Personal Project Expo from 2025 in full swing - to whet your appetite for this year's event on Wednesday, April 29th (see below for details).

Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,

This week, our students took part in a meaningful Earth Day Environmental Challenge. Each class explored small, practical ways to care for our environment. A big thank you to our DP1 student, Gurjas, for bringing energy and ideas to this initiative, and to Mr. B for supporting Gurjas in organizing the activity. It is a great example of how service can grow out of simple, everyday actions.

Our DP2 students will begin their IB exams next week, making an important milestone in their IB journey. These exams serve both as preparation for future studies and as a meaningful recognition of the hard work, skills, and perseverance our students have demonstrated throughout the programme. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and wish them confidence, balance, and success in the weeks ahead!

I hope to see you at next Wednesday's MYP Personal Project Exhibition - see below for details.

With gratitude,

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

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We are still hoping to hear from a few more voices before we close the survey. If you haven’t yet had a chance, it should only take a couple of minutes to complete, and your perspective would be genuinely valuable in helping us shape how we communicate with families.

The survey will close shortly, so we would be grateful if you’re able to share your thoughts.

• Wednesday, April 29th - Personal Project Exhibition (see below for details)
• 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
• Monday, May 18th to Thursday, 21st May - Grade 8 and DP1 Strathcona Park Trip
• Friday, May 22nd - Graduation 2026

MYP Personal Project Exhibition – Invitation to Attend

We are pleased to invite all MYP 5 parents to attend the upcoming Personal Project Exhibition, a culminating experience of the IB Middle Years Programme. The exhibition will take place on Wednesday, April 29th, during Block 5 from 14.00 - 15.20, in the Dining Hall at Brookes Westshore.

Parents of our boarding students are warmly encouraged to organize a personal live video call with their child and family to celebrate and experience the exhibition virtually.

The invitation is also extended to interested community members who would like to learn more about this significant component of the MYP. Please note that Grade 9 students will be attending the exhibition as part of their learning experience.

We look forward to celebrating our students’ learning, growth, and achievements with our school community.

Thank You for a Wonderful Spring Fling!

Thank you to all the families who joined us for the Spring Fling and Silent Auction last Friday. It was a joyful evening filled with connection, laughter, and a strong sense of community and it was wonderful to see so many people come together to support a meaningful cause.

Thanks to your generosity, we raised nearly $6,000, which will go directly toward supporting our Ukrainian scholarship students as they prepare to graduate and take on the exciting challenge of university life in Canada.

Your support makes a real difference, and we are deeply grateful for the care and commitment shown by our community. Thank you for helping our students take their next steps with confidence and hope.

Ms. Jesse was very happy to have the winning bid for this quilt!

Grade 7 students (Oliver, Jet, and George) gave an amusing, informative, and very well thought through presentation on the Saalish Sea and the whales who call it home as part of their Earth Week project.

Earth Week at Brookes: Small Actions, Big Impact

Our school community marked Earth Day this week with learning, reflection, and action that highlighted our shared responsibility to care for the planet.

Throughout Earth Week, students across grade levels explored environmental themes such as sustainability, conservation, and climate responsibility through classroom activities, discussions, and creative projects.

Earth Week encouraged students not only to learn about environmental issues, but to think about how everyday choices, like reducing waste, caring for shared spaces, and acting thoughtfully, can make a real difference. Working together, students showed that protecting the planet is a collective effort rooted in awareness, compassion, and action.

A key highlight of the week was the Brookes Environmental Challenge, which recognizes students who have worked on a project that demonstrates commitment to, and action around, environmental stewardship. This award celebrates students who lead by example through initiative, advocacy, and responsible choices, reminding us that meaningful change often starts with individuals who care deeply.

While Earth Week has come to an end, its message continues. The ideas and habits fostered during the week will carry forward as we support our students in becoming informed, caring, and responsible global citizens.

MYP4s went on Earth Day nature walks in French this week - taking on some French language tasks, observing nature, and trying a little silent meditation. We are so lucky that our classrooms extend out into the natural world.

As part of Earth Day, students watched the inspiring story of two high school students in Vancouver who are working on a biochemical solution to plastic waste: "In Love with the Problem".

House Pride in Action: Celebrating Who We Are

At the heart of our school community beats our Houses - a year‑long celebration of everything that makes our students exceptional. Every student belongs to one of four houses (Orca, Lynx, Wolf, or Eagle) and together they form the backbone of school spirit, connection, and friendly competition.

Throughout the year, house points are awarded to recognize the very best of student life. Teachers spotlight moments that matter: an act of kindness, a display of integrity, leadership, or perseverance, or a student living out the values of the IB Learner Profile. These points are about more than achievement, they’re about character, contribution, and care for others. They remind us that everyday actions help shape a thriving, supportive community.

House points also come alive during larger, school-wide events. Whether it’s a hard‑fought volleyball match, Sports Day, or Fun Friday activities, these moments bring students together across grade levels and backgrounds. 

The House system celebrates all aspects of school life - academic effort, creativity, service, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Everyone has a chance to contribute, and every contribution counts. A quiet act of generosity earns just as much respect as a winning goal.

And of course, there’s the ultimate prize: at the end of the year, the house with the most points earns the coveted House Cup and a pizza party - a well‑deserved celebration shared by every member of the winning house. But more than pizza, the real reward is the sense of belonging, pride, and shared achievement built along the way.

Mr. Thom's PHE class challenge themselves with the "Goose Run" - a timed run from the school to the bridge and back on the Galloping Goose Trail (just over 1 km). Will someone please beat Mr. Thom's time!?

Every day students from across the grades come together in the courtyard to practice their volleyball skills (and have fun together).

A local heron arrived in time for Earth Day this week - we are so grateful for the pristine natural environment that surrounds our school.

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.