On Friday staff and new dorm students and parents spent the day getting to know each other and strengthening the connection between school and families.
Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,
September has arrived, and the Brookes Westshore campus is almost in full swing. This week we welcomed faculty and staff, new students and families, and various agents to campus, and it felt phenomenal to have even more people together. The quiet anticipation has become a gryphon roar, and we are ready to go.
Connection is at the heart of a thriving school community. As we begin a month exploring the themes of connection and open-mindedness, it has been wonderful to see these ideas in action already across Brookes Westshore. This week has been filled with opportunities to welcome and connect: greeting new dorm students, orientating new families, introducing parents and students to their teachers, and welcoming new staff members to our community. The spirit of connection will continue this weekend as our boarding students take part in activities that encourage new friendships, shared experiences, and a strong sense of belonging in their new home away from home.
This week’s newsletter contains logistical information and reminders for the 2026-27 start-up, so please take a moment to review in preparation for Tuesday. We can’t wait to welcome you and your child(ren) to campus this week – if we haven't met yet, I look forward to connecting at the Welcome Back BBQ on Wednesday!
Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa Ziebart
Principal
Where to go on your first day
- Grade 4 - room 211 & 212 (see noticeboard on arrival)
- Grade 5 - room 217 & 218 (see noticeboard on arrival)
- Grade 6/MYP1 - room 203 & 207 (see noticeboard on arrival)
- Grade 7/MYP2 - room 206
- Grade 8/MYP3 - room 122 & 205 (see noticeboard on arrival)
- Grade 9/MYP4 - room 202
- Grade 10/MYP5 – 204
- Grade 11-12 / DP - gym
Grades 4 and 5: Pick up on Friday
On Friday, September 11th we will be holding our House Opening Ceremonies at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre. Please pick up your child/children at 3.20pm at Brookes to allow them to fully participate in the House Opening Ceremonies.
Childcare at the Start of Term
The Grade 4 and 5 Discovery Program will start the week of September 15th, and ASA activities will start September 22nd. We will have optional childcare available for students in grade 4 - MYP1 for these two weeks until 5pm at a cost of $100 per week. Please email Jacob at jbaumgartner@westshore.brookes.org to reserve a space.
School Uniform
We understand that a few families will not have received all their uniform items from Top Marks in time for the start of school. Not to worry - if you can please substitute items that match our uniform as closely as possible (eg dark blue hoodies and sweatpants) or dress in smart casual wear we would be very grateful. Thank you.
School Supplies - Update
We noticed an inconsistency in our messaging around school supplies. To clarify:
A scientific calculator is required for MYP3–4 (Grades 8–9).
MYP5 (Grade 10) and DP students require a graphing calculator - which can be purchased directly from the school.
School Technology
ManageBac and SchoolsBuddy are the platforms we use for sharing academic information and for signing up for school events and trips.
You will have received an email this week from ManageBac and SchoolsBuddy asking you to set a password and log in to your account.
Click below for step-by-step guides for signing up to these platforms.
A Reminder of our Cell Phone Policy
If a Grade 4-5 student has a cell phone, they are encouraged to leave them at home.
Students in Grades 4 to 8 are not allowed to use their cell phones during school.
If you need to contact your student, please call front desk 250-929-0506.
Grades 9 to 12 students who choose to bring phones to school can only use phones during designated times and in designated places.
Designate times: Before 8:30am, 12.20 - 12.55pm, after school or after ASAs, and during designated study blocks (DP1&2).
Designated areas: Outside lower courtyard and Student Lounge Areas (RRU).
Strictly No Phone Areas – Classrooms, Reception, Gym, Bathrooms, Dining Hall, and off campus activities.
MYP4 – DP2 classes will have designated Phone Hotels; students are required to place their phone in the hotel at the beginning of each lesson.
If students use phones outside of the designated times or areas, the phones will be confiscated by a member of staff and stored at the front desk. Students can collect phones at the end of the day.
Should issues persist, a parent meeting will be called.
If a parent wants to get in touch with their child, please call the front desk on 250 929 0506
Considerations
Students who need to call or receive calls from parents to arrange pick up can do so, but must wait in the outside lower courtyard
Phones are not allowed in ASA's (After School Activities) unless specifically requested by the ASA leader
Photos, videos, and audio recordings are not permitted during phone time (unless with express permission).
No alternative arrangements will be made due to inclement weather
Welcome Back BBQ - Wednesday, September9th
We are looking forward to seeing you all at the Welcome Back BBQ on Wednesday, September 3rd from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Please let us know if you are coming: RSVP. Thank you.
