Grade 4 Dance Party last Friday

Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,

As we approach the end of term, the school has been alive with events, activities, and student achievements. Last Friday, the dining hall was transformed for our highly successful (and great fun) Masquerade, where students danced and laughed late into the evening. This week we also hosted our annual Book Fair in partnership with Russell Books, welcomed students back from the Law Foundation Cup Debate Provincials, and saw our Soap For Hope drive begin with collection tubs already filling with donations.

Many of these initiatives are connected to our CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) programme and supported through our After School Activities. By offering a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, we aim to help students balance academic demands with meaningful avenues for exploration, expression, and service. ASAs conclude this week, and students are encouraged to sign up for next term’s activities on SchoolsBuddy.

On another note - we are grateful to be part of a school community that’s surrounded by supportive neighbours. As our pick‑up and drop‑off times can be very busy, we’d like to kindly ask everyone to be mindful of how our routines affect the homes and streets around the school.

A bit of calm, patience, and awareness during these times helps us continue to be good neighbours and maintain the positive relationships we value in our community.

Thank you for your continued consideration.

With gratitude,

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

Making masks ready for the Masquerade.

• Friday, March 6th - Last Day of Term 2 ASAs Today
• Wednesday, March 11th - DP Information Session at 4.30pm (details below)
• Friday, March 13th - Last day of school before Spring Break (noon dismissal)
• Monday, March 30th - First day back to school after Spring Break
• Thursday, April 16th - Student led / Parent Teacher Conferences (early dismissal)
• Friday, April 17th - Spring Fling and Silent Auction (see below)
• Friday, May 22nd - Graduation 2026

Pathways to Graduation Information Session

If you have any questions about the different pathways to graduation through grades 11 and 12 at Brookes, we are offering a parent information session on March 11th at 4:30 pm with Ms. Linda Bayes, DP Coordinator. 

This session is particularly useful for Grade 10/MYP5 families but is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the different options available to students at Brookes.

The session will include discussion about the IB philosophy and practices and an overview of subject choices (both IB and BC curriculum) available at Brookes. Ms. Bayes will review BC Certificate of Graduation requirements and how this aligns with our pathways to graduation. Brookes provides excellent opportunities for students to be academically successful, and it is our aim to meet the needs of all students. 

We look forward to seeing you on March 11th and welcome students to come along too. The meeting will be held in one of the classrooms at BWS (room TBD).

Upcoming Tofino Trips – Sign Up Today!

Registration closes next Friday!

Our Grade 9–11 students will be travelling to Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island for a multi-day outdoor education experience. Surrounded by the landscapes of Clayoquot Sound, Tofino is known for its rugged coastline, sandy beaches, and vibrant surf culture.

Students will stay right on the beach at Ocean Village Resort in ocean view cabins with full kitchens and enjoy on-site amenities including a pool and hot tub. Each evening will feature beach fires and s’mores under the stars. The program includes professional surf lessons, with a new option to surf a second day, as well as beach exploration, rainforest hikes, and team-based activities.

This trip is a unique opportunity for students to connect with the outdoors and each other in a truly West Coast setting.

• Grade 11/DP1: Thursday, April 23rd to Sunday, April 26th
• Grade 10/MYP5: Thursday, April 30th to Sunday, May 3rd
• Grade 9/MYP4: Thursday, May 7th to Sunday, May 10th

Sign up is open at 6 pm today on SchoolsBuddy (check for the email!)

For questions, please email Ms. Aija aijasalvador@westshore.brookes.org

Term 3 ASA Sign Up - Now Open!

ASAs for this term wrap up today. This semester, students have participated in a variety of programs that supported learning, collaboration, creativity, and offered opportunities to develop new skills and explore their interests!

Spring ASA registration is open. Please sign-up, registration will close the day before Spring Break.

Law Foundation Cup Debate Provincials

Sara and Sophie did a fantastic job representing Brookes Westshore at the Law Foundation Cup Debate Provincials last weekend. They demonstrated the IB Learner Profile attributes of communicators, thinkers, and risk-takers as they competed in rounds of cross-examination and Canadian National Debate Format. Sara and Sophie gained valuable experience, honed their debate skills, and had the opportunity to learn from the senior debate finals. We are very proud of the dedication and determination Sara and Sophie have shown in debate this year.

Grade 5 to Dino Labs

Our Grade 5 class recently had the exciting opportunity to visit Dino Lab for a hands-on exploration of fossils and paleontology. During the visit, students toured the museum and learned about the incredible process scientists use to discover, prepare, and study fossils. They saw real specimens up close and heard about how fossils help us understand life on Earth millions of years ago.

One of the highlights of the trip was participating in a fossil excavation activity. Students carefully used tools to uncover real fossils, just like paleontologists do in the field. It was a fantastic chance to practice patience, observation, and scientific thinking while experiencing the excitement of discovery.

The trip connected closely with our learning about rocks, fossils, and Earth’s history, and students represented our class wonderfully with their curiosity, thoughtful questions, and enthusiasm. It was a memorable day that brought our science learning to life.

Soap for Hope Canada

This year, our MYP3 service project theme is “People and the Environment,” and we are proud to be supporting Soap for Hope Canada, an organization committed to eradicating hygiene poverty while reducing environmental waste.

As part of our project, we have volunteered our time to assist with a variety of meaningful tasks. Now, we are excited to launch a donation drive and invite students, staff, and families at Brookes to participate.

We are collecting new or gently used soaps, lotions, linens, and other hygiene products. These items will be carefully repurposed and distributed to community facilities that support vulnerable individuals. Your donations will help provide hope, dignity, and essential care, all while keeping usable products out of landfills.

Once collected, all donations will be delivered directly to Soap for Hope. Please refer to the poster for details about what to bring. 

To learn more about the organization and its impact, please visit their website.

Our MYP3 students are excited about this service initiative and helping make a meaningful difference in our community! 

Masquerade - Meet Me At Midnight

Last Friday’s Masquerade was a wonderful celebration of fun, music, and community. Students filled the dining hall with energy as they danced the night away, showing off creative masks and sharing plenty of laughter. It was a joyful evening that brought everyone together, creating memories that will be talked about long after the lights came up.

Book Fair 2026

This week, our annual Book Fair hosted in partnership with local bookseller Russell Books brought a world of stories right into the school. Students browsed an exciting selection of titles, discovering books they hadn’t heard of before, exploring new topics, and encountering new authors. The Book Fair is one of the ways our school supports a love of reading, helping students build lifelong connections to books and the written word in all its forms.

Spring Fling with Silent Auction - April 17th

We are gearing up for our April 17th Spring Fling with Silent Auction, and we need your energy, creativity, and community spirit to help make it an unforgettable event! Whether you love planning, organizing, decorating, or simply jumping in on the day to bring everything to life, we’d be thrilled to have you on our volunteer team. We’re also seeking donations for our Silent Auction: unique items, experiences, and themed baskets are all welcome and truly help elevate the event’s success. If you’re ready to pitch in, have something to donate, or just want to learn more, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can make this year’s Spring Fling the best one yet! Please email events@westshore.brookes.org.

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

Your comments and feedback are welcome! Please click here to leave a comment, ask a question, or raise an issue. Thank you!

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.