Ms. Dakota with churros in hand for Cinco de Mayo celebrations!

Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

Another very busy week at Brookes and the first week of IB exams has gone very smoothly.  The Grade 12 students are managing the stress of these exams very well and they are feeling very positive about their achievements so far. The IB exam process is complex, and many rules require enforcement with strict invigilation of every exam. Dr. Li and the teachers have done a wonderful job at organizing the exams.

There were several field trips this week and this is always a wonderful opportunity for teachers to enrich the classroom experience with adventures in the community.  The DP1 Biology class visited the Goldstream Salmon Egg Hatchery, DP1 French students visited a French café to practice their French language skills and experience the culture, and Grade 5 students visited the BC Legislature buildings. It was a great week for field trips.

There is a very short period of time left in this academic school year and it will feel very different after May 19th when our current Grade 12 students leave us.  The Grade 11 students will assume the role of seniors and they are ready for this responsibility.

I feel very grateful and appreciative of the parent involvement in planning the Silent Auction last week and for all your attendance at the event to make it such a wonderful success and a great deal of fun towards a very good cause. It really is very remarkable what we can accomplish as a community when we work together.  Thank you so much for your support towards the Ukraine Student Scholarship Fund.  I will keep you updated on the progress with their study permits but there is no news this week.  I anticipate we will hear something very soon.

Please note that we will be having formal day on Wednesday next week - we are hosting a group of agents that day and want everything to look its best!

With kind regards,

Linda Bayes

Deputy Head of School

IB Exams

The IB May exams are, of course, crucially important for our DP2 students. I am happy to report that the exams this week have gone very well.

I’d like to thank everyone for your support in making the exams go smoothly and keeping the exam areas tidy and quiet.

The IB exam is an assessment that measures the knowledge, understanding, and skills that our students have acquired throughout their journey in the IB programme. The exam is internationally recognized, and universities around the world consider it when making admission decisions. The results of the exams are also used to determine the IB diploma, which is highly valued by colleges and universities.

We know that the exam can be daunting, but our students are more than capable of succeeding. The dedication and hard work they have put into their studies will pay off. We have no doubt that our students will rise to the challenge!

We encourage our DP2 students to keep taking care of themselves during the exam period, particularly getting plenty of rest. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the teachers if you need any help. We believe in you and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!

With gratitude,

Rui Li

Vice Principal of Academics / DP Coordinator

Silent Auction - Ukrainian Student Scholarship Fund

The Silent Auction last Friday was an amazing success - over a hundred people came together to raise money and support the Ukrainian Student Scholarship Fund. 

The food was delicious, the dining hall looked amazing, the variety and range of auction items was breathtaking - congratulations to everyone involved!

There were tears and laughter in equal measure. A deeply personal and passionate presentation from Bohdan reminded us all of why this initiative is so important. 

By the end of the evening, we had raised over $15,000 to support the students!

Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has put so much time, effort and passion into this event. We are truly grateful to be part of such a generous and supportive community. 

Remember - donations are still open!

If you didn't make it to the auction, please consider a donation - click here for our fundraising page.

Congratulations to the students and staff who ran the TC 10k last weekend!! It was a perfect day for it. Max ran a personal best of 40:42 –which was good enough for 7^th in the under 19 age group!!! Good work Ms. Barton, Jimena and Nelly! The Oak Bay Half marathon and 10k are coming up at the end of May if anyone is interested :)

Personal Project Exhibition

Last week we held the Personal Project Exhibition. Our MYP5 students put attention into their showcases, and proudly shared what they had learned about their topics, as well as about themselves as learners. Students, faculty and parents came to celebrate them and cheer them on. Many of our Grade 10s are headed into the DP next year and the skills and experience that they have gained through the project will give them confidence to take on the new challenges that are ahead. Well done, and good luck!

Angelique was not able to attend the exhibition last week, but she thoughtfully passed along some words about her project and her experience. Please take a few minutes to watch her video.

https://youtu.be/yWIyS2mSj_4     

Our MYP4 students will be formally introduced to the project next week.

Skateboard ASA

Our skateboard ASA visited the skatepark at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre this week - testing their skills at the newest all-wheels skatepark on the Island!

