Our campus in the beautiful spring sunshine.

Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,

As this busy week comes to an end, we are looking ahead with excitement to a full week of celebration next week.

On Monday, we will begin by celebrating sports at our Athletic Awards Ceremony. It is a meaningful time to recognize the effort, growth, and teamwork our students have shown throughout the season.

Thursday is all about celebrating learning. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our Student-Led Conferences. It is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their progress and take pride in their work. A reminder that it will be an early dismissal day at 2 pm.

Then on Friday, we come together to celebrate community at our Spring Fling BBQ and Silent Auction. It is one of those events that really brings everyone together in a fun and relaxed way.

We are also excited that Term 3 ASAs begin next week. Thank you to Ms. Aija and Ms. Rachel for the time and care put into organizing these wonderful opportunities for our students!

We look forward to sharing these moments together, and to celebrating the spirit and strong sense of community that make our school such a special place!

With gratitude,

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

• Term 3 ASAs start next week! See the list of activities here.
• Monday, April 13th - Student Athletic Awards Ceremony (see below for details - families welcome!)
• Thursday, April 16th - Student led / Parent Teacher Conferences. Please note early dismissal at 2 pm 
• Friday, April 17th - Spring Fling and Silent Auction
  • There will also be a Used Uniform Sale during the Spring Fling!
• 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
• Friday, May 22nd - Graduation 2026

Spring Fling with Silent Auction - April 17th

Spring is in the air, and our April 17th Spring Fling is almost here!

We’re gearing up for an unforgettable afternoon of fun, community, and celebration and we’d love your help in making our Silent Auction the best it can be.

Silent Auction Donations: Help Us Build Something Amazing

We’re curating a fantastic lineup of items for this year’s Silent Auction, and contributions from our community truly make the difference. We are gratefully accepting:

• Unique or handcrafted items
• Gift certificates
• Themed gift baskets
• Special experiences
• Creative surprises of any kind

Every donation helps elevate the event and supports our school community in meaningful ways.

Planning to Attend? Please Let Us Know

Spring Fling is free to attend, and everyone is welcome. To help us prepare the right amount of food for the BBQ, we kindly ask that you sign up in advance. Your RSVP ensures we can plan a great day for everyone.

We look forward to seeing you there!

As an added bonus - we will be hosting a Used Uniform Sale during the Spring Fling! 

Parent Teacher Conferences - Thursday, April 16th

Sign-up is open!

Two different formats of conferences will take place depending on which grade your child is in.

• Grade 4 - 5 and MYP1 - 3 (Grade 6 - 8) will be student-led conferences held at Brookes Westshore
• MYP4 - DP2 (Grade 9 - 12) will be held virtually on SchoolsBuddy.

MYP4 - DP2 (Grade 9 - 12): Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences via SchoolsBuddy on April 16th

• Meetings will take place virtually on SchoolsBuddy. 
• Meeting links can be found in your booking confirmation email, or within the meeting calendar entries within SchoolsBuddy. 
• Once you start the meeting, you will have 12 minutes with the teacher, and the meeting will automatically end after this time. 
• If you would like to arrange an in-person interview instead, please continue to book your virtual session on SchoolsBuddy and contact the teacher directly to make arrangements afterwards. The in-person meeting duration will remain the same as the scheduled virtual conference time on SchoolsBuddy.
• If you have arranged a translator for the conference or would like to request one, please contact frontdesk@westshore.brookes.org after you book your sessions on SchoolsBuddy to receive additional instructions. We will do our best to accommodate but we cannot guarantee a translator will be available. 
• If the teacher can't hear or see you (upon starting the meeting)
  • Web Browser: Check the address bar for a muted microphone or camera icon. Click to allow.
  • iPhone App: Check the Settings app > Privacy & Security and ensure SchoolsBuddy is allowed to use microphone/camera.

MYP1 - 3 (Grade 6 - 8): Student Led Conferences will be held at Brookes Westshore on April 16th

• Meetings will be held at Brookes Westshore and will take place over 20 minute sessions in a group-setting with up to 4 families per classroom.
• Room number will be designated on meeting confirmation or SchoolsBuddy calendar entry.

Grade 4 - 5: Student Led Conferences will be held at Brookes Westshore on April 16th

• Meetings will be held at Brookes Westshore and will take place over 15-minute sessions in a group-setting with up to 4 families per classroom.
• Room number will be designated on meeting confirmation or SchoolsBuddy calendar entry.

General Information

• Upon booking the conferences you will receive a confirmation email with your scheduled times. The conference will also be available in your SchoolsBuddy calendar.
• After booking, double check that you have received your confirmation email or can see the SchoolsBuddy calendar entry for your meeting. 
• If you are unable to book your conference or view booking confirmation, please contact frontdesk@westshore.brookes.org with a detailed description of the problem. 
• For detailed step by step instructions for booking, click here

A Spring of Connection, Classroom Community, and Creativity

The first weeks of school this spring have been full of energy, curiosity, and connection. As the days grow longer and brighter, our classrooms have been buzzing with thoughtful discussion, hands‑on inquiry, and collaboration -especially among our younger students, who have jumped eagerly back into learning together.

Throughout these early weeks, the focus has been on reinforcing our strong classroom communities. Whether working in small groups, sharing ideas, or tackling complex questions together, students have been reconnecting with one another after the break and rediscovering the joy of learning side by side. Recent classroom learning has explored topics such as the greenhouse effect and climate systems, alongside rich discussions grounded in Indigenous perspectives, as well as reading recommendations from our many avid readers. These learning experiences invite students to think critically about the world around them while also reflecting on multiple ways of knowing.

This work strongly reflects the IB Learner Profile. Students are developing as Inquirers as they ask questions and investigate real‑world issues, Thinkers as they analyze scientific and social concepts, and Communicators as they collaborate and share their ideas with peers. Through respectful engagement with Indigenous perspectives, they are also growing as Open‑minded and Caring learners, deepening their understanding of diverse viewpoints and the importance of stewardship and community.

Just as importantly, there has been a noticeable sense of enjoyment and wellbeing in the classroom spaces. Laughter, creativity, and focused effort have gone hand in hand, reminding us that meaningful learning happens best when students feel connected, supported, and inspired.

As we continue into the spring term, we are also looking forward to welcoming our wider community back onto campus. Please join us next week for our Spring Fling BBQ, a wonderful opportunity to come together, celebrate the season, and reconnect as a school community. We look forward to seeing families, students, and friends enjoying good food, conversation, and the vibrant spirit that makes our campus such a special place.

Spring is well underway, and with it comes a renewed sense of possibility - inside our classrooms and beyond.

The SLC Student Welfare Committee loves celebrating our amazing students! 

Kobe and Kingsley at the senior track and field meet at UVIC.

Lyla and Mr. Turkington in the rain at the senior track and field meet last week.

Athletic Awards Ceremony

The second annual Brookes Westshore Athletic Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday, April 13th from 3:30-4:30pm in the Dining Hall.

This event is a celebration of the dedication, teamwork, and achievements of our student-athletes throughout the 2025–2026 season.

All students who participated on a Brookes athletic team this year are warmly invited to attend. MVP, Heart of a Champion, as well as Junior and Senior Athlete of the Year awards will be presented in recognition of the outstanding achievements of our student-athletes. We will also be acknowledging our grade 12 athletes who will be graduating this year.

Students, please use the QR code on the poster to RSVP.

We look forward to celebrating another fantastic year of Brookes athletics with 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

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.