Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

As ever, the first week of term has gone by in a flash! I have been delighted to see our new students mixing with our returning students, older students helping younger ones find their way, and our new and returning staff working so well together – focused on making sure the first week lays a great foundation for the year. My thanks to everyone involved in all the hard work that goes into opening a school year – our dorm staff, drivers, cleaners, maintenance crew, the Sage Dining team, our faculty and staff. And to our parents and families – thank you for entrusting your children to our care and to a Brookes education. I am excited for the coming year and all the opportunities that it will bring!

With kind regards,

Jerry Salvador

Head of School

Teachers and staff are ready for a new term!

Dear Brookes Westshore families, 

The first week of school is always an exciting time for students as they make new friends and are introduced to the learning opportunities they will experience over the year. Teachers are hard at work to ensure students receive  rich and engaging learning experiences. 

As you know, we use an online learning platform called ManageBac which provides communication with parents about units of inquiry, grades, attendance and learning experiences.  All parents should have received a link from ManageBac to set up their account.  If you are experiencing difficulties establishing your account, please contact Mr. Grant .

Here is a link to a ManageBac tutorial for parents which outlines how parents can navigate the programme. This link provides written instructions and a great video. 

ManageBac is also used for attendance and we encourage all parents to send attendance excusals via ManageBac. 

I am looking forward to seeing parents at the BBQ on September 12th.  

Linda Bayes

Deputy Head of School

Welcome Back BBQ 

We are looking forward to seeing you at the Welcome Back BBQ on Monday,  September12th from 4 - 5:30 pm at the school. 

We will start with a quick welcome from Mr. Jerry Salvador, and introductions to staff, in the dining hall at 4 pm. 

From about 4.15 you can visit with teachers, chat with your fellow parents, or check in with Ms. Aija about ASAs and Mr. Grant about IT in the dining hall,. We will all then enjoy hotdogs in the courtyard.

Please RSVP with the number of people coming (family and siblings welcome!) here.

Please note: Parking is limited at the school - please don't block our neighbours' driveways. Additional paid parking is available next door at Royal Roads University. 

We look forward to seeing you on Monday!

Grade 5 Art class building "Pickle Town" - their class concept of a city.

It has been an exciting week for our teachers to meet the students! All teachers are looking forward to meeting the parents next Monday at the Welcome BBQ.

Throughout the year, we will also host several morning coffee sessions for parents to learn more about the IB education at Brookes Westshore. Please check the Gryphon Gazette for the dates of the upcoming parent information sessions. We will cover the following topics:

IB Education at Brookes Westshore – the Continuum Programmes​

• IB Learner Profile
• Brookes Pillars
• Brookes Westshore House system
• Inquiry-based learning​
• Global context​
• Service​
• International mindedness​

MYP assessments

• Assessment Criteria
• Statement of Inquiry (SOI)
• Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills

The structure of Diploma Programme (DP)

• DP Full Diploma vs. Course candidate
• IB Core
• University guidance​

MYP Personal Project​

DP Extended Essay

I look forward to seeing you on Monday,

Rui Li

Vice Principal of Academics

DP Coordinator and DP Chemistry teacher

School Camping Trips Sign Up

Please note: Parents must register through Schoolsbuddy for all camping trips You also need to complete either the Tribune Bay Permission Form or the East Sooke Permission Forms as well. Please print and return or email to the school. 

Deadlines:

• MYP4  Hornby Island - sign up closes September 11th
• MYP3  Hornby Island - sign up closes September 15th
• DP 1/2 East Sooke - sign up closes September 18th
• MYP5  East Sooke - sign up closes September 25th

If you have problems registering with SchoolsBuddy please contact Grant.

If you have any questions about the trips, please contact Aija.

Celebrating Cultures Around the World

Submit Your Favourite Recipe!

This year, our Brookes network of schools will work together to develop a global recipe book housing family favorites from around the world.

With help from you, we hope to bring everyone together through a love of food and a celebration of different cultures.

One of the guiding pillars of Brookes Education Group is  Connectivity. The global recipe book - filled with recipes from around the world - will be digitally shared with all Brookes families later this year.

Please send us one of your favourite recipes. Send to: recipes@brookes.org. 

Uniforms

Please email mgordon@westshore.brookes.org or see Ms Melanie or Ms Brooklyn in the uniform office if you need any more uniform items.

Attention Grade 11 and 12’s! We are having Blazer fitting at lunch time on Tuesday September 13th in the courtyard. 

Please see Ms Melanie who will be there to fit you.

Setting the Stage: Boundaries and Engagement

Part of the process of creating an inclusive performance environment is for students to set their own expectations around participation and engagement. This week Mr. B led the students through a series of activities, including The West Wind Blows, where students actively engaged in formulating questions to learn more about their classmates, and practiced maintaining control of their movement in the classroom. A perfect activity for the start of the year.

Immunization consent packages for grade 6 and 9 students will be sent home at the end of this week.

Please follow the instructions inside the consent package and return the signed consent form to the school in the confidential envelope provided. Please ensure the form is returned to your child’s school no later than Monday, Sept 12, 2022.

Immunizations will be provided at the school for grade 6 and 9 students on Sept 20, 2022.  Immunizations are provided by Island Health Public Health Nurses.

