Spirit Week Themes
October 25 – 29!
From the Headmaster: Department of Education Face-to-Face Pilot Program
September 24, 2021
Dear Brent Families,
The Philippines government recently announced approval for a face-to-face pilot program proposed by the Department of Education. This has naturally led to many questions about whether Brent International School Manila will be participating. The pilot is still in the process of being finalized, but given this is such a high interest topic, let me provide a bullet point summary of what is currently known.
- Brent is continuing to communicate directly with the Department of Education through the Regional Director for Calabarzon, and we have requested to be considered for any programs implementing face-to-face classes.
- DepEd is still finalizing the official list of participating schools.
- Our region, Calabarzon, currently has only 5 remote schools that would qualify as low risk areas, and none of those are in Laguna.
- The few schools that qualify must receive a written waiver from parents and permission from local government units for the pilot to push through.
- Only Kindergarten to Grade 3 and vocational students from senior high schools would be included.
- Any classes conducted would be only every other week, and be limited to 3-4 hours a day.
The above points are still subject to change, especially considering that joint guidelines of the Department of Education and the Department of Health have not been finalized and no start date has been given. The points represent, though, our most current information.
Brent has implemented all the known health and safety standards expected for face-to-face instruction including: personal protective equipment, sanitation, detection and referral, ventilation, contact tracing, quarantine, coordination, and contingency measures. Unfortunately, we cannot change the risk level of the region in which we reside.
Regardless of its limited scope, the approved pilot program is a positive indicator that the country as a whole is beginning to look toward opening schools in the future. We are eager to have our students back in classrooms, and we will continue working with the government to make that a reality.
Whenever the opportunity is given we will carefully assess all guidelines and the potential impacts they may have on both our students’ health and education. This will include input from our families. We plan to send a survey regarding your comfort level in sending your children back to school after clear guidelines for our return to classes have been established by the governing authorities.
In the meantime, we are proud to continue delivering a quality online program, and we remain hopeful for the future. God bless you all.
Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster
From the Headmaster: Planning for the Future While Managing the Present
Dear Brent Families,
The school year is well underway, and I want to let the community know that our teachers are continuing to work on refining the quality of our online program while also planning for the future. In addition to the course work, clubs, plays and Christmas shows already in the works, I have enjoyed seeing your children in our chapel assemblies.
The delta variant may have set back the timeline for when we return in person, but as vaccine availability increases, we look to the future with the hopeful anticipation of seeing our students face-to-face. Keeping children safe once in-person classes resume will be a multilayered approach.
- Our own employees are now about 73% vaccinated, and we hope to be 90-100% in October.
- In addition to vaccinating employees, our air filtration and circulation system has been updated to limit the spread of the virus.
- Another layer of protection is provided by our clinic. Our doctors and nursing staff monitor employee health as well as regional hot spots.
- We also have isolation and testing facilities to manage those with symptoms or exposure.
- Regular sanitation by our janitorial staff provides protection as does social distancing measures and masks.
- Of course personal hygiene practices also contribute to the safety of the whole community.
Once government mandates allow a return to campus, there will be other safety measures to be determined based on the current context. Transportation guidelines and classroom capacity among other issues will be further assessed, but rest assured at the moment we have already established a wide variety of safety nets in anticipation of our students’ return, and we will continue to review and adjust as circumstances require.
In the meantime, our focus is on delivering a quality online program that will prepare our students for the future academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Take care and God bless you all.
Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster
It’s Club Time
Middle School
Upper School
From the Headmaster: Update on School Opening
Dear Brent Families,
As we enter the month of July we want to give you some updates on the opening of the 2021-2022 school year so that you can plan accordingly.
The first day of classes will remain August 16, as previously scheduled. As vaccines become more available we are able to begin visualizing the end of the pandemic, but we still anticipate the need for flexibility in coming months as the Philippines ramps up their vaccination program.
Taking into consideration current government mandates and anticipating the timeline of our own vaccine deliveries, we think it is wise to start the year online with a four-week transition period. We will target mid-September for a return to in-person classes, pending government approval.
As always, Brent will remain nimble and adjust as circumstances change. We are prepared both for online education and for returning safely to in-person instruction. We will continue to provide our students with the best education possible regardless of changing circumstances.
Take care and God bless.
Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster
Class of 2021
Brent International School Manila
Cordially invites you to the online
36th Commencement Exercise
Friday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m.
Link to follow
Eid’l Fitr – No Classes
Thursday, 13 May 2021 will be a holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr. Brent will have no classes.
From the Headmaster: End of Year Calendar Adjustments
Dear Brent Family,
As announced earlier, we will be finishing the year via distance learning. Recent increases in COVID numbers and corresponding quarantine requirements have now made it clear that any planned year-end assemblies will also need to be held online. Much like last year, not holding these year-end events in person allows the semester to conclude earlier without losing instructional time. Please note the following dates:
Upper School:
Exams End: May 19
Make up Exams: May 20
Baccalaureate: May 20
Graduation: Friday, May 21 at 5:00pm
Middle School:
Last Day of Class: May 20
Moving Up Day: May 21
Lower School:
(N-K) Last Day of Class and Moving Up: May 19
(1-5) Last Day of Class and Moving Up: May 21
Clearance: May 17-21
Report Cards Released: May 26
Events not listed above will be conveyed by individual school levels.
Please gather all borrowed materials for return to the school and arrange to clear any outstanding balances during the clearance period to insure report cards and transcripts can be released in a timely fashion.
As always, your understanding and flexibility are appreciated. Our students have been producing remarkable quality work this year. Most recently, the IB Art exhibit was exceptional, and I am looking forward to our Spring Concert. Under challenging circumstances our students continue to shine. They are a credit to the school, their families and themselves.
Sincerely,
Jason Atkins
Headmaster
The Annual Spring Concert and Art Exhibit 2021
The Annual Spring Concert and Art Exhibit 2021
Virtual Edition
Art Around the World
Wednesday
April 21, 2021
5:00 p.m.