is relaxed and a safe procedure for returning materials and making payments has been established, we will send an update and guidance.

Busing Refunds:
Many families have expressed their desire that our drivers, mechanics and bus attendants be provided for during this difficult time. Rest assured we are continuing to pay their salaries throughout the school year. Once the semester is over, we will assess the provision of some credit or pro-rated refunds for families who paid for fourth quarter transportation.

Next Semester:
We are currently considering some minor calendar adjustments for the start of next school year. An exact start date will be provided soon, and more information will be provided as we review our options and assess government mandates. We may need to start classes online before moving to face-to-face instruction, but that decision will be delayed as long as possible. With three months before the start of school a lot can change, and we pray it is for the better. Rest assured our students will continue receiving a quality education this coming Fall.

Tuition for 2020-2021:
There will be no tuition increase for the next school year and no increase in busing rates. This will be our third year without a tuition increase. The last increase was 2% in 2017-2018. Our ability to go a third year without an increase highlights the wise long-term financial planning of Brent’s Board. Brent is in a sound financial position, and by deferring some expenses, we will be able to weather this storm. We recognize many businesses and individuals are experiencing financial distress, and we hope deferring any rate increases will help our families manage these difficult times.

Reservation and Reenrollment:
As mentioned in an earlier email, we have delayed the Reservation and Reenrollment deadline until June 10. It will, however, be a great help to receive those forms and payments as soon as families can provide them.

It is impossible to predict what the next several months will bring, but please rest assured that we will continue to monitor developments. We will provide updates via email and our website as the new school year approaches.

We are extremely grateful for the many blessings that allow us to navigate this pandemic and to continue educating our students. Our prayers are with those who are facing hardships. We look forward to a time when we can join together in person again.

Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster

April 14, 2020

Dear Brent Families,

I understand that completing the Reservation and Re-enrollment Form and accompanying payment has been difficult for some families during the enhanced quarantine. To help, we are extending the deadline to June 10.

The information is helpful for our future planning. So, while the deadline is extended, we appreciate the completion and payment at your earliest convenience. Thank you to everyone who has already completed this process. As you plan for the future, I want to further assure you that there will be no tuition increase for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Reservation and Re-enrollment Form can be found on our website here. Since our school cashier on campus is not currently able to assist you in processing payments for any school fees, you may settle the reservation fee for the 2020-2021 school year through a bank deposit or bank transfer.

Here is a list of Brent’s dollar and peso bank account details for your reference.

Once you have made the payment for reserving a slot for the next year, please email a scanned copy or photo of the Reservation and Re-enrolment Form together with the proof of payment (via direct deposit or online payment) to billingsection@brent.edu.ph. Our Accounting Office will issue an official receipt as soon as offices resume. For company dependents, you only need to email the Reservation and Re-enrollment Form.

Email billingsection@brent.edu.ph for further assistance.

Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster

April 12, 2020

Dear Brent Family,

As you may have already heard, the quarantine has been extended to April 30. Our online learning will start again Monday, April 13 and continue through at least April 30. We will still observe Friday, May 1 as a holiday.

Happy Easter and God bless.

Jason Atkins
Headmaster

April 1, 2020

Dear Brent Family,

We hope to return to regular classroom instruction on April 15, but we must also prepare for the possibility that the current quarantine will be extended. Given the present global trajectory of the pandemic and being conscious of individual family disruptions and your need to make future plans, Brent International School Manila is making several adjustments to the school year regardless of whether or not we return to classroom instruction.

Priority will be given to completing educational requirements so that our students will have the educational background and transcripts necessary to successfully continue on to the next grade level.

It deeply pains me to cancel a number of long-cherished assemblies and ceremonies, but even if we return to classrooms, it seems likely that large gatherings will continue to be discouraged. Streamlining the school year now will free some time and headspace for teachers and students to focus on their end-of-year lessons.

The opportunities to reflect and to celebrate accomplishments are important, and we encourage families to find ways to formally recognize their children’s hard work. We will also continue looking for alternative ways to recognize and celebrate our students. That being said, the following events will no longer be held in person regardless of whether or not we return to classroom instruction:

Easter Eucharist
Weekly chapel/assemblies
Thursday Late Start Professional Development
Festival of the Arts Week (all events)
MAP Testing
Student Council elections (they will be held at the start of next school year)
Science Week
Baccalaureate
Activities Awards Assembly (awards will still be given)
School Level Awards Assemblies (awards will still be given)
Moving-Up Day (awards will still be given)
Prom
After School clubs and activities (originally scheduled to end April 23)

The school year can end several days earlier given the additional instructional time gained by eliminating assemblies, Late Start Thursdays, and MAP testing. Therefore, final exams will run Thursday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 19. Makeup exams and the final day of classes will be held on Wednesday, May 20.

We will be communicating with our seniors and considering a variety of options for graduation. A ceremony in whatever form it may take will be held on Friday, May 22.

The first day of classes for students next school year (2020-2021) will be moved to Monday, August 10 in order to add a bit more flexibility into everyone’s summer planning. We will use distance learning during typhoon days next semester, which should mitigate any lost instructional time.

I am hopeful that these changes, though disappointing, will allow everyone to remove some of the unknowns and provide greater latitude in planning.

Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster

April 1, 2020

March 30, 2020

March 29, 2020