Our Senior Girls' Volleyball Team are cheered by our grade 4 and 5 students as they off to the Provincial Championships (click to play)! Go Gryphons!
Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,
We couldn’t be prouder of our Senior Girls’ Volleyball team and all they have accomplished this season! They are now at Provincials and fighting hard for every point - every member of the team is giving their best and showing the gryphon spirit! A special shoutout to our two amazing and dedicated coaches, Mr. Thom and Mr. T, as well as to all the staff and families whose support makes moments like these possible. Thank you for lifting our students up in so many ways!
We are also excited to welcome families to campus for our Winter Concert next Thursday at 6:30 pm. It is always a joy to see our students share their talents and celebrate the holiday spirit!
The Term 1 Learning Update will be issued on ManageBac next Friday. Thank you for taking a moment to review them and talk with your child about their learning journey so far.
With gratitude,
Dr. Rui Li
Principal
Important Dates:
- Thursday, December 4th - 6.30 pm to 8 pm in the Dining Hall - Winter Concert: please email events@westshore.brookes.org to let us know you are coming. Due to limited space, we ask that you restrict yourselves to around 4 guests. Thank you.
- New Date! Friday, December 5th - 3.30 pm to 5 pm Christmas Market in the Dining Hall
- Saturday, December 6th - Pancake Breakfast
- Friday, December 12th - Last Day of School (noon dismissal)
After-School Activities – Term 2 Registration
After-school activities (ASAs) are a key part of our program, providing students with opportunities to try new things, develop skills, and grow in a fun and supportive environment. Extracurricular activities also help students explore their interests, build confidence, and connect with peers outside the classroom!
Registration for Term 2 ASAs opens on Monday, December 1st at 5:00pm and closes on Friday, December 12th at 5:00 pm, the last school day before winter break. Registration is available through our Schoolsbuddy program.
This term, we are excited to offer a wide variety of clubs, including Outdoor Leadership, American Sign Language, Blacksmithing, Creativity and Art Clubs, Tennis, Guitar, Bowling, Karate, and many more! With such a diverse range of activities, there is something for every student, whether they want to explore a new hobby, discover a passion, or take on a new challenge.
Reminder, that our Term 1 ASAs conclude next week, with final sessions on December 5th, and Term 2 ASAs will run from January 19th through March 6th.
Please ensure your child is registered before the break to enjoy a full and engaging Term 2 filled with exciting opportunities!
After School Supervision
Grades 4 to 7, January 5th to 16th, 3.30 to 5 pm.
Our After School Activities Programme starts on Monday, January 19th in term 2. For the two weeks before ASAs start we are offering a limited number of after-school supervision places for students in grades 4 to 7. The cost is $80 a week.
Please email Bailley at the front desk (frontdesk@westshore.brookes.org) by Thursday, December 11th, to book your spot!
Ski Trip 2026 – Registration Closes December 5th!
Don’t miss out! Registration for the 2026 Ski Trips closes in just one week, on Friday, December 5th. Please ensure you register on time, as the trips take place during the first two weeks back from winter break, and late registrations cannot be accommodated.
Trip Dates:
- Grades 4–8 Ski Trip: Friday, January 9th, 2026
- Grades 9–12 Ski Trip: Thursday, January 15th, 2026
To register, log in to your SchoolsBuddy account and find the ski trip under Available Signups. These trips are open to all skiing and snowboarding levels. Space is limited, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you need assistance registering or have any questions, please contact Ms. Rachel at rnonni@westshore.brookes.org.
2027 French Exchange
Grade 10
We have an exciting opportunity for students who will be in Grade 10 in 2027 to go to France for four weeks in March to improve their French and immerse themselves in French culture. This is a direct exchange programme with a student from Marie Pila, a private catholic co-educational school in Carpentras, France. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Sheri Onushko, our Director of Admissions at sonushko@westshore.brookes.org
We’ve heard from many of you that you’re planning to come, but ticket sales haven’t quite caught up yet. If you’ve been meaning to grab your tickets, now’s the time! Let’s make this year’s breakfast the most joyful one yet and fill the dining hall with festive energy.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Date: Saturday, December 6th
- New Time: One big sitting from 9:30 am to 11:00 am (to make it extra lively!)
- Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for kids under 10
- Deadline: Purchase by 8 pm on Sunday, November 30th to secure your spot.
