Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,

Welcome back!

I hope that you have all had a wonderful summer and you are feeling refreshed and ready for another school year to begin. I am so happy to officially be a part of the Brookes Westshore community and am excited for what is to come. Over the last three weeks I have had the privilege of spending time with various staff, all in preparation for the upcoming school year. As I continue to get situated, I am grateful to each person I have collaborated with, as they have helped me to deepen my understanding of Brookes Westshore – what we do, why we do it, and where we can grow. There is positive collective energy around this opportunity for reflection and renewal, and I continue to be optimistic about this coming school year. As more staff and faculty have returned to campus this week, there has been a quiet anticipation for the school year to begin. We know that the best magic happens when students return; while we are all focused on getting the pieces in place, we are also really looking forward to welcoming everyone back to campus and getting into the community and school year flow. I am confident that we are going to do great things together. Until then, please enjoy the rest of summer in the ways that provide joy, connection, and whatever else you seek. We can’t wait to see you soon.

With gratitude,

Dr. Lisa Ziebert

Principal

If you missed our communication earlier in the week about our exciting new partnership with Children of the Island early learning centre, please click here to read it in full.

Key Dates for new boarding students:

Thursday, September 3rd: Campus open for check-in and room visits (9:30am–4:30pm)

Friday, September 4th: Formal Orientation Day for new students and parents (9:00am – 4:00pm)

Monday September 7th: All boarding students must be on campus by 4:00pm

Tuesday September 8th: First day of school!

For the full orientation schedule please click here.

New Day Parent Orientation

We would like to invite all new day student parents to the school for a 1-hour orientation session prior to school starting. These sessions will provide parents with an opportunity to meet the teachers, learn about the software programs used for reporting and communication and find out more about daily life at Brookes Westshore. 

This session will be a great chance to ask questions and meet other parents and guardians who are new to our school community. We find this session works best if parents can focus on the information - please try and find childcare if at all possible. 

Wednesday, September 2nd

• Grades 4-5: 1:00-2:00pm
• Grades 6-12: 2:30-3:30pm

Please note new students will have their own orientation on the first day of school. Students are expected to arrive for the first day in school uniform and will be shown where to go to class and meet their grade level leaders. Students will receive their timetable, school IT login information and learn about school policies and guidelines during this orientation.

School Supplies

Grades 4 & 5: All necessary supplies are provided by the school.

Grade 6 (MYP1) and above: Please send your student with the following basic supplies:

• Binder
• Lined and graph paper
• Pencil case
• Ruler
• Pencils
• Black and blue gel or ballpoint pens
• Highlighter
• Eraser and pencil sharpener

All students: We recommend a permanent marker or name tags for personal items and uniform pieces.

A scientific calculator is required for MYP3–5 (Grades 8–10).

In the Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12), a graphing calculator is required. These can be purchased from the school.

For students in MYP2 (Grade 7) and above, a Windows or Mac laptop with a full day's battery life is expected. Please bring a charger if needed. Microsoft Office 365 is provided by the school. Limited IT support is available for student-owned devices.

LEGO Engineering - thank you (and we need more)!

We are excited to expand our after-school programming for Grade 4/5 students next year and are looking to build a LEGO collection to support a new LEGO Engineering ASA and stop-motion animation projects.

We have gratefully accepted LEGO donations over the summer - and we still need more!  We are happy to have LEGO of all kinds, including complete sets, incomplete sets, and loose bricks and pieces. Any and all donations will be gratefully received and can be dropped off at the school’s front desk.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping us create engaging, hands-on learning opportunities!

School Trip Update

Our amazing school trips provide valuable opportunities for students to explore new destinations, strengthen friendships, and engage in meaningful learning experiences outside the classroom.

It is important to sign up for trips early to secure your spot and to support us with planning and logistics, including accommodation and group organization. Registration will be open soon for all trips!

Fall 2026 Trip Dates:

• Gr 4/5 – September 17th – Camp Imadene
• MYP1 (Gr 6) – September 18th – Camp Imadene
• MYP2 (Gr 7) – September 16th – Camp Imadene
• MYP3 (Gr 8) – September 21st – 23rd – Camp Potlatch
• MYP4 (Gr 9) – September 30th – October 2nd – Camp Qwanoes
• MYP5 (Gr 10) – September 14th – 16th – East Sooke
• DP2 (Gr 12) – October 2nd – 4th – Salt Spring Island
• DP1 (gr 11) - October 19th - 21st - Camp Imadene

If you have any questions, please contact rnonni@westshore.brookes.org.

Spring Break 2027 – Japan Cultural Experience Trip

For Students in Grades 8–12

We are so excited about our Spring Break 2027 trip to Japan for students in Grades 8–12 - an unforgettable opportunity to explore one of the world’s most fascinating countries through culture, connection, and adventure.

This educational and cultural experience will allow students to:

• Build global awareness and intercultural understanding
• Experience daily life and traditions in Japan
• Strengthen international friendships and connections
• Develop independence, confidence, and global citizenship
• Create lifelong memories with classmates and teachers

Trip Highlights

Students can look forward to an amazing itinerary featuring:

• Tokyo Disneyland / Disney Resort experience
• Riding Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains
• Exploring the excitement and energy of downtown Tokyo
• Experiencing the beauty of Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season
• Cultural visits, local cuisine, shopping, and historical sites
• Opportunities to connect with the Saku Chosei school community

Japan offers a perfect blend of ancient tradition and modern innovation, giving students a truly immersive global experience unlike any other.

More details regarding dates, costs, and itinerary can be found in the video slideshow above (narrated by our own Mr. B, who will be one of the staff chaperones on the trip).

We encourage interested students and families to begin considering this exciting opportunity now. We look forward to sharing this remarkable journey with our students!

Over the summer we celebrated the outstanding achievement of our International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme students.

Brookes students who were awarded the IB Diploma achieved an average score of 34 points! With an average subject grade of over 5 points, this is the strongest IB Diploma performance in Brookes' history!

This year's results included an outstanding 44-point IB Diploma, a testament to the dedication and ambition of our students. As the Class of 2026 embarks on the next stage of their journey, we look forward to seeing them thrive at outstanding universities across Canada and around the world.

These exceptional results reflect the hard work of our students, the expertise and commitment of our teachers, and the unwavering support of our families. This is the strongest set of IB results Brookes has ever achieved, and we couldn't be prouder.

Congratulations to all our graduating Class of 2026! Whether students completed the full IB Diploma Programme or pursued individual IB Courses, each has reached this milestone through determination, resilience and hard work. We are proud of every graduate and of the achievements that have brought them to this moment. Your hard work has paid off, and we can't wait to see where your journey takes you next.

Congratulations also to our staff and families - we know this success is something our entire community has achieved together.

Reminder: you can purchase new uniform items for next school year here.

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:

• Dr. Lisa Ziebart - School Principal
• Andrea Salvador - Executive Director of Administration and Operations
• 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.