Service as action is a foundational element of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP). It seeks to develop caring members of the community who act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and their environment. Service as action requires students to engage with their local community through community or personal projects and provides opportunities for students to explore, design, implement, and reflect on their efforts to positively impact their local environment. Through service as action experiences, students learn the value of community participation and gain a deeper understanding of the issues facing their immediate surroundings.

This May, the MYP 2 students and the Brookes Westshore school community want to help the kids at BC Children's Hospital get out of their hospital gowns and back into their jeans by participating in Jean Up, BC’s most important fundraiser for the BC Children’s Hospital.

MYP 2 will plan and present informative sessions about the BC Children’s Hospital during the first week of May and stress to our school community the importance of this event. As a school we will stand in solidarity for this cause by wearing jeans on Friday May 12^th. Additionally, on May 12^th MYP 2 will organize a BC Children’s Hospital informative scavenger hunt and the winning team will receive an amazing prize!

MYP 2 will be organizing a Walk-A-Thon on May 15^th and May 17^th and the students will be working hard to collect donations for this event. The students have a goal of walking 130 km as a group, which is the total distance from Brookes Westshore to the BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Powerful Youth 2023 - only a few spots remaining!

In the UK we have 1 space for Session 1 and 3 spaces in Session 2. In Canada we run larger programmes but these are down to the last 3 or 4 spaces!

UK

• Session 1 - July 14-27
• Session 2 - July 30 - August 12

Canada

• Session 1 - July 2 - 15
• Session 2 - July 16 - 29
• Session 3 - July 30 - August 12

Powerful Youth seeks to build a global community of passionate young people who are equipped with the tools to create profoundly positive change within themselves and their communities.

Held during the summer months at Brookes Westshore and Brookes UK, the Global Leadership Academy is an award-winning leadership training program that brings together youth from around the world to build valuable leadership skills, self-confidence, and global perspective.

Using an experience-based learning approach, the two-week program includes hands-on activities, engaging projects, and community service to help youth create meaningful change in their lives and the lives of others. 

Brookes Westshore students are eligible for a 20% discount to attend GLA UK (ages 14-18) and a 50% discount to attend GLA Canada (ages 12-18). A scholarship program is available for students requiring additional financial aid. Visit www.powerfulyouth.com for more information about dates and prices, and to apply online.

Sound Island SUP Challenge 2023 at Thetis Lake!

Mark your calendar for Saturday May 27th, 2023!

New name, same great event designed to provide FUN for ALL ages and ALL skill levels from first time paddler to pro. The focus is on participation, trying something new and perhaps challenging your own limits with distance or speed. Tons of FUN and DRAW PRIZES for everyone!

Many Challenges to Choose!

•  4km or 8.8km Distance Course Challenge
• 1-2km Short Course Challenge
• 200m Mini-Grom (U10) Challenge
• Relay Challenge

Free boards will be provided for the 1-2km Short Course and Relay races. First come first served. All Challenges start and end at the Thetis Lake main beach.

Brookes students in Paddleboarding ASA receive free admission. Brookes students not in Paddleboarding ASA pay reduced fee. See Ms. McIntosh for more details on how to register and complete waiver.

Goldstream Salmon Hatchery

Here are some photos from the DP 1 Biology class trip to the Goldstream Salmon Hatchery. We learned about the lifecycle of Salmon, got to see where the Salmon are bred, and research is done. We also got to feed them and then released them into the stream to make their way to the ocean!

Last weekend our dorm students enjoyed time on Thetis Lake on paddle boards, as well as a paintballing adventure in the woods of East Sooke.

International Agents visiting in May

Our Executive Director of Recruitment, Martin Staffolani, has been hard at work connecting us with students and families around the world. It is vital to the Brookes experience that our school has a range of nationalities and languages in all the grades from 8 and up. International students enhance the experience for all students and bring their unique cultural and national perspectives to the classroom.

A key aspect of this work is building strong relationships with the best student recruitment agencies in each country. On May 9th, in partnership with our neighbour Royal Roads University, Martin is hosting a group of 60 agents from around the world - Nepal, Spain, Colombia, Uganda, Vietnam and more. This is called a FAM Tour (FAM for Familiarisation).

The agents will visit our school, take a tour of Victoria, and learn all about Brookes Westshore, the IB, and life on Vancouver Island. We know they will be delighted with what we offer here and will take that enthusiasm back to their countries.

You can hear why Nina and Kura (DP2 students and President and Vice President of our Student Leadership Council) chose Brookes Westshore.

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