Brentwood School (Los Angeles)

Introducing the 2024-25 senior mural! 🗯️ 💙 Congratulations to seniors Daphne L. and Zenaiyah R. for creating this cartoon-inspired mural, which will be on display in the South Quad all year.

Swipe through to see the the process of making the senior mural →

Summer at Brentwood's BCIL Design with Purpose camp teamed up with GoBabyGo! and local hospitals to customize battery-powered, ride-on cars for children with limited mobility.

To design, build, and tailor vehicles that fit the specific requirements of each child, Middle School campers honed their communication and critical thinking skills while studying engineering. Once the projects were finished, each GoBabyGo! child was given their customized vehicle to take home and zip around in new and exciting ways!

We are BACK! 💙❤️ We've officially kicked off the 2024-25 school year with our annual Opening Ceremony. Students gathered on the West Campus to celebrate the new school year, and seniors walked in with our kindergartners as they began their first days at Brentwood School.

This year's Opening Ceremony was extra special as we celebrated Dr. Mike Riera's last year here as Head of School. We are excited to welcome back new and returning families as we look forward to another wonderful year!

Summer at Brentwood may be over, but the memories and friendships will last a lifetime. Thank you to all who made this summer so spectacular! ☀️ View more photos from the summer: https://bit.ly/4dBb67E

With Summer at Brentwood over, the countdown to the new school year begins. We can't wait! 💙❤️

Running for GOLD! 🥇 Our very own London H. '30 recently competed in the National Junior Olympics in Texas and earned a gold medal in the 4x400m women's relay. With an impressive team finish of 3:59:44, London ran her 400m split in just 60 seconds!

Congratulations on this amazing achievement, London! 👏

Alumni, join us on August 28 at the Beach Club for our annual Summer Cocktail Party! Don't miss a fun night out with fellow alums and friends! RSVP at https://bit.ly/4fzFfGs.

The Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership (BCIL) partnered with Floating Doctors to give Brentwood students an international immersion in Panama this summer! During a three-week elective course, students began with classroom study then engaged deeply with global health issues in Panama by observing clinics, assisting in veterinary procedures, and interacting with professionals who are striving to improve the health of a marginalized indigenous population.

Activities alternated between helping Floating Doctors in their mission to provide sustainable and accessible health care, learning how a volunteer-driven nonprofit operates, interacting with the indigenous Ngäbe populations, and exploring the natural beauty of the wondrous region of Bocas del Toro.

This introduction to health care in a remote setting empowered our students to engage with real-world challenges and explore solutions within and beyond the classroom.

Nothing better than Summer at Brentwood! 😎 Campers are making lifelong memories and friends in programs such as Kindercamp, Robotics, and a variety of arts and sports camps.

We are also proud to provide our VA Scholarship Program, which provide families of Veterans with tuition-free access to our summer program. Learn more at https://www.summeratbrentwood.com/veterans

Summer is for service! As part of the Summer at Brentwood Service Learning program, campers spent the week learning about social issues such as homelessness and food insecurity. They then visited the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, where they volunteered their time putting together over 700 meals to feed families and individuals in need.

Keep up the good work!

Service Learning is important at Brentwood—and not only for our students! Beyond student engagement, Brentwood's Service Learning program strives to deepen the school's collective impact in our community, involving faculty, staff, and families at various times during the year. Last month, Brentwood employees made and served lunch at the Downtown Women's Center, an organization in Los Angeles focused on serving and empowering women and gender-diverse individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

We look forward to continuing to partner with the Downtown Women's Center throughout the year!

We're thrilled to announce that Dr. Tim Cottrell will be joining Brentwood School as our next Head of School, starting in July 2025!

Dr. Cottrell, who is entering his 13th year leading Iolani School in Honolulu, stood out among numerous applicants for his experience, his commitment to Brentwood's culture and values, and his numerous accomplishments at Iolani. Under Dr. Cottrell’s leadership, Iolani School has been named Best Large Company Workplace, Best Private High School, Most Diverse Private High School, and Best High School for STEM in Hawaii.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Cottrell and his wife Hiroko to our community! Over the next year we will be celebrating current Head Dr. Mike Riera and all he has accomplished since 2011. To learn more about Dr. Cottrell and the search process, please click here: https://bit.ly/3LavyjP

Last week, Brentwood School was honored to host the New Directions for Veterans and the Imagination Workshop as they performed "Dusty Trials," a play about the gold rush created, written, and performed by Veterans.

