Camping trips are a great way to get our school year off on the right foot!

Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

It has been an eventful week filled with growth, learning, and memorable moments.

This week, we focused on another five IB Learner Profile attributes – thinkers, principled, reflective, knowledgeable, and balanced. The IB Learner Profile is a set of ten attributes and qualities that the International Baccalaureate (IB) program aims to develop in students. These attributes encourage students to become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens. You can learn more about the IB learner profile here: ib-lp-colour-sk-6 (ibo.org) and https://www.ibo.org/benefits/learner-profile/.

On Wednesday, students and faculty laced up our running shoes and honored the legacy of Terry Fox, a true Canadian hero. With enthusiasm and determination, participants of all ages ran or walked to raise awareness for cancer research. It was a heartwarming sight to witness the spirit of giving and unity as everyone joined hands with compassion and social responsibility.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all parents for their patience and understanding as we started the ASAs this week. Your support has been instrumental in ensuring a smooth start. A big thank you to our interim Activities Coordinator, Ms. Anna, who has been working extremely hard in the past few weeks to organize the nearly forty ASAs, as well as the much-loved camping trips. We are confident that our students will greatly benefit from these valuable opportunities to explore their interests and talents beyond the classroom.

I would like to also thank our parents for working with us on making pick up and drop off as smooth and safe as possible. We appreciate your help on this and are very happy with how it is going. My thanks also to Ms. Boily for being such a stellar parking attendant! 

Looking ahead:

• MYP4 Hornby Island Camping trip on September 27^th – 29^th
• Orange Shirt Day is Thursday, September 28^th when we will have our first 45-minute community blocks to honour Truth and Reconciliation. Grades 4 to MYP3 at 9 am, and Grades MYP4 to DP2 at 10.30 am in the Dining Hall. Parents are welcome to attend. 
• Monday, October 2^nd – No school: Federal Stat Holiday for Truth and Reconciliation

Thank you for continuing to be an essential part of the Brookes community!

With gratitude,

Rui

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

The Terry Fox Run was a day of caring, joy, and community spirit.

Picture Day on Tuesday - everyone looked their best!

Fun Friday with Furry Friends

For our Fun Friday activities on October 6th, we are inviting anyone with a (well behaved) dog to bring them along at lunchtime (11.35 am to 12.25 pm) to meet our students and be showered with love and affection. Everyone loves this day (pictures from last year below )!

If you would like to bring your furry friend along, please email Ms. Dakota at frontdesk@westshore.brookes.org to coordinate.

Now taking payments for house shirts

If your child ordered a house shirt ($20), we are now accepting payments via cash to Mr. B, e-transfer to finance@westshore.brookes.org, by cheque payable to Brookes Westshore School Society, or by using Flywire per Link below (found on our website under Westshore School):

Flywire - Powering the future of global payments

Island Sexual Health visits

BC Island Sexual Health will be attending Brookes Westshore over the next two weeks to talk with students. The schedule is as follows:

• MYP3-5: (Dates to be confirmed)

• Tuesday October 10th  
  • 9 – 10:10 am: Grade 5 
  • 12:55 – 2:05 pm: Grade 6 (Class 1)
• Wednesday October 11th
  •  9 – 10:10 am: Grade 4
  • 12:55 – 2:05 pm: Grade 7
• Thursday October 12th
  • 12:55 – 2:05 pm: Grade 6 (Class 2)

See here for information on Island Sexual Health. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Wood of the PHE department owood@westshore.brookes.org

Ben, a graduate last year, gave a fascinating talk at the Royal Roads TEDx event as part of his CAS.

Service Update – CAS in the IB Diploma Programme

Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) makes up the core of the IB Diploma Programme (DP), along with the Extended Essay (EE) and Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

The core components of the DP are intended to be supportive of; and synergistic with; the subject-specific studies. The core promotes skills and traits for a more whole-person education, helping to continually develop the student attributes found in the IB Learner Profile.

Service Learning in the IB DP at Brookes Westshore takes on many forms. Recently, seniors helped organize our yearly Terry Fox Run, raising awareness of the legacy of a great Canadian, engaging our student population in a fun competition, and raising money for a worthwhile charity.

Ready for the start of the Terry Fox run.

In the school year ahead, Diploma students have intentions of providing service within our school community (clubs, interest groups, peer coaching and tutoring), in the local Westshore community (Remembrance Day, salmon-egg hatchery, beach and trail clean-ups and invasive species removal) and further afield. 

Service is a vital element of student life at Brookes Westshore and of the IB programme. We are excited to build on our efforts and support our students as they learn to give back to the wider community. 

Last year students organised and took part in the Time Colonist Santa Parade

Since our school opened students have visited and supported elders in our community. 

MYP1 Math

Mr. B's MYP1 students tackling a TedX riddle to practice their collaborative problem solving. Think you are smarter than our MYP1 students? Give it a go here! 

Mr. Hussak working with the DP2 Biology students on DNA

Mr. Dean with the Grade 5 students during their art class

MYP1 PHE class practicing their coordination and teamwork with skipping.

After School Activities started this week and the school was buzzing with the range of activities on offer. Students can choose something they already love or try out a new skill. They can also give themselves an academic boost in selected subject areas. We offer over 30 activities each week – from bowling and bouldering to Model United Nations and Math tutoring.

Skateboarding with Mr. B

Thank you to students for their enthusiasm, and to parents who have been understanding with the launch of our ASAs this week.

We want to make you aware of a few details:

Off-campus ASAs (eg. bowling): The school provides transportation to the venue and a chaperone stays with students for the duration of the activity. We are asking parents to please pick up students from the venue by 5PM. Please come inside to connect with the chaperone before leaving. Our chaperones are volunteering their time to assist with the facilitation of these ASAs, and so we need pickups to be prompt. Students who are consistently picked up late may lose their spot in the activity. 

On-campus ASAs: Most activities end between 4:30 and 5:00PM. Parents are expected to pick their child up at the indicated conclusion time of the activity. When the weather is good, Grade 4, Grade 5 and MYP1 students will be escorted out to the end of the bridge by an adult. If the weather is poor, or should you arrive later than the specified pickup time, please come inside and connect with a supervisor before leaving. This is to ensure the safety of our students, especially as the daylight diminishes.

Thank you in advance!

Japanese Club with Ms. Satsuki

Board Games in the dining hall

Crocheting for Others in the art room.

University Guidance - Parent Information Session

I would like to invite parents of DP2 (Grade 12) students to a Parent Information Session on Wednesday, October 11th at 3:30 pm at Brookes Westshore. I will be reviewing the application process and deadlines associated with their university applications. 

Please RSVP for the session by emailing me at lbayes@westshore.brookes.org

On October 11th students will have the opportunity to meet with an admissions representative from Western University and on November 20th, University of Alberta will be on campus. Both DP1 and DP2 students will be encouraged to attend these presentations which occur during the school day.  I will also be showing students Virtual Tours of several universities throughout the fall to help them make these important choices for their post-secondary education.

MYP5 East Sooke Camping Trip

Over the past weekend, a group of 35 MYP5 students embarked on an exciting camping adventure near the beach in East Sooke. During our time there, we engaged in a variety of activities, including exploration, paddleboarding, and fostering strong bonds within the group.

It was heartwarming to witness the students being exceptionally supportive and compassionate towards one another, which truly enhanced the overall experience of our trip. Notably, while paddleboarding, some of our students had the incredible opportunity to witness orcas in their natural habitat!

Thanks to Sam, Sandra, and Michael for the photos.

And a few more photos from the Hornby Island trip:

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.