Go Gryphons! Our Senior Girls' Volleyball team at the Island Championships

Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

UBC visit and alumni

In a heartwarming reunion, our DP2 students visited the UBC campus this Wednesday and met with our esteemed alumni. We also had the pleasure of seeing two former graduates, Erin and Jiyoung, back on campus this Thursday. A common thread in our alumni’s narratives was the invaluable preparation they received from our IB programme, which they credited for easing their transition to university life. The emotional recount of their experiences brought appreciation for our unique school community, a sentiment that resonated deeply with current students and faculty alike.

Go Gryphons!

Our senior girls’ volleyball team has made us proud once again! In an exhilarating display of skill and teamwork, they won 3^rd place at the Island Championships! This monumental achievement is a testament to their relentless dedication, sportsmanship, and the unwavering support of our coach, Mr. T! Congratulations to our champions for flying high and bringing home bronze medals!

Coffee Morning

In our continuous effort to involve parents in their children’s educational journey, we hosted the MYP1/2 parent coffee morning today. It was a delightful opportunity to meet and interact with parents. Our MYP Coordinator, Ms. Melanie Moroz, provided parents with an overview of the structure of MYP assessment and inquiry. The session proved to be a fruitful exchange of ideas, strengthening the bond between our school and the parent community.

Looking ahead:

• November 21^st – DP1 Parent Info Session at 15:30
• November 22^nd – MYP Parent Info Session at 15:30
• November 24^th – No class: Pro-D Day

With kind regards,

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

Parents of MYP 1 and MYP 2 students enjoying coffee and connectivity this morning.

Host families for Ukrainian students over the holidays

Ivan, Vlada and Bohdan - the three Ukrainian students who have arrived at Brookes - are settling in very nicely to their new life here at Brookes. Life here in Canada is full of many new experiences for them and they are embracing their new life with enthusiasm.

They are not able to return to Ukraine for the 3-week Winter Break and we are hoping to find families to host them over the break.  If you think your family would be able and willing to open your home to a Ukrainian student for anywhere between one and three weeks of winter break - please contact Linda at lbayes@westshore.brookes.org for further discussions.

We would love to be able to host all three students with school families, so they can experience the best of Vancouver Island in the heart of a local family. Thank you.

Pancake Breakfast

Pancake Breakfast 2023: Saturday December 16th (starting at 9.30 am with two sittings). Join us for some delicious food and a whole lot of fun! All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Goldstream Foodbank - help us reach our $3000 goal!

Tickets are on sale here!

If you would like to reserve a table - after you have bought your tickets - please let us know: events@westshore.brookes.org (tables are for a minimum of six people).

Santa Parade!

Please sign up here to walk with Brookes in the 41st Peninsula Co-op Santa Claus Parade.  The parade will take place downtown Victoria on Saturday, November 25th.  Please note that students in grades 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the parade. 

Parents, siblings, and grandparents are always welcome to join us! 

We will meet downtown at the designated parking spot assigned by the parade committee.  We will email all parents who sign up, once more information is given to us by the parade organizers.  

Help us to fill them!

DP 1 Food Drive 2023

Hi! I'm Isabella! I and other DP1 students would like to invite you to donate for the first food drive this school year.

We are doing this as a CAS project (Creativity, Activity, Service), and it is a great opportunity for all of us to give back to our community. It will take place from November 6th to December 18th, there will be boxes placed at the front desk where students will be able to place the food they bring according to the school House they're in. The food will be taken to the Goldstream Foodbank.

According to this food bank, some of the foods they accept can be Canned Soup (Mushroom, Tomato, Vegetable and Chicken Noodle), Alternative Milk, Pasta Sauce/ Noodles, Canned Beans, Coffee, Personal Hygiene Items, Canned Fruits, School Snacks (Granola Bars, Puddings etc.) 

Do not hesitate to contact me or my classmate Nezvith for any doubts about what's eligible to donate. Thank you in advance! 

Isabella - itamez@westoshore.brookes.org 
Nezvith - nguardado@westshore.brookes.org 

Info Sessions

DP1 (Grade 11) Parent Information Session will be held on Tuesday, November 21st at 3:30 pm in room 204. Learn more about the Diploma Programme, assessment, Extended Essay and how the University admission process works.

Ms. Moroz will also be hosting an MYP Parent Info Session on Wednesday, November 22nd at 3.30 pm in the boardroom. This will cover MYP Assessment in depth and detail. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Winter Concert

Thursday, December 7th - students are practicing and preparing their skits, songs, dances, and acts. Don't miss it! 

