East Sooke Park 2022 Slideshow (photos by Raymond)

Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends.

It was so lovely to see so many of you at our school on Monday evening. It has been too long since we have had students, staff, families, and friends all together on campus. I hope you were all able to chat with teachers and your fellow parents and felt welcomed and happy to be here.

The start of a school year is always a little hectic – students finding their feet in their new grade, parents adjusting to the schedule, and new and returning staff working together for the first time. I am delighted that this year has been as smooth a start as I have known. My thanks to everyone involved.

Please read this newsletter carefully – there are some important updates (Monday is a holiday!), information about camping trips, how you can volunteer with our CAS programme, and of course some great photos of our first full week back.

With kind regards,

Jerry Salvador

Head of School

Students gather around the chess boards for some friendly competition and banter.

As I am sure you know, the Prime Minister and the Premier of BC have announced that Canada will mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a national day of mourning on Monday, September 19^th. 

As such, schools in BC will be closed and there will be no classes or ASAs on Monday, September 19th.   

The MYP 3 Camping Trip will still leave on Monday morning at 7.45am. 

Please note that the school is also closed for classes on Friday, September 30^th to honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Teachers will attend a professional development workshop on Indigenous ways of knowing as well as a session on the IB programme evaluation.

Photo Release Form for Returning Families

We have updated our photo release form for families this year and need our returning families to complete the form so we are able to share the amazing things that happen at Brookes Westshore with you, and with prospective families. Thank you!

Please complete the form here.

Creativity, Action and Service (CAS)

Our Students Need You!

We are looking for parents who are willing to volunteer to supervise one or more students while they undertake their IB CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) project.

If you have a great idea for a service project, and the connections to make it happen, then we would love to hear from you! As a Volunteer Service Supervisor you will guide the student/s through their service, support them as needed, and work with them as they reflect on their experience.  

Please contact Erin Sask, our CAS Coordinator, if you think this is a role for you.

A typical project is an hour a week and runs for a term/10 weeks. Some examples of possible projects include:

• working with youth or elderly or those needing assistance 
• learning a new skill
• helping on a farm
• helping a new business venture
• interacting with the community at local events or charities
• helping with environmental organizations

If you haven't completed the Hornby Island/Tribune Bay waiver form, please download it here and return to Aija by email.

Thank you!

Evening in the dorms and some delicious treats!

Today (Friday) is the last day to sign up for ASAs!

ASAs start on Tuesday, September 20th (Monday is a holiday)

We are also looking for more sign-ups for the activities below to make these ASAs possible!

• Monday Gr 4/5 Hip Hop 3:30 - 4:15pm 
• Monday Gr 6-8 Hip Hop 4:14 - 5:15pm
• Tuesday Roller skating Gr 4-8 3:30  -  4:30pm 
• Tuesday Roller skating Gr 9-12 4:30 - 5:30pm
• Tuesday MYP2-4 Software Development with Python -1 (Coding) 3:30 - 4:30pm 
• Wednesday MYP5 - DP2 Software Development with Python 2 (Coding) 4:00 - 5:00pm 

Brookes Rowing Team Update

We are happy to announce that we have enough students to make a rowing team along with parent driver volunteers! Thank you, parents!

The season will begin next week on Tuesday and the total cost for the term is $256.00. 

Practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00pm at the Gorge Rowing Club.

If you would like to sign up but haven't yet, please contact Ms. Aija and she will send you the registration steps to be completed before Tuesday.

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.

Celebrating Cultures Around the World

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. 

School picture day will be on Thursday, September 29th!

Should you miss this, photo re-take day will be on Wednesday, November 16th  

Student Leadership Council members coordinate some games with our younger students.

MYP 5 Science

Key Concept: Relationships

Related Concepts: Energy, Transformation

Statement of inquiry: Relationships are driven by energy that is both transformed and transformative. 

Investigation Inquiry Question: How can we manipulate the energy of a toy car so that we can control its motion and consistently determine its average speed?

This was the question posed to the MYP 5 students in Science class this week. In groups they strategized the best way to move a toy car a certain distance efficiently, accurately, and consistently. They practiced taking good measurements and controlling variables to help make sure that their trials were reliable. Now they will summarize their work in a detailed investigation report, ending with an evaluation reflection on how well they did as a group and what they might do differently next time.

At Brookes Westshore we are inquirers, thinkers, and communicators!  

Library Visit Program and Daily Reading Block

To empower our students to be independent readers and learners, our Grade 4-8 students have a 30-min daily reading block and Grade 4-9 students will start the library visit program next week.

Grade 4-5 students will visit the JDF Library branch bi-weekly and MYP 1-3 students monthly.

The goals of the library Visit Program are to let students experience the environment of the library which inspires the love of reading, to familiarize students with the variety of books and resources available at the public library, and to improve their research skills.

Students can select their own books to read in their daily reading block. They also learn to be responsible for returning their library books on time.

Parents, please help your students get a library card if they do not have one through this website and ask them to tell you about the books they picked at the library!

House logos designed by Ben

Brookes Westshore Houses

The Brookes Westshore house system enables students to build relationships outside of grade boundaries, grow school spirit, and have loads of fun. When students arrive at the school, they are placed into one of the four houses: Eagle, Lynx, Orca or Wolf.

Throughout the year, students earn points for their house by completing challenges, participating in events, and displaying the qualities of the IB Learner Profile. 

This year we are excited to announce that we have added student Heads of House to our school house system. The following 4 DP2 (grade 12) students will be taking on the responsibility for term 1 and we will be looking into adding a second student for term 2. 

Here are your Heads of House:

• Eagle House: Marcela
• Lynx House: Brandon
• Orca House: Kesonnia
• Wolf House: Adam

Bowling at Langford Lanes

Weekend Activities - September 16th to 18th

• Friday 7:30pm Mexican Independence Day Party
  • Make your own Authentic Tacos & Music in Common Room 1
• Saturday 8:00pm Spa Night in Common Room 4 

• Sunday 2:15pm WildPlay meet in Cm. Room 1 
  • Sign up closes on Wednesday, Sept 14th
• Sunday 8:00pm - Haircuts by Ms. Thia!
  • Sign Up in Activities Book Common Room 1 
• Monday 1:30pm - Swimming at the pool,  meet in Cm Rm 1
  • Sign Up in Activities Book Common Room 1