Ms. Bayes (with Halloween hair) makes Mr. B laugh during Community Block.

Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

We have had a wonderful week full of learning and, as you can see from the pictures, a very successful community block with a stage full of Jack-o-Lanterns.

I myself, have embraced the Halloween spirit - as you can see from picture above. I have received a great deal of positive attention this week!

We will be administering BC Literacy 12 (November 1st), BC Numeracy 10 (November 2nd) and BC Literacy 10 (November 3rd) next week.  Students have all been prepared for these assessments which are conducted online.  Students need a fully charged laptop. The assessments are required for the BC Dogwood Diploma.

I would also like to invite parents of grade 6 and 7 students to a coffee morning on Tuesday November 15th at 9 am in the dining hall. This is an informal event - a chance to meet with other parents, talk about progress in the class, and ask questions of the teachers. Please RSVP, and I look forward to seeing you there.

And a reminder that on November 7th we will be holding a parent information session at 16.30 on MYP Assessment. This will be a valuable session for parents who are new to the MYP or want to learn more about how we assess student achievement levels. Please RSVP so we can plan for numbers. Thank you.

With kind regards,

Linda Bayes

Deputy Head of School

Take a quick tour of a typical lunch at Brookes Westshore - thanks to Bo from Sage Dining! See our menus here.

We can’t believe it is almost the end of October! Time flies when we are fully engaged in what we are doing. There has been a lot of learning and growing in the month of October.

• Grade 4 students are most proud of developing their research skills to learn about animal biomes and developing their writing skills through exploring the six traits of writing (Grade 4 leader: Ms. Jesse Junck).
• Grade 5 students think their biggest improvement of October is their self-management strategies, so they feel regulated for their next class or activity. They are proud that they are more efficient at transitioning between things now. They are also proud of their teamwork – they’ve bonded more as a class and out of it has come better group work habits and more fun in morning meetings (Grade 5 leader: Ms. Alexe Lodin).
• MYP 1 (Grade 6) students are really proud of their academic achievement and study habits (especially for preparing for their math quiz). The MYP 1 students recognized that they are practicing courtesy in the community by making space for others to pass in hallways and holding doors open (MYP 1 leader: Mme. Julia Friedmann).
• MYP 2 (Grade 7) students feel that their greatest achievement in October was their perseverance in completing the BC FSA’s and completing seven summative assessments in a four-day week. They are proud of themselves and feel they deserve a pizza party (MYP 2 leader: Mr. Devin Gallery).
• MYP 3 (Grade 8) students have been continuing to work on their social skills in October, which is one of the most important skills at their age (MYP 3 leader: Ms. Kayleigh McIntosh).
• MYP 4 (Grade 9) students have made a fabulous start on their service projects and are connecting with many different aspects of both the Brookes Community and the wider local community. Working in small groups the year band have developed ideas which once completed will make an impact (MYP 4 leader: Ms. Kate Barton).
• MYP 5 (Grade 10) students have made great progress with the Personal Project, applying their ATL (Approaches to Learning) skills (MYP 5 leader: Mr. Oliver Wood).
• DP 1 (Grade 11) students are becoming more comfortable with the expectations of the Diploma Programme and developing more independence and the right mindset in order to find success within this demanding programme. The improvements with time management and student autonomy have been clearly evident (DP 1 leader: Mr. Matthew Healing).
• DP 2 (Grade 12) students are most proud of their academic achievement and work habits. No one in DP 2 has more than two Needs Improvement in their term 1 interim report (DP 2 leader: Mr. Gary Ward).

I am very proud of everyone’s achievement in the month of October. In our community, we support each other and grow together. I look forward to seeing continuous engagement and perseverance in the month of November!

With thanks

Rui Li

Vice Principal

Brookes Westshore will be offering a flu and COVID booster vaccine clinic on November 3rd from 12-3pm.

If you would like to consent to have your child vaccinated for either or both of these vaccines, watch for a SchoolsBuddy notification on Monday where you can indicate your approval.

