Remembrance Day ceremony - Grade 4 tableaux video
Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,
Today, our school community came together to honour Remembrance Day. It was a meaningful time for us to pause, reflect, and show gratitude to those who have served and sacrificed for peace, both in the past and in those conflicts still going on today. During the ceremony, students shared poems in different languages, Grade 4 class presented a thoughtful tableau, and we had a powerful presentation from our guest speaker, Captain Jean-Guy Mayer. Thank you to everyone who helped make the ceremony special!
We also want to share some joyful news. Congratulations to Mr. Luke and his wife on the arrival of their baby girl yesterday! We are so happy for their family and wish them all the best!
A reminder that next Monday is a non-instructional day for Parent Teacher Conferences. We look forward to meeting parents to discuss student progress and celebrate their growth so far this year.
With gratitude,
Dr. Rui Li
Principal
Important Dates:
- Monday, 10th November - Parent Teacher Conferences (No Classes)
- Tuesday, 11th November - Remembrance Day (Holiday - No Classes)
- Thursday, November 13th - Flu Vaccines for students and staff. Consent forms will be available next week.
- Thursday, November 20th - Radical Empathy presentation (see below for details)
- Friday, 21st November - Professional Development Day (No Classes)
- Thursday, December 4th - Winter Concert
- Saturday, December 6th - Pancake Breakfast and Christmas Market
If any parents or family are interested in helping out at the Pancake Breakfast on Saturday morning, (December 6th) - cooking, greeting guests, serving, cleaning up - please email events@westshore.brookes.org and let us know. Many hands make light work! Thank you!
Community Event
Wednesday, 10th December - Colwood Christmas Light Up 6 pm to 8 pm at Colwood City Hall, 3300 Wishart Road.
You can learn more about Bryan and his work here. If you are interested in attending, please email events@westshore.brookes.org so we can plan for numbers. Thank you.
We Need Your Help!
Please help us by donating non-perishable items or money for the Goldstream Food Bank!
- The holidays can be especially hard for families facing food insecurity, and your donations of non-perishable items can make all the difference!
- Giving food brings hope and reminds people they’re not forgotten during a time that’s meant for generosity and connection.
- There is an increased demand during the holiday season, and food banks rely on local donations; every contribution strengthens community bonds and shows collective care.
- The holidays are about giving, and donating food is a meaningful way to live those values. Every little bit counts.
Don't forget our Purdy's Chocolate Fundraiser!
Treat yourself and support our school at the same time! Our Purdy’s Chocolates Fundraiser is back - and just in time for the holidays!
We already have over $1,000 in orders (raising nearly $200 for the Ukrainian students)! Our goal is to raise $1,000 so please consider ordering soon!
Deadline for orders: Wednesday, November 19th - don't miss out!
When you order your favourite chocolates, truffles, and festive treats through our school’s campaign, a portion of every sale goes directly toward supporting our Ukrainian scholarship students and upcoming school activities. It’s the perfect way to spread a little sweetness while making a meaningful difference.
All treats will arrive in time for the winter break (pick up starts on Wednesday, 3rd December).
So, stock up, share with friends, and help us finish the year strong!
Click here to get place your order!
Puppy Palooza 2025
November 14th from 11.30 am to 1 pm
Puppy Palooza is a wonderful opportunity for our students to reconnect with the joy of being around pets, especially for dorm students who may be missing their pets from home. If your family has a gentle, well-socialized dog who loves attention and would enjoy spending time with our students, we’d love to have you join us!
Please contact Mr. B (jbaumgartner@westshore.brookes.org) to sign up!
Thank you for helping us create a joyful and relaxing experience for our students!
- All dogs must be up-to-date on vaccinations.
- Dogs should be calm, friendly, and comfortable around groups of people.
- Please bring any essentials your dog may need (water bowl, leash, treats, etc.).
Bottle Drive 2025!
Tuesday November 4th to Monday November 24th
We are the Community Service ASA that meets on Monday afternoons. We have been working hard to put together a bottle drive. We are asking people to collect and bring their bottles to school starting Tuesday November 4th and ending Monday November 24th at 3:30pm.