For parents of Grades 4 and 5 students we will be hosting a Meet the Teacher session from 2:40 pm to 3:30 pm in the classrooms on Wednesday, September 9th before the Welcome Back BBQ.
Term 1 After School Activities
Getting involved in After School Activities (ASAs) is a great way to support your mind, body, and overall wellbeing. ASAs give students a chance to step away from the classroom, stay active, explore their creativity, learn new skills, and connect with other students who share similar interests. Whether you are trying something completely new or continuing with something you already enjoy, there is something for everyone!
Our ASAs are connected to the IB's Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) and offer a variety of opportunities depending on your age. Some fun examples this term include Tennis, School Band, Art, Oxygen Fitness, Spanish for Travelers, Blacksmithing, and more!
Registration is available through the SchoolsBuddy app and will be open for one week, so please make sure to sign up during this period.
Registration opens: Wednesday, September 9th at 3:30pm
Registration closes: Wednesday, September 16th at midnight
ASA Start Date: Monday, September 21st
If you have any issues with SchoolsBuddy, please contact Aija Salvador at aijasalvador@westshore.brookes.org
MYP1-5 Outdoor Education
This year, Brookes Westshore is excited to introduce Outdoor Education for Grades 6–10, a new program that takes Physical and Health Education beyond the gym and into the outdoors. Students will develop practical skills, stay active year-round, and learn how to confidently and responsibly explore the environment around them.
Students will learn by doing. Whether they are finding their way through an orienteering course, learning how to safely prepare for a day on the trail, exploring shoreline ecology, participating in an outdoor sport/activity, or working together to build an outdoor shelter, students will be challenged to problem-solve, communicate, and become more confident in the outdoors.
Outdoor Education is designed to complement our PHE program by providing students with meaningful opportunities for physical activity, personal development, leadership, teamwork, and lifelong active living, while taking advantage of the incredible outdoor environment right here in Victoria.
More information is coming soon! Outdoor Education teacher Ms. Redden will be sending emails through ManageBac this weekend with more details about the new program, including information on what students can expect and how they can prepare for the year ahead.
Active Living and Outdoor Leadership
Brookes Westshore is also introducing a new course for our Grade 11 students: Active Living and Outdoor Leadership.
Led by Ms. Redden, this course combines fitness, outdoor education, wellness, and leadership through a mix of practical and hands-on experiences.
Students will have opportunities to explore the beautiful outdoors of Victoria through outdoor education and outdoor physical activity and will learn to develop personal fitness goals at a fitness centre. The course also covers topics such as exercise science, personal training, food and nutrition, and lifelong fitness and wellness.
Students will develop practical skills, leadership experience, and certifications while discovering ways to stay active and healthy beyond high school.
No previous athletic experience is required! Just an interest in being active, trying new things, and getting outside.
School Safety - Drop Off
For the safety of our students, we ask that parents dropping off their children in the morning follow these guidelines as far as possible:
- Pull into the school parking lot using the first access/entrance.
- Pull in and drop off your child (please do not park in the parking spots as this then requires reversing out of the spot).
- Exit the parking lot by the second access/entrance and continue down Colwood Crescent towards Save On Foods.
We hope that this protocol will reduce the congestion on the corner of Colwood Crescent and make the morning drop-off as smooth as possible for everyone. We are working on signage for the parking lot.
Thank you for your cooperation – we know that student safety is as important to you as it is to us.
School Trip Sign Up
Our amazing school trips provide valuable opportunities for students to explore new destinations, strengthen friendships, and engage in meaningful learning experiences outside the classroom.
The deadline to sign-up for trips is fast approaching!
It is important to sign up for trips early to support us with planning and logistics, including accommodation and group organization. Registration is open - new students will be able to register during orientation and the first week of school.
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
Sign up and Payment for all school trips will be through the SchoolsBuddy app.
If you have any questions, please contact rnonni@westshore.brookes.org.
Volleyball Tryouts and Practice!
All Grade 11 and 12 boys interested in playing Senior Boys Volleyball this year must attend practice on Thursday, September 10th from 3:30 - 5:00pm in the Gym.
Grade 9 - 12 girls interested in playing volleyball this year are invited to tryout on Thursday, September 10th from 5:00 - 6:30pm in the Gym.
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 and 5 Coordinator
- Kate Barton - MYP and Personal Project Coordinator
- Linda Bayes - DP Coordinator & University Counsellor
- Charissa Heagy - Director of Residence
- 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.