Note: It is recommended that parents or guardians and their children discuss consent for immunizations. However, children under the age of 19 who are able to understand the benefits and possible reactions for each vaccine, and the risk of not getting immunized, can legally consent to or refuse immunizations. This means that your child may decide for themselves whether or not to receive a vaccine.  More information on mature minor consent can be found here.

Here is information regarding the vaccines being offered:

For the flu vaccine:

• Vaccine name: Fluzone 0.5 mL injection (http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines and Forms/Guidelines and Manuals/Epid/CD Manual/Chapter 2 - Imms/Part4/Influenza_FluzoneQuadrivalent.pdf)
• Available to all ages, students and staff

For the COVID booster vaccine:

• Vaccine: Pfizer-BioNTech
• Must be 12 years of age or older
• Must have a PHN and registration number – if you need to register follow this link https://www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca/s/ or call 1-833-838-2323
• Email Melanie Penn melanie.penn@me.com the registration number asap so enough vaccines will be brought for the clinic

University of Victoria - Parent Night: November 13th at 7 pm.

Back by popular demand and offered virtually, Parent Night information sessions are led by Dr. Lisa Surridge, Associate Dean Academic - Faculty of Humanities. 

The insightful, research informed and practical information she provides is invaluable to parents/guardians helping their student navigate the transition to post-secondary studies.

Registration is available on our Events page. (link)

In DP Chemistry classes this week, the DP1 students learned about empirical formula and the DP2 students learned about structural isomers through hands-on exploratory activities. In the group activities, the students practiced their thinking and social skills, while learning about Chemistry.

The invention of writing: Cuneiform

This week the MYP 2 students learned about the invention of writing in Ancient Mesopotamia. The students learned how the Sumerian people wrote upon clay tablets by pressing the edge of a stylus cut from marsh reeds into the wet clay. They created a distinctive type of writing called cuneiform (Latin for "wedge-shaped"). Then the students got the opportunity to try writing cuneiform, learning to write their name and press the characters onto a clay tablet. 

Drama in MYP

Mr. B's MYP 2 (grade 7) drama group performed their spooktacular Halloween play for the younger grades. They have been working on ideas of 'character' and developed some very vivid examples for their play! It was a huge success and generated rave reviews:

"It was spooky joy" Madelyn

"It was weird but very fun in spooky ways" Virat

"Hilarious, spooky fun for the whole class!" Hannah

"Funny, enjoyable, and scary fun!" Theo S.

"I love the play and the characters. My favourite was the vampire [Max - above}, he was the funniest. All in all, I loved the play" Theo B.

A standing ovation

Community Block is a chance for the whole school to come together, celebrate our successes, and share plans for the future. This week the Student Leadership Council, led by Amira and Coen, handed out IB Learner Profile Awards, and Avery and Laura launched their IB Learner Box to gather student voices to celebrate their peers' achievements. 

Pumpkin Carving

For the last block on Thursday the whole school gathered in their Houses to carve pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. The energy and creativity were amazing - and it was delightful to see all the students working together, across grades and nationalities, to create some truly wonderful pumpkin artwork. 

Young Leaders Forum for Global Leadership

Some of our MYP4/5 students had an online communication forum with Haimen Middle School in China. The theme is happiness and life of secondary school students. Our students enjoyed making connections with students from a different country and shared their experiences and perspectives in the following questions:

• What does your ideal school look like?
• What volunteer work have you done?
• Do you think hobbies are a way to release pressure or a life choice?
• What after school activities and sports do students do in Canada and China?

We would like to invite all students and staff to attend the Camosun College Men's Basketball Home Opener game on Friday night, November 4^that 8:00pm.

Please meet us at the Camosun College Interurban Campus and say that you are with Brookes Westshore for free entrance to the game!  

