Click to watch a slideshow of images from the Athletic Awards Ceremony.

Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,

This week has been a great reminder of how strong and caring our school community is.

Congratulations to all the students recognized at Monday’s Athletic Awards Ceremony. It was a wonderful celebration of not only athletic achievement, but also perseverance, teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship. Thank you to the coaches, staff, and families who support our athletes throughout the year!

It was also wonderful to see so many families at yesterday’s student-led conferences. Your engagement plays a vital role in student success, and we are very proud to see our students take the lead in sharing their learning. These conferences are a great reminder that learning is a shared journey built on trust, reflection, and collaboration.

Today’s Spring Fling BBQ and Silent Auction, along with next week’s Grade 9/11 Tofino trip, are more moments that bring us together as a community. I am truly grateful to everyone who gives their time and energy to make all of these experiences possible!

With gratitude,

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

• Wednesday, April 22nd - Community Block: Earth Day
• Wednesday, April 29th - Personal Project Exhibition
• Tofino Trips:
  • Grades 9/MYP4 and 11/DP1: Thursday, April 23rd to Sunday, April 26th
  • Grade 10/MYP5: Thursday, April 30th to Sunday, May 3rd
• Monday, May 18th to Thursday, 21st May - Grade 8 and DP1 Strathcona Park Trip
• Friday, May 22nd - Graduation 2026

Athletic Awards Ceremony

On Monday, our school community came together for a joyful and memorable Athletic Awards Ceremony, celebrating the dedication, effort, and spirit of our student‑athletes. With plenty of smiles, cheers, and team pride, students were recognized with Most Valuable Player and Heart of a Champion awards - making it a day that truly reflected what sport means in our school.

Training together, showing up for one another, and working toward shared goals builds trust, resilience, and a strong sense of connection. For many students, being part of a team becomes a highlight of their school experience - shaping friendships, confidence, and a sense of purpose that extends well beyond the season.

The moments captured during the ceremony told this story perfectly. The pride, laughter, and genuine celebration showed students who felt supported and valued. While MVP awards recognize skill and performance, the Heart of a Champion awards shine a light on commitment, perseverance, sportsmanship, and the positive impact students have on their teammates. These moments remind us that character matters just as much as achievement.

This sense of belonging doesn’t happen on its own. It’s made possible by a strong and supportive community from coaches who mentor and inspire, through staff who encourage balance and well‑being, to families who cheer from the sidelines, and peers who lift one another up. Together, they create an environment where students feel confident taking risks, learning from challenges, and growing as individuals.

We are incredibly proud of our student‑athletes, and the role athletics plays in building confident, connected, and caring young people. Monday’s ceremony was a powerful reminder that when we celebrate effort, character, and teamwork alongside success, we strengthen our community and reinforce what it truly means to be part of something special.

MYP5 Science

MYP5 students carried out a flame test lab today to identify different metal ions. By placing compounds in a flame, they observed distinct colours produced as excited electrons released energy. Colours like red, orange, and turquoise helped students determine which elements were present, reinforcing their understanding of atomic structure and emission spectra. Students were careful to practice good lab safety when working with the Bunsen burner and open flame! 

PHE With a Difference: Learning Beyond the Classroom

Last week, our Physical and Health Education (PHE) program took learning outdoors, embracing the incredible natural environment of southern Vancouver Island as an extension of the classroom. Students experienced PHE in a way that reflects both our local context and our commitment to meaningful, experiential learning.

Our MYP5 students explored the rugged coastline on guided hikes, developing not only physical endurance but also navigational skills, environmental awareness, and teamwork. At a local lake in Langford, students learned the basics of fishing - practicing patience, focus, and respect for the natural world. Meanwhile, our Grade 5 students headed to the beach for hands-on beachcombing activities, discovering marine ecosystems while staying active and curious.

This outdoor learning strongly supports the IB Learner Profile. Students demonstrated:

• Risk-takers, as they stepped outside their comfort zones in unfamiliar outdoor settings
• Balanced, by caring for their physical well-being while connecting with nature
• Inquirers, asking questions about ecosystems, geography, and sustainability
• Caring, showing respect for peers and the natural environment

By taking PHE beyond the gym and into the wider world, our students experienced learning that is active, authentic, and deeply connected to place. We are proud to live and learn in such a remarkable part of the world and even prouder of the way our students embraced every opportunity along the way.

MYP Art

MYP3 continues to build on our art history unit, now transitioning to the sculpture portion which is papier mache. Together as a class, everyone made bowls using balloons as templates and learning how to do papier mache. Next, students will be inspired by Marie Antionette's infamous line "Let them eat cake!" to create their own food sculptures. Look for quirky cake slices, maybe a few odd coloured fried eggs or giant pieces of sushi in the future!

Graduating Class Trip to Vancouver

DP2 / Grade 12 students recently wrapped up their final year with a memorable two‑night trip to Vancouver. The group kicked things off with a celebratory dinner before heading out to cheer on the Vancouver Whitecaps in a thrilling soccer match, soaking up the excitement of a night in the city. They were so happy to see themselves on the massive jumbotron at the stadium!

Throughout the trip, the group was supportive, easygoing, and clearly enjoyed every moment together. It was an absolute pleasure to travel with such a great group of students, and they will be truly missed as they head off into their next chapter after graduation.

MYP3 PHE class having their weight room orientation at JDF.

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.