Friday, November 24th is a Pro-D Day - no classes on the 24th.

MYP5 Service in Action

Amara, Dalia and Marion are hosting a blanket drive for local children’s hospice and are hoping that members of the community will donate. They are asking for new and clean blankets. There will be donation bins set up around the campus. Donations are accepted until December 15^th. Thank you in advance!

University of British Columbia visit and tour.

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to take twelve DP2 students to Vancouver to view the UBC campus.  It was a fantastic experience, with the tour provided by current students at UBC. The tour took 1.5 hours, and we walked 7 kilometres! UBC is a very impressive campus and I know students gained valuable insights into what next year might look like for them.  I plan to take DP1 students next year.

Mr. Baumgartner and Mr. Boxshall accompanied us on the trip to Vancouver and they arranged a meeting with some Brookes alumni. Students enjoyed seeing old friends and gained more personal insights into what university life is like. It was wonderful seeing past and present Brookes students together. What a wonderful day it was!

The combination of the official tour with the more personal experiences of Brookes students provided our DP2 students with a clear idea of what it takes to thrive at UBC, and how Brookes provides a solid foundation for success at one of Canada's top universities. "I can really see my future here" said one student, "and I am super motivated to get the grades I need to attend UBC!"

Our thanks to our alumni Kim, Yu, Alex, Brandon, and Steven for taking the time to meet our current students and give their thoughts on life at UBC.

Yu (class of 2018) and Kim (class of 2018) outside the UBC Admissions building.

Our DP 2 students listening to current UBC students (above) and on the tour (below).

Steven, Brandon and Alex ready to chat with our DP 2 students.

On Monday, a University of Alberta admissions representative will be on campus at 10.30 to speak with interested students and UBC is coming at 2:30.

DP2 students have a busy day on Monday and these visits are very informative and provide the opportunity to ask universities questions about the admission process directly.

On Tuesday, November 21st four DP1 students will be travelling to the University of Victoria to attend a session about admission to Vancouver Island Medical Programs. This is a session UVic offers every year for aspiring physicians.

Explore UVic – in-person open house 

For students considering the University of Victoria, I strongly recommend visiting the campus for Explore UVic on Saturday, November 25th. This is the best opportunity for them to tour the campus and get a clearer sense of the opportunities available to them in this incredible campus environment. Registration is available online now! 

Explore UVic will offer: 

• Campus tours and faculty-specific facility tours 
• Information sessions for prospective students and parents 
• Student experience panels featuring current UVic students 
• Sample lectures given by UVic professors 
• Information fair with academic programs and student support services  

Our Executive Director of Recruitment Martin Staffolani has been traveling in central and south America to meet with prospective families and let them know about all that Brookes Westshore has to offer. Here you can see Martin presenting at the Instituto Anglo Moderno Mazatlán (above) and meeting with interested parents at the Canadian College Guadalajara, in partnership with Destinos Educativos (below).

MYP 1 enjoyed their trip to the Juan de Fuca ice rink this week!

Volleyball Island Championships - 3rd Place!

Congratulations to the senior girls’ volleyball team for placing 3^rd at the Island Championships and taking home bronze medals! This was Brookes’ best showing at this tournament in the school’s history. The team played extremely well, winning 4 out of 5 games. They surprised and impressed a lot of people. Meghan was chosen as a 1^st team all-star, while Semvia was chosen as a 2^nd team all-star. Their season record was 16 wins, 1 draw, and only 1 loss.

Their coach is very, very, very proud of all the players for a great tournament and season.

Thanks to Shannon S. for this video of our Senior Girls' Volleyball team celebrating!

Introducing Sandra Boily

I came to Brookes Westshore from Friendly Manitoba to be closer to family. Our small family of three moved here from a very small town on the Canada/USA border called Emerson where I worked as an Educational Assistant for over seven years at the local school.

In the past, I have enjoyed many volunteer positions such as Parent Council, running a Stay and Play program for our old municipality and organizing various activities for kids such as sports, plays and field trips. I have also organized social events and programs for seniors, but my heart belongs with the students.

I enjoy spending time with family and friends. We enjoy hikes, games, movies and exploring new places. Dog Parks are my favorite!!

I also have a dog named Eddie who is a Northern Manitoba rescue, a cat named Kiki and a corn snake called Caramel.

I would like to thank Brookes Westshore for welcoming me to their team. It has been such a wonderful environment full of growth and wonder! I am so proud to be part of such a welcoming school and community.

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.