Snow days can be fun!
Dear Brookes Westshore Families and Friends,
This week’s snowfall turned the campus into a winter wonderland. Students made the most of it, enjoying outdoor play while staying warm and safe. Thank you to our parents for your patience and cooperation during this inclement weather. A big thank you to our maintenance team for working hard to keep our campus safe and accessible!
Our DP2 students marked a significant milestone with a celebration yesterday – counting down the 100 days until they cross the finish line! We know this can be a stressful time for the DP2 students, but we are so proud of how they are managing it all! Our IB students, in particular, continue to show incredible resilience, balancing rigorous coursework with their many commitments. Keep going – you’ve got this! We have full faith in you and can’t wait to celebrate your achievements in May!
Today, students got creative, dressing up as their favourite book characters to celebrate the Brookes Book Day! From classic heroes to modern favorites, the courtyard was filled with literary fun!
Term 2 Interim Learning Update is issued today through ManageBac. We encourage parents/guardians to take time to review your child(ren)’s progress and celebrate their achievements thus far.
A reminder that there will be no classes next Friday, February 14th, as teachers engage in professional development. Enjoy the long weekend!
With gratitude,
Dr. Rui Li
Principal
Brookes Book Day costume contest
Can you see me? by Aarav MYP1
Capturing Moments: The After-School Photography Club
"Photography is not like painting," Cartier-Bresson told the Washington Post in 1957. "There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative," he said. "Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever." Henri Cartier-Bresson
The After-School Photography Club has been a hub of creativity and learning, where students dive into the art of photography and composition. This dynamic club offers students the chance to explore their surroundings through the lens of a camera, guided by fundamental photography techniques.
Students are learning how to take captivating photographs by employing essential composition rules such as the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and leading lines. These techniques help them create visually striking and well-balanced images.
Lift me up by Clara MYP1
Look my way by Hannah
The club's activities extend beyond the classroom, with students exploring the local area, including the picturesque Charlie's Trail and the historic Royal Roads campus. These excursions provide ample opportunities to practice their skills in real-world settings, capturing the beauty of their surroundings.
Clara, one of the enthusiastic members, recently took her camera to Mount Washington. There, she explored the importance of composition on the slopes, capturing the breathtaking scenery and refining her skills in a challenging environment.
To complement their photography skills, students also delve into the world of digital editing using Adobe Photoshop. This powerful tool allows them to clean up their images and explore artistic effects, adding a new dimension to their work.
From adjusting lighting and colors to creating unique compositions, the possibilities are endless. Students learn to enhance their photographs, making them stand out and expressing their artistic vision.
Mt. Washington by Clara MYP1
Swept away by Hannah MYP3
Art History
Last semester, art 6 completed an art history unit looking into the Medieval Ages. Here are some modern versions of manuscript pages including large capital letters, borders, gold leaf, calligraphy and images.
DP 1 Visual Arts
Tish, Ai, and Vlada have been hard at work in the art room putting the finishing touches to their DP 1 Visual Arts pieces.
Another fun weekend activity for our dorm students! Thanks to Bon Macaron in downtown Victoria our students had a great time learning all about the refined art of baking exquisite macarons: from creating the delicate shells to choosing the perfect filling. Learning new skills, working together, and connecting with community are all part of the Brookes Westshore boarding experience.
The Grade 8 girls’ volleyball team hosted two strong teams from Spencer and Shoreline middle schools on Wedensday. The girls played hard but lost both games (0-2). Special thanks to Emma K, Kiyanah, Eliana D, Adrien, and Valentina J.M, who volunteered to be scorekeepers and lines people.
Staff took a moment on Thursday to come together and enjoy the fun of Axe Throwing at Axe and Grind. A great time was had by all - laughing together and building connections that strengthen our school community
Mental Health and Substance Use Resource for Parents
The Ministry of Education and Child Care, in partnership with adolescent clinical psychologist Dr. Hayley Watson from Open Parachute, will host three, free virtual sessions for parents, guardians and caregivers that will focus on practical skills you can teach your child and youth (ages 0-19) to prevent substance use and mental health needs. These sessions will build on a previous presentation, which focused on practical conversation tools for speaking about substance use prevention with your children/youth. The previous session is not a pre-requisite for this session.
Key takeaways for participants during this session:
Learn the factors that lead to substance use and mental health needs from a trauma-informed lens
Focus on prevention rather than intervention/response
Applies to parents, guardians and caregivers of all age groups (youth aged 0-5, 6-10, and 11-18)
Learn ways that these skills can be applied to yourself and the rest of your family to support the mental health of parents, guardians and caregivers
Participants must register in advance. Session dates are:
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!
Term Two Events and Activities
- Saku Chosei School (Japan) visit - Thursday, 13th February
- Pro D Day - no classes - Friday February 14th
- Inclusion Assembly - Thursday, February 20th
- Pink Shirt Day - Wednesday, February 26th
Key dates of 2023 to 2025: Key Dates 2024 / 2026 - Brookes Westshore
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
- Melanie Moroz - Academic Director
- Linda Bayes - DP Coordinator & University Counsellor
- Martin Staffolani - Executive Director of Recruitment
Please consider posting a review
If you have a minute, it will really help us to reach new families if you could consider posting a positive review online on Google or here (you will need to log in to the OurKids website to leave a review here). Prospective families love to hear from current parents about your real experiences here!
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.
