A Message from Jerry Salvador - Head of School

Dear Brookes Westshore Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your families safe and well. We continue to plan for a better future and to work towards a timely return to classroom based teaching.

In the meantime, I have been heartened to see how so many of our students and families have taken on the challenges of COVID-19 with creativity and character. You will see below how our students around the world have stepped up to help their local community – whether by putting together food parcels for those who are struggling, or by sewing much needed face masks for their neighbours, or by simply  taking the time to thank health care workers. All of these actions speak to your empathy, compassion and community spirit and we thank you.

You will also see how our Brookes Virtual Community Centre is working to bring students together with projects and challenges that inspire and engage them. For our students - we are now assigning House Points to the Virtual Community Centre activities – an added incentive to take part every afternoon if you needed one!

Our online classes continue to build on their successes and you can see some of the amazing creativity of our Grade 9 Art class as they took up the Getty Challenge. We were also surprised and delighted to hear from ManageBac that our school has been one of the most efficient and effective users of their product – we are now talking with them about some of the features we would like to see!

Lastly, I would like to thank all of you who have re-enrolled for the 2020/2021 school year. I am touched and humbled by the positive response of so many of you – especially when I know the challenges that we are all facing. For our local families, if you haven’t re-enrolled yet, please find the form here.

Sincerely,

Jerry Salvador

A Message from Linda Bayes - VP of Academics

The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 will be held virtually this year.  I will be contacting all Grade 12 students in the upcoming weeks to discuss some of our current ideas and plans.

The graduation will take place on Friday, May 22, 2020. 

Virtual Town Hall, Saturday, May 2, 1-2 pm: Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister Rob Fleming will be answering questions from children about COVID-19 during a virtual town hall that will be live streamed on News 1130’s Facebook page from 1 to 2 pm on May 2. Details about the event and instructions for children to submit questions can be found on City News and News 1130's website.

Last week saw our first Weekend Challenge in the Brookes Virtual Community Centre. Taking a trip down memory lane, and a return to a time when fun could be found with just a blanket and some pillows, students were challenged to create their most impressive BLANKET FORT either in their home or in your yard. 

As you can see above there were some amazing entries!

During these difficult times we have all see how communities have come together and supported each other. We are proud to see our Brookes Westshore students and families doing their part. Here are some examples of the spirit of Brookes from around the world.

Cristina Jimenez, a Grade 11 student in Valencia, Spain, has painted a large banner and hangs it outside her house to spread a positive message to her neighbors.

The banner reads:

Because Spain is unique and full of fighters. United we will overcome!

Stay Home!

Angela Ortiz (grade 11) is in Celaya, Guanajuato, near Mexico City. Every 10 days Angela and her family collect basic items from their neighbourhood. On the 10th day they distribute hampers to families that have lost their income because of COVID-19 in her community. Angela said she will continue until the pandemic is over and people are back to work.

We are so proud of you Angela! #BeBrookes

The note reads: 

We are all Mexico - Share your good fortune with someone who needs it.

Together we are better!

Melissa Parker sent us this email about her and her daughter's project to support our community here on Vancouver Island:

My daughter Kalina and I are making homemade cloth masks for people within our POD. I know we probably cannot meet the entire need, but so far I can make 5-10 daily. I have 6 done today and they will be available for pick up starting Thursday morning. I will place them in a container on my front porch in individual bags.

 I suggest taking 1 mask per person as it’s very time consuming to make them and we would like everyone to get one! 

Adult and child masks are available, please do not try them on! 

Donations are welcome to go towards more fabric but not necessary. 

Thanks so much!

Thank you Melissa and Kalina - we are inspired by your service and sense of community!

A Note on the Virtual Community Centre from Brad Rudner

The Virtual Community Centre has continued to grow and host a variety of themed activities each day of the week. We would like to motivate further participation with awards of house points for participation. How will this work? Every student that completes an activity and shares it in the Virtual Community Centre (VCC) in the right sub-channel will get awarded 5 house points for their house.

Students can even go into the VCC and complete activities from past weeks and share their completed activity for points. So far we have completed three weeks of activities, which have included:

• A Monday Move Your Body activity with an full body home workout
• 3 Tuesday Taste and Energize cooking activities with perfect eggs (see the photo below), chicken/veggie spring rolls and an apple batter cake
• 3 Wednesday Wonders of Creativity activities with song-inspired imagery artwork, Earth Day hero trading cards, and the creation of unprecedented emojis for unprecedented times
• 3 Thursday Thoughtful Service activities with thank you cards to healthcare workers, reaching out to people that might be feeling lonely/isolated and creating heart displays to express care for others
• A couple Friday Fun and Fulfilling Pursuits with games and activities that kept the group laughing.

Remember when you share your completed activity, include the house you are in so we can keep track of point totals. We hope more students will get involved, connect with the Brookes community and earn some house points too.

Useful Links for information on COVID 19

Information about COVID-19, including advice and guidance to schools, is regularly updated on the BC Centre for Disease Control site. Please routinely check this site and its resources:

http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID19_schools_childcare_guidelines.pdf

All joint statements from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Minister of Health Adrian Dix are posted here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/ministries/health

The Provincial Pandemic Coordination plan:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/pandemic-provincial-coordination-plan.pdf

KIDS and COVID-19 QA:

http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)#For--schools--and--childcare

Ministry of Health response plans:- https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/pandemic-influenza

Novel Coronavirus Q&A from HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus

BC Centre for Disease Control:

http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/coronavirus-(novel)

These resources can all be found at this link on our website:

https://westshore.brookes.org/coronavirus-covid-19-comprehensive-update/

Due to a change in BC Provincial Exams, please find our updated Academic Calendar on our website.