Smiles around the campfire on the DP1 trip to Salt Spring Island
Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,
Today is the World Mental Health Day, an important reminder that learning and wellbeing go hand in hand. We invite parents to explore the companion resource for families to support mental health literacy. These resources help families engage in meaningful conversations and build shared understanding.
The term one Interim Learning Update will be issued next Friday (October 17th) through ManageBac. In this interim update, our homeroom advisors will provide a snapshot of students’ work habits and their engagement for the first weeks of school. Please note that this update does not contain grades. Our Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Monday, November 10th (a non-instructional day) and offer an opportunity for families to discuss any questions with teachers directly. Sign up will be through SchoolsBuddy and will open during the week of October 27th (more details to come). The final term one Learning Update will be issued on Friday, December 5th, which will include subject grades and teacher comments.
Wishing everyone a restful and joyful Thanksgiving long weekend! It is a great opportunity for us to pause from our busy routines, appreciate loved ones, and express gratitude for both big and small joys. I am truly grateful for our caring school community. Thank you for all you do each day to make our school a place of growth and kindness!
With gratitude,
Dr. Rui Li
Principal
- Monday, 13th October - Thanksgiving Day (no classes)
- Tuesday, 14th and Friday, 17th October - FSA testing
- Wednesday, 15th October - Immunizations
- Thursday, 16th October - BC Shake Out
- Friday, 17th October - Interim Report Cards issued
- Thursday, 23rd October - MYP3 to DP2 Halloween Dance
- Wednesday, 29th October- Photo Retake Day with Lifetouch
Friday, 31st October - Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest
A slideshow of some of our ASAs in action!
After-School Activities: Learning Beyond the Classroom
We are now in the third week of our After-School Activities (ASA) program, and it has been inspiring to witness the energy, creativity, and enthusiasm our students bring each afternoon. ASAs are a cornerstone of our school community, providing students with meaningful opportunities to connect with peers, explore new interests, and develop their passions in a supportive and dynamic environment.
Guided by the CAS framework, which emphasizes creativity, activity, and service, this program encourages students to engage in meaningful experiences that foster personal growth, curiosity, confidence, and the development of IB Learner Profile attributes such as being principled, caring, and reflective.
This term, we are thrilled to offer 50 diverse activities for students from Grades 4 – DP2. Exciting new offerings include Tennis, the Dungeons and Dragons Club, Tumbling, Podcast and Broadcasting, Hip Hop, and Fun with Films. Returning favourites attracting strong signups include Golf Academy, F.A.M.E (music), Fishing, Soccer, Boxing, Japanese Cooking, Creativity Zone, Model Building, and Swimming.
The Model United Nations ASA are ready to debate global challenges!
These programs empower students to pursue their passions while fostering confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of community. As we begin planning for next term, we warmly welcome your ideas. Students interested in leading an activity or sharing a suggestion are encouraged to stop by and see Ms. Aija - we are always excited to explore fresh and creative ideas!
As well as the ASA program, our boarding students enjoy a rich variety of evening and weekend activities that bring the Brookes community even closer together. From experiencing local culture at the Luxton Fair, to preparing delicious Chinese hotpot, to getting into the festive spirit with Halloween shopping and relaxing over a puzzle game night, these moments create a sense of home away from home. They highlight the importance of balance, friendship, and shared experiences, all key elements of both the IB approach and the Brookes spirit.
Grade 4 and 5 Visual Art
Grade 4 visual arts have finished their introduction to hand sewing with some cute hanging ornaments. We started with 'easy level' circle shapes and progressed into 'harder level' heart and star shapes, with some students taking initiative to experiment even further. This was a chance for students to practice hand-eye coordination with threading the needles, tying knots and spacing out their stitches so the stuffing doesn't fall out later.
Grade 5 visual arts have loved the chance to play with 2D and 3D forms using pipe cleaners for sculpture materials. Some students worked collaboratively, and others had fun building on their individual ideas. Students took initiative to find and include other materials resulting in some unique figurines, including a smore, Minecraft characters, Halloween flowers and a bike!
