Bakhyt Syzdykova from Kazakhstan

Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

FAM Tour

As you know, this week we hosted a group of international agents - coming to learn more about our school and experiencing the unique flavour of our community. The tour was a great success - cementing our partnership with Royal Roads University, strengthening bonds between the agents and our school, and showcasing the best of life on Vancouver Island. You can hear the heartfelt reaction of two of the agents in the accompanying videos - all the agents were delighted with their experience, and we look forward to welcoming their students in the years ahead!

Graduation 

We have a very big event coming up next week!  Our Grade 12 students are graduating and moving onto the next chapter of their lives. This is a very difficult time for everyone at Brookes as we work through the emotions this day brings to everyone. Our Grade 12 class is an exceptional group of young people, and we are going to miss them dearly.  Some of these students have been with us since Grade 7 and 8, and they are big part of our school community. 

The final IB examinations are on the morning of May 19th, and they will graduate in the afternoon. The graduation ceremony is followed by a dinner at Olympic View for Grade 12 students and their families (see below for more details).

All parents of Grade 12 students have been invited to attend the ceremony and it will also be live streamed for those parents not able to attend.

Key Dates

The last day of school for Grades 4-11 is June 23rd and this will be a half-day and students will be released at noon.  Report cards will be issued the following week. The dates for the 2023/24 school year can be found here.

With kind regards,

Linda Bayes

Deputy Head of School

Michal Ohayon from Israel

Second Week of IB Exams

The second week of the IB May exam went very well. Despite the stress and pressure of these rigorous exams, our students demonstrate a remarkable ability to stay focused, persevere through difficult questions, and maintain a positive attitude. We are proud to witness this kind of grit and determination, and we know that our students will go on to achieve great things in the future thanks to the valuable lessons they have learned during this important exam season.

At the same time, I believe our DP2 students are great role models for our younger students - helping them to develop valuable academic skills as well as to build resilience and mental toughness that will serve them well in their future endeavors.

By building resilience in our students, we hope to prepare them for the challenges of higher education, career, and life. We encourage all students to persevere through any obstacles they may encounter and embrace the growth opportunities that the IB programme provides.

With gratitude,

Rui Li

Vice Principal of Academics / DP Coordinator

Graduation 2023

The Graduation Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 19^th, at 2:00 pm in the Brookes Gymnasium.  Students have registered their guests to attend the ceremony. If you have not registered to attend the ceremony you will be able to watch it on livestream (website link).  

For those attending the ceremony in person, please make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start so you can find parking and be seated for the grand entrance of the graduates at 2pm. 

There will be a reception to follow with refreshments in the courtyard and Brookes cafeteria from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. 

This will be followed by a dinner at Olympic View golf course from 5:30 pm- 10:30 pm for those who have pre-purchased a ticket. 

Buses will depart for Olympic View golf course at 5:15 for all Brookes students attending the dinner.  

Student Leadership Creativity Committee

Calling all Brookes parents! The Creativity Committee in the Student Leadership Committee is hosting: “Artful Afternoon: A Paint Event for Parents of Brookes Westshore!”

The event will take place on the Sunday afternoon of May 28^th and will include complimentary high tea and appetizers. All event profits and donations will go to Ukrainian students at Brookes. See below for information about the host of the event, Dr. Andrew Currie (a fellow Brookes parent), and a picture of his beautiful painting that parents will be recreating!

Finally, watch out for an email that will be sent to all parents NEXT WEEK for more information and to sign up for the event! Thank you!

Gr 4 - MYP3 Upcoming Camp Thunderbird Field Trips

Grade 4 - MYP2 attend on on May 29^th from 8:00am until 4:30pm

MYP3 attend on May 30^th from 8:00am until 3:20pm

These students will embark on a day trip to Camp Thunderbird! We would love all students to attend as this is a great year-end activity!

All information about these field trips as well as the sign up can be found through our schoolsbuddy program. 

Sign up closes on May 21st at 11:59pm. 

Please email Ms. Moroz if you have difficulty logging into schoolsbuddy:

https://www.schoolsbuddy.com/login

Students must be dropped off at 8:00am for an 8:15am departure. Please note that the Gr 4 - MYP7 students will be dismissed at 4:30pm from Brookes.

Our students will participate in 4 activities throughout the day including paddle boarding, archery and canoeing or kayaking or rock climbing as well as team building games. Lunch is included at camp thunderbird.

Please ensure when signing up that you complete the medical information section and check the weather report on the day of or the day before this trip to ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for all activities. 

WHAT TO PACK: A backpack with athletic clothing inside (t- shirt, shorts, leggings), a bathing suit, towel, a change of clothes in case they get wet, athletic/sturdy shoes, rain gear, a hat, sunglasses, a water bottle, extra shoes or rubber boots, slippers and sandals.

The total cost of the trip is $90.00. Please e-transfer to finance@westhore.brookes.org or cash/cheque is fine as well.

Please email Ms Moroz if you have any questions about this trip.

The final trip to Tofino for the year

The school trips to Tofino are a highlight of the school year, and last weekend it was the turn of the MYP 5 students!

All our trips stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs to see the goats on the roof, the local shops and grab a famous doughnut at Billy G's doughnut shop.

Saturday was surfing day and the weather was stunning. Pacific Surf Company met the students at the beach and taught them everything they needed to know to create a safe and fun environment.

With the sun high in the sky, the students enjoyed hours of fun in the water as they tested themselves in the rolling breakers of the Pacific Ocean.

In the evenings the students enjoyed the indoor swimming pool of Ocean Village Resort, as well as a BBQ and fire on the beach.  Students also visited the small towns of Tofino and Ucluelet and took in the laid-back attitude of these quintessential West Coast communities.

MYP2 visual arts have completed their first unit project where we asked, "What's on the other side of the wall?"

Imaginations ran wild with lots of variety in answers from outer space, to under the sea, to Rapunzel's castle, to even a ghost coming through the keyhole! 

Do you have questions?

If you have a question about the school or just something on your mind, please feel free to contact our leadership team:

• Rui Li - Vice Principal and DP Coordinator
• Andrea Salvador - School Manager / Events
• Jacob Baumgartner - Community and Wellness Coordinator
• Melanie Moroz - MYP Coordinator