Happy Valentine's Day - beautiful cupcakes for everyone on Thursday!
Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,
This week, we celebrated Women in Sports Day, shining a spotlight on the inspirational young women in sports at Brookes! Each day this week we learned about some of our incredible female athletes in the morning announcements. From our volleyball players to our skilled Taekwondo and Karate practitioners, and from our star golfer to hockey player, their commitment and achievements continue to inspire us all! Their stories remind us that sports are not just about competition but also about resilience, teamwork, and passion.
As we carry this spirit forward, we welcomed the students from Saku Chosei School, Japan to our school as part of the cultural exchange program yesterday (see photos below). Embracing multiculturalism is at the heart of our school’s values, and this event offers a unique opportunity for our students to explore the rich traditions of Japan through hands-on experiences as well as build friendships that reach beyond borders. It is always a joy to see students step out of their comfort zones, learn from one another, and appreciate the beauty of different cultures.
Alongside these student activities, our teachers also had a great Professional Development Day today. Our morning session focused on inclusion, with discussions on how to empower every student in diverse classrooms and ensure every student feels seen, heard, and valued. In the afternoon, we had a guest speaker for AI in education, sharing insights and experiences on how emerging technologies can enhance learning while maintaining the human connection that makes teaching so impactful. These sessions sparked meaningful conversations, and will no doubt shape the way we continue to grow as educators.
I wish everyone a wonderful Family Day long weekend!
With gratitude,
Dr. Rui Li
Principal
Spring Fling BBQ
Thursday March 13th, 2025 - 3.30 to 5.30 pm
A Parent Information Session will be held on Wednesday, February 26th at 4PM for parents of MYP5 students.
As our MYP5 students move to the Diploma Programme next year, it is important for parents and students to learn about the Diploma Programme and the courses offered at Brookes Westshore. I encourage all parents of MYP5 students to attend this session. I will be providing information about the requirements of the Diploma Programme, its advantages in university applications and guidance in choosing courses.
Students are encouraged to attend with their parents, but they will also have their own sessions during the school day.
Thank you
Linda
Spring Craft Fair
The Student Leadership Council is organizing a Spring Craft Market giving students a chance to showcase and sell their creations! If you have a hobby or skill such as jewelry making, painting, or baking and are interested in running a booth, please fill out the survey linked here!
Saku Chosei School visit
Kimonos, calligraphy, Kendo, and Kabuki - just some of the activities our students enjoyed with their friends from Japan.
Students had a great time with our bouquet-making workshop - put on by our staff member Katie who used to be a florist!
Students enjoyed dim sum and Mahjong after watching the lunar new year parade in downtown Victoria.
Last week we celebrated women in sports. Here are some of our young women athletes who are setting their sports alight with their skills and passion.
My name is Penelope, and I have been playing ice hockey for 6 years. I play center for the U15A Westshore Reign and am one of four girls that are part of the Brookes Hockey Academy. I am often traveling with my competitive girls' team and have played games throughout BC and as far as Calgary. A funny story is that I almost never played hockey. I actually tried to sign up for skating lessons, but it was full. I ended up trying hockey instead and have never looked back!
Penelope MYP3
My name is Emma, and I have been golfing since I was 3. I luckily get to compete in various tournaments all over Canada. I love to golf because it is time for me to take to myself and be focused on something I love. I could be at the golf course all day hitting balls, putting and chipping and never get bored. Golf has taught me many things. It has taught me respect, perseverance and work ethic. It isn’t easy to become good at something unless you work for it which I have been learning over the years. I am lucky that I get to teach younger boys and girls in the summers how to golf. I am proud to say that I am an athletic woman because I can be a role model for younger girls who want to try out sports. I can prove to people that I can hold my own and not be afraid of challenges that I have to face in my future.
Emma MYP4
I've been doing karate since I was 4 years old. Getting into karate was the best decision my parents could make. Karate has not only allowed me to travel around the world but also to make valuable friendships. Doing karate is a very big discipline because it means making a lot of sacrifice, giving up many things, It's the best thing that has happened to me. Doing karate means having a balance between your school, social and sport life. I have a lot of experience in this sport, I love to go to compete in other countries and make friends. My dad is a two-time world champion, and I have the same passion. I have competed in the national selection 4 consecutives years and hope to participate again this year.
Valentina, DP1
I have had numerous experiences in various martial arts, yet Taekwondo has always been my favourite way of relieving stress and finding calm. Since I began training at 3 years old my love for the sport has not faltered & I have continued the sport competitively for 13 years now. Overall, I think receiving my black belt at the age of 9 has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life and taught me skills such as diligence, perseverance, and commitment. I am incredibly thankful to be in an environment where the achievements of young women in sports are acknowledged and valued.
Tish, DP1
The grade 6-7 girls’ volleyball team hosted a pair of schools on Tuesday as part of their league play. The team is playing in the competitive division. Their first game was against a strong team from Journey. We got off to a slow start, losing 2-0. We played much better in the second game, which was against Shoreline. The game was very exciting, with many great rallies and teamwork by both teams. Brookes lost 2-0 (21-16; 21-13) but their coach was very proud of their positive attitude and great effort. Go Gryphons!
The Grade 8 girls’ volleyball team played two games on Wednesday. The first game was against Dunsmuir Middle School. The girls played well and split sets (1-1). In the second game, we played Central Mountain Lellum Middle School. This was an equally exciting game, as the two teams were equally matched. In the end, the teams split sets 1-1. The team continues to improve from week to week. Their coaches were very happy with their performance. A good all-around team effort. Well done!
The Grade 7-8 boys’ volleyball team hosted two schools on Monday for league play. Their first game was against Central Mountain Lellum. Our team played well in their first set, winning 21-11, due to some fine serving. The second set was closely contested, with CML managing to score a narrow 21-18 win. In the team’s second set, we were up against a good team from Colquitz Middle School. We played well in the first set, and even managed a few good satisfying spikes, but lost 17-21. The team battled back in the second set and came from behind to win the set 21-17. Their coaches were pleased by their fine play.
Senior Boys' Basketball
Wishing our Senior Boys' Basketball team and coach Luke lots of luck as they head to Duncan again today to play a game that will determine if they advance to the Island Championships! Details to come next week. Go Gryphons!
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!
Term Two Events and Activities
- Inclusion Assembly - Thursday, February 20th
- Pink Shirt Day - Wednesday, February 26th
- Spring Fling BBQ - Thursday, March 13th
Key dates of 2023 to 2025: Key Dates 2024 / 2026 - Brookes Westshore
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
- Melanie Moroz - Academic Director
- Linda Bayes - DP Coordinator & University Counsellor
- Martin Staffolani - Executive Director of Recruitment
Please consider posting a review
If you have a minute, it will really help us to reach new families if you could consider posting a positive review online on Google or here (you will need to log in to the OurKids website to leave a review here). Prospective families love to hear from current parents about your real experiences here!
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.
