Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,

We are settled into the new term and students are doing well with their studies. Our classes are full of active and engaged learners - as you can see in the photos. Our sports teams are training hard as we look forward to the opening up of tournaments, and their hard work is paying off. The junior girls’ volleyball team started their season with a 5 games to 0 victory over Spencer this week. Congratulations!

I would also like to thank our staff for their flexibility and resilience over the last few weeks. Everyone has had to step in to cover for colleagues who are diligently following the guidelines on keeping our community healthy. This has meant a lot of last-minute changes and our staff have been amazingly responsive and supportive of each other. Thank you!

With kind regards,

Jerry Salvador

Head of School

Thankfully, we continue to have a very high attendance rate for students. There have been some teacher absences but we planned for such a scenario and have maintained full coverage. Thanks to everyone for your support and hard work.

Personal Projects

MYP 5 students are putting the finishing touches on their Personal Project and their Exhibition is planned for Thursday, March 17th.  We are hoping to invite parents but will need to wait for updated COVID 19 protocols.

University Applications

Most of the Grade 12 students have completed their university applications and we are now preparing transcripts and predicated grades to submit to the universities.

Programme Development

As part of our Programme Development, faculty are currently collaborating on a project to identify strategies to improve student literacy and develop a love of reading and literature. Today, Ms. Moroz and I escorted the MYP 2 students to the public library and we are planning to make this excursion on a more regular basis for all MYP students. I will keep you updated on our progress.

English Literature

I would like to start highlighting more subject specific information for parents and Mr. MacKnight has provided me with an overview of what students are studying in English Literature:

In English Literature, the DP1s began the year in Ancient Greece (Sophocles and Homer), moved on to 18th-century Europe (Voltaire's "Candide") and have now arrived in the 20th century, where they are exploring the poetry of Langston Hughes and his influences: jazz and the blues, African-American colloquial speech, and the free-verse rhythms of Walt Whitman.

Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is a valued component of the Diploma Programme. It helps to prepare students for success at university, to develop research, thinking, self-management, and communication skills, and to reflect on what they have learned throughout the research and writing process.

Our DP2 students have now finished their Extended Essay (EE),  a piece of 4000-word independent, in-depth research on a topic chosen by themselves. They celebrated their learning and shared their experience with the DP1 students in December. Our DP1 students will now start meeting with their EE supervisors.

Here are some interesting EE topics from our current DP1 students.

• Climate change and carbon capture
• Validation of Sigmund Freud’s theories
• Development of chemicals to make paint and pigment
• Sustainability in architecture and city planning
• The contradictory themes of human failure in literature

Many thanks

Rui Li, PhD

Photo from 2019 - the last time we all went skiing together!

School Ski Trips

Ski Trip Sign-Up Starts Today! (Grades 4/5 - DP2)

Trip Dates: 

• Saturday, February 26th 
• Saturday, March 5^th
• Friday, March 11th 

Ski trip registration and consent forms will be launched today at 4:00pm through the Schools Buddy Program! Parents, please complete both the consent and data form to collect information on ski packages and rentals.

Due date for all completed forms is February 11th at 4:00pm. 

If you need a new invite to join Schools Buddy, please email aijasalvador@westshore.brookes.org

Local Parents, please note that lessons on the Saturday trips are not included in the Ski Packages and Parents must book these lessons on their own. If your child is a beginner rider/skier (ridden/skied fewer than three times), lessons are mandatory. Please email Aija Salvador with the confirmed lesson and time and she will ensure that your child goes to their lesson on time. 

If you need any help with the Schools Buddy forms or booking lessons, please don't hesitate to email Aija, she would be happy to help! Email is above.

We are looking forward to hitting the slopes soon with you all!

MYP4/5 - Skating Field Trip - January 31st

MYP 4/5 will be attending a skating field trip on Monday January 31st for the afternoon. Parents, an email has been sent to you through Schools Buddy. If you have not completed the consent form in Schools Buddy please do so as soon as possible. If you need help with the form or logging into Schools Buddy please email aijasalvador@westshore.brookes.org

All students MUST bring their own helmets and dress warm (hoodie, pants, long socks, jacket, toque, gloves).  [Bike helmets are okay to bring and use]

Pro D Day

February 18 is a Professional Development day for teachers – there will be no school on that day.

ASA Contact

Please email frontdesk@westshore.brookes.org with ASA related messages.

Grade 6 Design Class - constructing model buildings (including Yankee Stadium!)

Grade 9 Art Class - print making with Ms. Campbell

International Cooking Class with Ms. Brenda - Yum!

Polymer clay model making with Mr. Dean

Grade 11 Students exploring Esquimalt Lagoon in the sunshine.

Grade 7 and 8 students at Thetis Lake

Skipping stones at Thetis Lake

Senior Girls Basketball Practice

Junior Girls' Volleyball Match vs Spencer - Go Gryphons!

Fun Friday - dodgeball in the gym! 

Chinese Lunar New Year

A group of our DP1 students have planned something to celebrate the Chinese/Lunar New Year next Tuesday, February 1^st. Our kitchen staff will also prepare a special Chinese lunch on Tuesday. It will be a free dress day on Tuesday. Everyone is encouraged to wear something red, pink, or gold. There will be multiple activities during lunch break, including:

• Making paper firecrackers and paper lanterns 
• Paper cutting 
• Chinese Calligraphy 
• Jian zi (Chinese hacky sack) 

Dorm Activities for January 28th-30th

• Friday 7.30 pm - Embroidery / Sewing
• Friday 8:30 pm - Handball in the gym 
• Saturday 1:00 pm - Polar Bear Swim, sign up Cm Rm 1 
• Saturday 8:00 pm - Haircuts, sign up Cm Rm 1 
• Sunday 2:00 pm - Lunar Cooking Activity  
• Tuesday 7:00 pm - Lunar New Year Celebration Cm Rm 1