The Camosun Chargers will be playing in a tough match up against our Island Rivals the VIU Mariners, who were the last year's National silver medalists. The home opener game is always a popular event to attend, we recommend arriving at 7:30pm for quality seating.

The Camosun Women's basketball team also play at 6:00pm, if you are also interested in watching both games! Let's go Chargers!!! 

Location: Camosun Interurban Campus in the PISE building at 4371 Interurban Rd, Victoria. 

Camosun Chargers volleyball team in action

Introduction to Matt Healing, 

MYP Individuals and Societies and DP Geography, TOK

"I grew up in Castlegar, B.C. before moving to Vancouver for University. I completed a degree in Geography at Simon Fraser University, before attaining a Bachelor of Education at the University of British Columbia. In 2013 I moved to Guangzhou, China and taught there for 9 years. I was a grade 1 classroom teacher for two years at the Canadian International School of Guangzhou, before moving to a full continuum IB school called Utahloy International.

At UISG I taught the PYP for 3 years as a grade 5 teacher, before teaching Science, Math, PHE and Individuals and Societies to grades 7 to 10 in the MYP.  Over my last years, I also taught Environmental Systems and Societies in the DP to grades 11 and 12.

During my decade in China, I met my wife and had the opportunity to travel the world quite extensively. We love outdoor pursuits like scuba diving, hiking and safaris and have been lucky enough to do them in some of the best places on Earth. I love sports, and play tennis, basketball, soccer and golf.

Here at Brookes Westshore, I am head of year 11, and I'm teaching MYP Individuals and Societies and DP ToK and Geography.

I'm very happy to be here, and excited for the challenges ahead."

A gentle reminder to please use the ManageBac Attendance Excusal form if your child isn't coming to the school that day (for 'how to' please click here)

Student Voice

Hi, I am Mia from Japan, and I'm in grade 11 (DP1). I am posting my school life at Brookes on Instagram as a CAS project. On my account @ryugaku_brookeswestshore, I mainly post about my life in Canada as an international student for Japanese people who are interested in studying abroad. However, I am working to create an Instagram account that anyone can enjoy viewing, using both Japanese and English!

This CAS project contains elements of creativity and service. I want to share information about studying abroad in Canada and school life at Brookes with many people, so please follow me!

Thanks Mia!

Please support Mia's CAS project by following her stories here. Not only will you support Mia - but you will also help people in Japan, and around the world, get a sense of our school from the perspective of our students!

Watch to the end to see Alex and Hugo's reaction to the play!

This past weekend the Camosun College Men's Volleyball team unveiled the 2021-2022 PacWest and National (CCAA) Championship banners, and the team received their championship rings. The gym was packed, and fans cheered loudly celebrating the success of last season.

After this ceremony, our dorm students sat on the edge of their seats excitedly to watch our hometown College take on our Island rivals the VIU Mariners. The Camosun Chargers dominated the game and beat the VIU Mariners in 3 sets to 1. 

If you would like to catch more action, the Chargers will be playing again in their home gym (Camosun Interurban Campus, PISE building) on November 11^th against the Capilano Blues. Women play at 6:00pm and Men play at 8:00pm

And some dorm student Halloween cookies!

Dorm students can enjoy the following activities this weekend:

• Friday 7:00 - 10:00 pm Halloween Dance in Dining Hall:
  • Costumes, DJ, smoke machine, laser show, mocktails!
  • Face painting for costume at 5 pm in common room 1 (sign up in common room 1)
• Saturday 6:00 pm - Festival of Fear and Haunted House*
  • Face painting at 3 pm for festival of fear -sign up in common room 1
• Sunday 3:30 pm - Hair Colouring with Ms. Thia
• Sunday 7:00 pm - Pumpkin Carving Contest and Halloween Movie in the Dining Hall 
• Monday 6:30 pm - Trick or treating OR 8:00pm Costume Fashion Show (prize) and karaoke after party in dining hall! (sign up for both Cm Rm 1) 

Volleyball is strong at Brookes Westshore!