If you’ve already purchased tickets - thank you! They’re still valid, and we’ll be in touch to confirm details.
Let’s make this a breakfast to remember for our families and community. Thank you for being part of something special!
Tickets on sale here!
Strathcona Outdoor Education – DP1 Trip
We’re thrilled to announce that, after seven years on the waitlist, we have secured a spot at the highly sought-after Strathcona Outdoor Education Centre for May 2026! Recognized as one of the premier outdoor education camps in Western Canada, this experience promises both adventure and exceptional learning opportunities. We can’t wait for our DP1 students to take part in this unforgettable trip! Students will participate in a wide range of outdoor experiences, including kayaking and canoeing, high ropes, zip lining, hiking, rock climbing, orienteering, and swimming. All activities are guided by expert instructors in a safe, supportive, and inspiring learning environment.
Sign-up is available through SchoolsBuddy, where you can find all trip details. For additional information, please check the portal link at the bottom of the SchoolsBuddy front page. The trip cost covers all activities, meals, and transportation.
Be sure to register by Friday, December 12th to secure your child’s place!
A Sweet Learning Experience in MYP4: Crêpes and Conversation!
Last week, our MYP4 students enjoyed an authentic learning opportunity that blended language skills with Francophone culture. As part of our unit on Food and French Cuisine, students worked together to make crêpes - an activity that was both delicious and educational!
Throughout the experience, students demonstrated Communication skills (Criterion C) by using key phrases such as:
- « J’aimerais… » (I would like)
- « Ajoute le sucre, s’il te plaît. » (add the sugar, please)
- « Quelle garniture tu préfères? (what topping do you prefer?)
They also practiced Criterion B: Listening and Reading Comprehension by following a recipe in French and listening to instructions from their peers.
This collaborative approach strengthened their intercultural understanding, exploring the role of crêpes in French gastronomy.
The atmosphere was joyful and dynamic: laughter, spontaneous exchanges, and of course… crêpes topped with chocolate, jam, sugar, lemon, and maple syrup! Students enriched their thematic vocabulary (ingredients, utensils, action verbs like mélanger, verser, cuire) and built confidence speaking French in a real-life context.
This activity perfectly illustrates our MYP goal: learning through experience and celebrating cultural diversity. Bravo to our budding chefs and passionate linguists!
Art 4 Christmas Decorations
Students made some super-cute Christmas ornaments this week - using felt and then hand sewing the elements together.
This week, MYP1 (Grade 6) students had a great trip to the IMAX downtown to watch the movie Call of the Dolphins.
As BCFP10 wraps up our storytelling unit, we are grateful for the chance to learn about totem poles - which can be so easily linked with a mini field trip next door to Royal Roads University to visit their welcome pole carved by the LaFortune family.
Junior Boys' Basketball – Season Opener
This year, our Junior Boys are stepping up to compete in the A Division, taking on some of the top AAAA and AAA teams on Vancouver Island. With Lower Vancouver Island featuring some of the strongest teams in the province this season and most teams' players are in Grade 10, the challenge is certainly big. Although we are the smallest school in the league and the youngest team, our squad is full of talent, energy, and athleticism. Our team is made up of Grade 9s, with two in Grade 10, and two Grade 8 players who have stepped up exceptionally, showing they are more than ready for the challenge.
The season began with a commanding exhibition win over Royal Bay B, 61–29. Eight players contributed to the scoring, highlighted by Sohan dropping 14 points in the 3rd quarter, while Kobe, running the point guard position, led the team, setting the pace and energy throughout the game.
Wednesday brought our first league game against a highly ranked SMUS team. Brookes came out strong, leading for most of the first quarter, including a 12–7 advantage at one point, before finishing the quarter tied 16–16. Despite a tough second quarter run by SMUS, the team battled back in the third and fourth quarters. Sohan again led the team in scoring 17 points. Despite missing a few key players on Wednesday, and with a small roster, the team displayed remarkable grit and teamwork. The final score was 54–30, but the effort, energy, and potential displayed by this young team were truly impressive.
We’re excited to keep growing, improving, and competing in the games ahead!
Lost and Found
Lost and found bins are located in the corner of the dining hall (near the ping pong table) and in the gym lobby.
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!
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; 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
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.