MYP1 Science
"Mission: Slime Possible" was our Grade 6 scientists’ ultimate chemistry challenge! Students became Inquirers as they tested how different amounts of activator changed their slime’s stretchiness, and Thinkers as they used the particle theory to explain how borax links glue particles together to form a stretchy, bouncy colloid. They showed excellent communication and risk-taking skills by generating a hypothesis to make predictions and refining their methods through trial and error. This hands-on investigation brought our Chemistry unit to life - mixing creativity, curiosity, and collaboration in one gooey, unforgettable lab!
The University of Victoria Admissions team visited DP2 students on Thursday to talk about their programmes, admissions process, and life as a UVic student.
Upcoming University visits to Brookes:
- October 23rd – UVic Engineering and Computer Science
- November 27th – McMaster University
- November 20th – University of Alberta
- November 4th – DP2 students will visit to UBC/Emily Carr
Over the first weeks of school every student had the opportunity to participate in either a day or overnight trip to amazing locations ranging from East Sooke Park to the Sunshine Coast. During these trips, students engaged in a wide range of activities, stepping outside the classroom, exploring new environments, and taking on challenges alongside their peers. For some, it was their first time camping or tenting, adding an extra layer of adventure and personal growth.
Beyond the excitement of these trips, they play an important role in fostering confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. They also support the development of key IB Learner Profile attributes, including being risk-takers, communicators, and balanced. By sharing these experiences within their grade groups, students strengthen connections, build lasting friendships, and contribute to a strong and engaged school community, setting the stage for a collaborative and successful school year.
DP1 Salt Spring Island Trip
The last trip of the year was for the DP1 students on Salt Spring Island. It was another great success - offering students a chance to live, work and play together away from the school.
The Grade 6-8 cross-country team had a meet last week at Beaver Lake. The team did well with several of the runners recording their highest placement. The ride home was quite the adventure and turned into a team-building exercise as it took us 3.5 hours to travel the 11 km back to the school due to extremely heavy traffic caused by an accident on the highway.
The Senior Girls Volleyball team has kicked off their season with an inspiring series of matches against some of the region’s largest and most competitive schools. Facing Oak Bay High, Lambrick Secondary, and Claremont, our athletes demonstrated remarkable skill, determination, and teamwork - drawing against Oak Bay, securing a thrilling win over Lambrick, and going down fighting against Claremont in a spirited contest that showcased their heart and resilience.
Underpinning this achievement is the international makeup of our team. Students from around the world have come together, bringing unique experiences and playing styles to form a united and cohesive squad. The influx of new talent this season has brought fresh energy to the court, and the team’s ability to gel so quickly is a testament to their shared passion and commitment to excellence.
Competing against much larger schools highlights the depth of character and dedication within our Brookes athletes. Their success reflects the IB Learner Profile attribute of being Balance - excelling not only academically but also through physical activity, collaboration, and emotional resilience.
We are incredibly proud of the team’s achievements so far and look forward to watching them continue their strong season both on and off the court.
Final Scores:
- Lambrick Park Secondary: 25-22 / 25-17
- Claremont: 15-25 / 15-25
- Oak Bay: 24-26 / 25-14
The Junior Boys Basketball pre-season is underway, and the team has been working hard to sharpen their skills before games begin. Here’s a glimpse into yesterday’s practice, where players took part in a two-ball partner dribbling drill, an exercise that requires coordination, balance and precise timing with a partner. The team also focused on defense and learning new plays! Coach Aija and the players are looking forward to an exciting season ahead!
Uniforms
Now available: shorter ties for students are now available ($26.25) in the Uniform Store! Please email uniforms@westshore.brookes.org.
Also - a reminder to please label your children's clothing. We gather a lot of discarded items every week and it is a lot easier to return them to the right student if they have labels!
Lunch Menu
If you would like to know what is on the menu next week for our delicious lunches, please click here.
Follow our dining team on @brookesdiningwestshore for mouthwatering images of our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners!
Please find our School Accessibility questionnaire here.
Safer Schools information: erase Family Sessions (saferschoolstogether.com)
Your comments and feedback are welcome! Please click here to leave a comment, ask a question, or raise an issue. Thank 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
- Kate Barton - MYP 3-5 and Personal Project Coordinator
- Linda Bayes - DP Coordinator & University Counsellor
- Martin Staffolani - Executive Director of Recruitment
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.
