Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

We would like to extend a warm welcome to Brookes Westshore for the 2022-23 school year. The first day of classes is Tuesday, September 6th. You can find the daily class schedule for each grade at the bottom of this email.

We know you all have many questions about the first day back and I hope we have covered the most pressing concerns in this email. There is a lot of information here, so please read carefully.

During the first week of school there will be many activities which focus on building our school community and preparing students for the academic year.

We also plan to have parents on campus more frequently this year, so keep an eye on the weekly newsletter for upcoming events.

We would like to invite you all to the Welcome Back BBQ on September12th from 4 - 5:30 pm at the school. We are looking forward to meeting students, parents, and staff at the BBQ. It will be a great opportunity for new families to meet the teachers, tour the school and enjoy some food and refreshments.

With kind regards,

Linda Bayes

Deputy Head of School

Uniforms 

Many students will not yet have their full uniform. We ask that everyone dress as close as possible to comply with our school uniform policy. The school uniform policy is here. If you need to be fitted for a new uniform, please contact our front desk here. Teachers will review the policy with students the first week of school. If students have their uniform pieces, they should be wearing them on the first day of school.

Lunches

The Sage meal service will be providing healthy and complete lunches for students, and they will be in operation on the first day of school. If your child has any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please ensure this information has been emailed here.

All students should bring a water bottle every day to school.   

School Supplies

Students need proper running shoes for Physical Education, a backpack and water bottle. We supply basic stationery needs for students, but they are welcome to bring notebooks, binders or loose-leaf folders – whichever works best for them is acceptable. We are trying to avoid sharing many items like pens, pencils, rulers, and calculators and encourage students to bring their own.

A scientific calculator is required for MYP 4-5 (Grades 9 & 10). In the Diploma Programme (Grade 11 and 12), a graphing calculator is required, and these can be purchased from the school.

Laptops

There will be laptops available at school for Grades 4, 5 and MYP 1 (Grade 6). Students in MYP2-5 (Grade 7-10) and DP will need their own laptop. 

Computer Recommendations for MYP2 & Higher:

Your choice of PC or Mac.

Microsoft Office license is provided to students from Brookes Westshore.

Mac: Within 4 years old

PC: Within 4 years old

• Processor: Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen
• RAM/Memory: 8gb
• Storage: Solid State

Chromebooks, tablets and other non Windows or Mac devices are not recommended.

Forms and Permissions

Students are often taken off campus for a variety of learning activities and cultural experiences.  On September 6th, you will receive a Permission/Consent Form by email to allow your child to participate in off-campus activities during the academic year. For your child to participate in planned activities during the first week of school, please ensure the form is returned to the front desk (email) by September 8th.

ManageBac and Schools Buddy

ManageBac and Schools Buddy are the online educational platforms used at Brookes Westshore. All new parents will receive a welcome email from ManageBac. Parents are required to login to this system to ensure clear communication and collaboration with teachers and students. Schools Buddy is accessed through your ManageBac account. Schools Buddy is an additional programme which allows us to gain parental permission for field trips, After School Activities (ASAs), and the ability to book parent teacher conferences.

There will be an opportunity for parents to receive ManageBac and Schools Buddy support on September 12th during the BBQ.  

Students' daily timetable will be available on ManageBac, on Saturday, September 3rd. We will have a schedule posted in the front lobby on the first day of school.

After School Activities

After School Activities will begin on September 19th. Sign up for activities will happen during the week of September 12th and you will receive instructions in the Gryphon Gazette (our weekly newsletter). 

Parent Information Sessions

We are looking forward to holding frequent parent information sessions at the school during the year which will provide the opportunity for parents to learn more about the academic and extracurricular program here at Brookes. Keep an eye on the Gryphon Gazette for announcements.

School Camping Trips - September 2022

Tribune Bay Provincial Park

Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Trips to Hornby Island

• MYP4 September 14-16th
• MYP3 September 19th-21st

Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre is located on Hornby Island, nicknamed the “Little Hawaii” of Canada. Our students will embark on a multi-day team building, leadership and outdoor adventure camp at Tribune Bay Provincial Park. This camp provides learning experiences that stimulate, encourage, and challenge each student to discover their potential and expand their abilities to adapt and succeed in a changing world. Students will participate in 4 adventure activities per day, and we will sleep in heated cabins over three days and two nights. 

Adventure Activities: 

• Team building and initiative tasks 
• Ocean adventure - Kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding 
• High adventure - High ropes, rock-climbing, giant’s ladder and the leap of faith 
• Island hikes - Helliwell Bluffs and Lunar Beach 

Becher Bay - ​​East Sooke Campground

• DP 1/2 September 23 - 25th
• MYP5 September 30th - October 2nd

About The Camp

East Sooke Regional Park is one of the most spectacular parks in our region, with over 50 kilometers of trails along the coast and forest. Our campground is located a few hundred meters from Aylard Farm and the stunning sandy beach of Becher Bay. Students will wake up to the view of the ocean from our cabins/tents, paddleboard with professionals, learn from marine biologists, and hike through the magnificent trails of East Sooke Park. The activities planned in this biodiverse park provide our students with a great learning opportunity while bonding with their classmates.

Adventure Activities:

• Team building and leadership activities
• Paddleboarding with professional guides
• Marine ecological tour with environmental biologists
• Participate in multiple East Sooke hikes along the coast and through the forest
• View historic petroglyphs at Alldridge Point

Cost and sign up information will be available next week. 

Calendars and Classes

We will continue to publish a weekly newsletter which will include reminders for upcoming events.

The key dates of the academic year can be found here.   

The school will be open for students at 0800 every morning. All classes, for all grades, begin at 0840. The end of classes each day is 1520 for Grade 4 – 10. The Diploma Programme students (Grade 11 and 12) will have some classes until 1600 on Tuesday and Wednesdays.

Daily Timetables:

Grade 4 - MYP3

• Home Room 0840 - 0855
• Block 1: 0900 - 1010
• Break:   1010 - 1025
• Block 2: 1025 - 1135
• Lunch:   1135 - 1225
• Block 3: Reading 1225 - 1255
• Block 4: 1255 - 1405
• Block 5: 1410 - 1520
• ASAs:     1530 - 1700

MYP4 - 5

• Home Room: 0840 - 0850
• Block 1: 0850 - 1000
• Break:   1000 - 1015
• Block 2: 1015 - 1125
• Block 3 Core: 1130 - 1200
• Lunch:   1200 - 1255
• Block 4: 1255 - 1405
• Block 5: 1410 - 1520
• ASAs:     1530 - 1700 

DP

• Home Room: 0840 - 0845 
• Block 1: 0845 - 0955 
• Break:   0955 - 1005 
• Block 2: 1005 - 1115 
• Block 3: 1120 - 1220 
• Lunch:   1220 - 1255
• Block 4: 1255 - 1405 
• Block 5: 1410 - 1520
• IB Core: 1530 - 1600