Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,
In today’s digital world, technology is a powerful tool for learning and connection, but it also presents challenges in maintaining healthy habits. This week, our MYP3-DP students had an engaging session with the White Hatter to learn about online presence and communication, navigating social media wisely, respecting digital privacy, and the legal implications of online actions. Our students gained valuable insights into how to be responsible digital citizens. In a world where technology is woven into every aspect of life, these conversations are more crucial than ever.
Digital wellbeing is not just a student issue; it is a family conversation. That is why we are very excited to invite all parents to a free informative and supportive Parent Information Session on Finding a Balance with Digital Technology on April 8th, 4-5 pm. The guest speaker, Shannon Husk, is a registered clinical counsellor and gaming disorder clinician. She will be sharing practical strategies to foster a balanced approach, encourage positive online behaviours, and address common concerns like screen addiction and digital distractions. You can register for this session here. We look forward to working together to create a healthy tech-environment for our students!
With gratitude,
Dr. Rui Li
Principal
Reminders:
- There will be no ASAs during the week of March 10th - 14th. ASAs in Term Three start on Monday, April 7th (registration is open until March 14th)
- Spring Fling BBQ Thursday March 13th, 2025 - 3.30 to 5.30 pm (RSVP below)
- Last day of school before the Spring Break is Friday, March 14th - regular dismissal time at 3:20 pm.
- Term 2 Learning Update will be issued on April 4th.
- Finding a Balance with Digital Technology with Shannon Husk at 4pm on April 8th (see below for details and sign-up).
- Parent-Teacher conferences will be on April 10th and 17th from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. Early dismissal at 2 pm and no ASAs on both days. Parent-Teacher conference sign-up will be open on April 4th.
Brookes Auction 2025 - In support of the Ukrainian Scholarship students.
Join us on Friday April 25th for a fun-filled evening of frantic bidding and delicious appies. This is the third year of the auction, and it has quickly become a highlight of the year.
We will be raising much-needed funds to support the seven students (pictured above) who escaped the war in Ukraine and joined us to complete their high school education in Canada.
100% of the funds raised will go towards flights back to Ukraine for all seven students. They will be able to spend the summer with their families and friends still in Ukraine, before returning to Brookes for their graduating year. As one of the students told us:
"Our trips home every summer are the best!! I don’t think I would have been as happy here if I was not able to return home every summer to see my mother."
We need your support to ensure the auction is a success! Here are three ways you can help:
1. Donate an item to add to the amazing line up of goodies we can bid on. Fishing charters are always popular; we have a lot of foodies in the community so restaurant gifts, chocolates, teas, and all things culinary attract some serious bids; or perhaps you can offer a service (massage, acupuncture, legal advice?) that would help keep the bids coming? Use your imagination – if you like something, chances are someone else will! You can drop items at the front desk during school hours. Many thanks in advance!
2. Donate your time to the event. There are a hundred and one (and more!) tasks that need to be done – from asking local businesses, trades, and services to donate items, to setting up (and taking down) the décor on the day, and everything else in between. If you can offer us your precious time, we would be very grateful. Please email events@westshore.brookes.org to let us know your availability!
3. Come along to the auction and bid, bid, bid! Tickets are $25 a person, childcare is available, and we love to have a full house on the day! Bring a friend, or your family, or a group of coworkers! It is a great evening, and all for a very good cause, and you might make the winning bid on something really special! Click here to get your tickets.
If none of these three options work for you, we are more than happy to accept donations to the Ukraine Scholarship Fund through our finance office. Please donate via e-transfer to finance@westshore.brookes.org.
Thank you all for your ongoing support of the students and their commitment to make the most out of the opportunity here.
Students are excited at the thought of shaving Mr. B's beard, or waxing Mr. Thom's legs! Donations are still coming in and there is still time to be the one to pie Mr. McMaster! You can see the culmination of these activities at the Spring Fling!
Finding a Balance with Digital Technology Workshop
with Shannon Husk
Tuesday, April 8th 4 to 5 pm
Please RSVP here
2025 Tofino Trips
We are pleased to announce the dates of this year's trips to Tofino. Information packages have been sent out to the grade groups via Managebac.
Grade 11 - April 24th - 27th
Grade 9 - May 1st - 4th
Grade 10 - May 15th - 18th
The art rooms are always accepting donations of; newspapers, old magazines, and/or clean empty plastic containers (for water during painting).
The DP1 Chemistry students did a lab on making standard copper sulfate solutions this week. They were given a targeted concentration, and had to calculate the mass of copper sulfate needed based on the size of the flask they got, weigh out the required amount and dissolve in an appropriate volume of water. They would then test their solution using a colorimeter to determine the actual concentration to see how close they got to the targeted concentration. Learning how to make an accurate standard solution is an important part of chemistry and will be helpful for their internal assessment.
Grade 5's tried their hands at watercolour painting this week and their creativity was unleashed!
MYP1 have been practicing writing paragraphs in their English class with the subject: "My Ideal Pet". Here are just some of their great responses:
Students in DP 1 enjoyed a presentation from the University of Calgary this week - hearing about admissions procedures, life at the university, and the many courses are on offer.
Everyone was excited to get their class photos taken for the yearbook on Thursday - and the sun shone all day! Thanks to Ms. Brooklyn for getting everyone looking their best for the photo shoot!
Term 3 ASAs
Start Date: Monday, April 7th
End Date: Friday, June 13th
Registration
Registration for Term 3 ASA's will open on Monday. March 3rd and close on Friday March 14th.
Just a reminder for what registering for an ASA entails:
- Students can choose up to 3 preferred ASA's PER DAY (#1 is first choice, #2 is second choice, #3 is third choice for each day).
- Registering for an ASA does not guarantee a spot in the activity.
- Registration is not "first come first serve" and students are assigned at random based on their selected preferences.
- If you are assigned to an activity, of any preference, students are expected to attend.
- Once ASAs begin, students will have 2 weeks to decide if they would like to stay in the activity. Afterwards, they will remain on the attendance list and no refunds can be made for chargeable activities.
The grade 8 girls’ volleyball team hosted Shoreline and Glanford on Wednesday. Their first game was against Glanford. Our team won the first set but lost the second (21-17; 8-21). The second game was against Shoreline and our team won both sets (21-14; 22-10) in a tightly contested match.
On the night, we won three sets and lost one. A very good result. This was the first time using our new system in a game. The girls did very well putting the new system into practice. Mr. Turkington was particularly pleased that the team was able to increase the number of attacks (spikes) in these two games. Well done, team!
The team’s next (and last set of games) is on Friday and Saturday when they compete in the Royal Bay Rumble Volleyball Tournament against some of the strongest teams in the city. 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
- Spring Fling BBQ Thursday March 13th, 2025 - 3.30 to 5.30 pm
- The last week of Term 2 ASAs is March 3rd - 7th. There will be no ASAs during the week of March 10th - 14th.
- Last day of school before the Spring Break is Friday, March 14th - regular dismissal time at 3:20 pm.
- Term 2 Learning Update will be issued on April 4th.
- Finding a Balance with Digital Technology with Shannon Husk at 4pm on April 8th (more details and registration coming next week).
- Parent-Teacher conferences will be on April 10th and 17th from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. Early dismissal at 2 pm and no ASAs on both days.
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.