Featuring a cast of 12, the production provided a platform for Veterans to explore the healing power of theater, offering a therapeutic outlet for their creativity. Reflecting on the experience, one Veteran said, "It feeds the soul, brings out both the adult and child in you."

As opening night approached, one cast member had to back out, and Ethan R. '25 stepped in to ensure a flawless performance. Another student, Maya R. '26, lent her expertise behind the scenes, ensuring smooth technical ex*****on of the play.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3Xrps5Y

Please join us in celebrating Michael Knight's 50 years at Brentwood School! 👏

Last week, we celebrated not just milestones, but the dedication and passion of our faculty and staff. We honored employees celebrating everything from 5 to 50 years of service at Brentwood School.

They included Michael Knight, our beloved Upper School art teacher and our first faculty member to celebrate 50 years — five decades of excellence and stewardship! Brentwood's first-ever visual arts teacher, Mr. Knight has been a leading example not only for students but also for fellow employees, for he has embodied the core values of our community. From leading the Visual Arts Department, to building a legendary stained glass class simply because a student expressed interest in the art form, to creating a stained glass installation that will help us honor him for years to come, we recognize Mr. Knight for his many significant contributions to Brentwood School.

Congratulations to Mike Knight and to all employees who are celebrating milestones — here's to past, present, and future achievements! 🎉

That's a wrap! It's been quite the year, filled with unforgettable moments and achievements. Thanks to everyone who made this year so wonderful — we can't wait to see what next year will bring. 🦅 💙 ❤️

And just like that, the 2023-24 school year has come to an end! 🦅 Congratulations to our 5th and 8th grade classes for their recent promotions. We look forward to welcoming you back for the next step in your academic adventure in the fall. Until then, have a wonderful summer! 💙❤️

Please join us in celebrating the remarkable legacies of Ms. Ellie Novaes, Dr. Dawn Cunnion, Mr. Erik Becker, and Mr. Lee Herzog as they embark on their well-deserved retirement! They were at our recent event celebrating employees who are leaving after at least 15 years at Brentwood.💙

Ms. Novaes, our beloved Lower School Physical Education teacher for 32 years, has spent years guiding students and will leave an indelible mark on our Lower School. Dr. Cunnion, our esteemed Associate Head of School for 27 years, has shaped our school's success through her commitment to excellence and tireless advocacy for students and faculty/staff alike.

Mr. Becker, a Middle School Social Studies teacher for 23 years, has ignited curiosity and critical thinking in countless students. Mr. Herzog, our trusted Middle School counselor and psychologist for for 19 years, has affected so many lives, fostering resilience and growth.

In addition, we also celebrate and honor Humberto Vallejo, Terri Gruenthal, and Ginny Leon, who while not able to attend the event, also had impactful careers at Brentwood.

Go Blue! 💙 Go Red! ❤️ To celebrate the last week of school, Lower School held its annual Field Day, when students engage in friendly competitions and a day full of school spirit.

5 stars! ⭐ After a year-long study of community, 1st graders recently hosted families at the First Grade Food Factory, where they created their own menus and entrees to serve at their "restaurant."

As part of their curriculum, students explored all the ins and outs of how food ends up on the table. From visiting a local farmers market to hearing from guest chef speakers, 1st graders spent months planning how to run a restaurant. All their hard work came to life when families visited last week — seeing their 1st grade hosts, baristas, servers, chefs, runners, and bussers run the best restaurant in town!

Read more: https://bit.ly/3wTNH1X

Let's give a round of applause for our shining stars! 🌟 Lower School students finished their final performances of the year, which included the kindergarteners' crowd-pleasing "Baby Elephant," 2nd graders' heartfelt "Wonder Cat," and 5th graders' impressive rendition of "The Odyssey." 🐘 Scroll through to see some highlights from kindergarten, 2nd, and 5th grades →

Congratulations, Class of 2024! ✨🎓 As Brentwood Eagles, you've showed talent, strength, and resilience. Now it's time to spread your wings and soar into the next chapter of your journey. We are so proud of you and wish you joy and success! 🦅

Turning scraps into soil, together as a school! ♻️ Today marked an exciting first in Brentwood School history as we celebrated our first Compost Harvest Day at Lower School. In April 2023, students, faculty, and staff started collecting their food scraps and learning about the positive impact of composting. Now, a year later, the first container of mature compost was unveiled during Flag Ceremony and a head of lettuce was planted in the soil as a reminder of a greener future we can cultivate together. 🪴

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3R9TQ0z