Grade 6: Students in grade 6 will be offered immunizations in at school with the consent of a parent/guardian/representative. Grade 6 students are not immunized without this consent.

Grade 9: Students in grade 9 will be offered immunizations at school with consent of a parent/guardian representative or, if applicable, mature minor consent.  Please discuss the information in the consent package with your child and include them in the decision to provide consent for immunization.

Students in grade 9 can make an informed decision about immunization regardless of their parent/guardian/representative decision to consent or refuse immunization. For more information visit HealthLinkBC: The Infants Act, Mature Minor Consent and Immunization

If you have questions, please contact the West Shore Health Unit at 250-519-3490 or email us at wssookeschoolteam@islandhealth.ca

Sincerely,

The West Shore/Sooke Public Health School Team Nurses

Camping Trips

​​​​​​Tribune Bay Provincial Park - $300

Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Trips to Hornby Island

• MYP4 September 14-16th
• MYP3 September 19th-21st

Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre is located on Hornby Island, nicknamed the “Little Hawaii” of Canada. Our students will embark on a multi-day team building, leadership and outdoor adventure camp at Tribune Bay Provincial Park. This camp provides learning experiences that stimulate, encourage, and challenge each student to discover their potential and expand their abilities to adapt and succeed in a changing world. Students will participate in 4 adventure activities per day, and we will sleep in heated cabins over three days and two nights. 

Adventure Activities: 

• Team building and initiative tasks 
• Ocean adventure - Kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding 
• High adventure - High ropes, rock-climbing, giant’s ladder and the leap of faith 
• Island hikes - Helliwell Bluffs and Lunar Beach 

Becher Bay - ​​East Sooke Campground - $225

• DP 1/2 September 23 - 25th
• MYP5 September 30th - October 2nd

About The Camp

East Sooke Regional Park is one of the most spectacular parks in our region, with over 50 kilometers of trails along the coast and forest. Our campground is located a few hundred meters from Aylard Farm and the stunning sandy beach of Becher Bay. Students will wake up to the view of the ocean from our cabins/tents, paddleboard with professionals, learn from marine biologists, and hike through the magnificent trails of East Sooke Park. The activities planned in this biodiverse park provide our students with a great learning opportunity while bonding with their classmates.

Adventure Activities:

• Team building and leadership activities
• Paddleboarding with professional guides
• Marine ecological tour with environmental biologists
• Participate in multiple East Sooke hikes along the coast and through the forest
• View historic petroglyphs at Alldridge Point

Rowing Opportunity at Brookes Westshore

If you would like to row with the Brookes Westshore team, there is a swim test at 9:00am this Saturday, September 10^th at the Gorge Rowing Club.

Students will be expected to swim the length of the dock (about 20m and at their own pace) they will tread water and be thrown a life jacket to put on while they are in the water.  They will then practice climbing into a safety launch from the water.  Nobody 'fails' the test, rather it is used as a tool for coaches to manage the expectations of the athletes should a boat capsize and for athletes to know what is expected of them should a boat go over.

If we can get enough interest to make a rowing team, our practices will be held on Tuesday and Thursdays from 3:30 - 5:00pm and Sundays as well (we are not sure the time yet)

We are also currently looking for a Brookes rowing coach, if any parents are interested in this position or know someone from the community that may be interested, please contact Aija Salvador at aijasalvador@westshore.brookes.org 

The coach will be in charge of attending information sessions and organizing the team.  

Thank you! 

Hip Hop Dance ASA Opportunity  

Brookes Westshore is interested in bringing the Beat Dance Studio into our facility to offer Hip Hop ASA classes on Mondays for all ages! This upcoming Fall term will be an introduction to Hip Hop dance class where you will learn basic Hip Hop grooves, foundations, technique, and choreography of a short routine. It's a great way to get some exercise, be social, listen to Hip Hop music and have some fun, all while building confidence and learning something new. 

The classes would run on Mondays and on a similar schedule as the below

• Gr 4/5: 3.30 - 4.15  
• MYP1 - 3: 4.15 - 5.15  
• MYP5 - DP1: 5.15 - 6.15  

Cost: Approximately $75.00 per term 

Please email aijasalvador@westshore.brookes.org if your child is interested in this activity. We will need enough student interest to reserve a spot for this September.  

*Please keep in mind that our popular Bouldering (rock climbing) ASA is confirmed to run on Mondays after school from 4:00 - 5:30pm for Grades 4 - MYP2 and MYP3-DP2 will run from 5:30 - 7:00pm. If you are interested in both dance and bouldering, we would still love to hear your feedback regarding your interest in the Hip Hop dance classes.

Weekend Activities September 9th - 11th

• Friday 8:00pm Dorm Party in Common Room 2
  • Music, pool (billiards), snacks and drinks!
• Saturday 2:00pm Soccer game in the gym with Mr Anton
• Saturday 7:15pm Laser Bowling!
  • Must sign up in common room 1 in activities sign up book
  • If you sign up - You must attend this activity or find someone to replace you
  • Bring money if you would like to buy food: pizza, fries, drinks etc!
  • Meet in common room 1 at 7:30pm, bus leaves right away so don't be late!
• Sunday 2:30pm Baking Activity with Ms. Taelor
• Sunday 7:00pm Ice Cream Sundaes in Common Room 1!

Some early photos of today's trip to East Sooke Park - more next week!