We are accepting soda cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, beer cans, and wine bottles. Make sure the bottles you bring have been cleaned! We will have bottle drive bins set up on the bridge in the mornings (8:20 am - 8:40 am) and the courtyard for the rest of the day, one in Common Room 1, and another inside the Dining Hall.
We are going to donate all funds from the bottle drive to a charity: The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). IFAW is a global non-profit organization that protects animals and their habitats worldwide, rescuing wildlife and restoring hope. They work to help animals and people thrive, rescues animals, protects nature, and inspires change — for a world where all life prospers.
Thank you!
The SLC Service Committee is trying to gauge interest about offering a First Aid course at the school for MYP1-4 (grades 6 to 9). If you are interested, please fill out the form here.
Remembrance Day Ceremony
Today our school community came together for a deeply meaningful Remembrance Day ceremony, thoughtfully prepared and presented by our students. Through informative presentations on World War I, Canada’s role in global conflicts, and powerful poems and readings, students demonstrated not only their knowledge of history but also their ability to communicate ideas with clarity and emotion.
The service reflected the values at the heart of the IB Learner Profile. Students showed themselves to be caring, as they honoured the sacrifices of those who served, and reflective, as they considered the impact of war and the importance of peace. Their thoughtful contributions revealed a commitment to being knowledgeable global citizens, and their confident delivery highlighted their growth as communicators.
We were also delighted to welcome a guest speaker from the Canadian military - Captain Jean-Guy Mayer - whose words inspired students to think critically and compassionately about service, courage, and remembrance.
It was a moving and educational experience that brought our community together in reflection and reinforced our shared responsibility to remember.
Grade 5 Social Development with Ms. Kat was full of creativity and fun this week! Students explored the world of emotions - how we feel them, how we show them, and how they shape our experiences.
To bring their learning to life, each student picked an emotion and used plasticine to sculpt their very own expressive figure!
It was a hands-on, imaginative adventure into the world of feelings and the results were amazing!
Our Halloween Pumpkin Carving Competition was a smash hit, with students showing off their carving skills in four fun categories:
- Most Detailed
- Most Creative
- Best House Logo
- Scariest Pumpkin
From creepy to clever, every pumpkin had its own personality, and the judges had a tough time picking winners!
Huge Congratulations to the Senior Girls Volleyball Team for their incredible performance at the Duncan Christian School Invitational Volleyball Tournament this past weekend!
The girls were unstoppable, going a perfect 8-0 and sweeping the competition! In a commanding final match, they defeated Lake Cowichan with scores of 25-10 and 25-19!
This victory marks a historic first for Brookes, as the team brings home the championship title for the very first time. What an amazing milestone!
And the excitement doesn’t stop there: the team heads into the Island Championships next week riding high on confidence and ready to keep the momentum going!
Go Gryphons — you’ve made us all proud!
Upcoming University visits to Brookes:
- November 27th – McMaster University
- November 20th – University of Alberta
- November 4th – DP2 students will visit to UBC/Emily Carr
Lost and Found
Lost and found bins are located in the corner of the dining hall (near the ping pong table) and in the gym lobby.
Lunch Menu
If you would like to know what is on the menu next week for our delicious lunches, please click here.
Follow our dining team on @brookesdiningwestshore for mouthwatering images of our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners!
Please find our School Accessibility questionnaire here.
Safer Schools information: erase Family Sessions (saferschoolstogether.com)
Your comments and feedback are welcome! Please click here to leave a comment, ask a question, or raise an issue. Thank you!
Do you have questions or concerns?
If you have a question about the school or just something on your mind, please feel free to contact our leadership team:
- Rui Li - Principal
- Andrea Salvador - School Manager
- Jacob Baumgartner - School Culture Director; Grade 4 to MYP2 Coordinator
- Kate Barton - MYP 3-5 and Personal Project Coordinator
- Linda Bayes - DP Coordinator & University Counsellor
- Martin Staffolani - Executive Director of Recruitment
Brookes Westshore acknowledges that our school is on the traditional lands of the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Lekwungen (Songhees) ancestors and families.
With gratitude, we live, work and learn here where the past, present, and future of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, faculty and staff come together.
