Sports Days this week at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre.

Dear Brookes Westshore families and friends,

It has been a joyful and energetic week at our school!

The Grade 4/5 Science Fair on Tuesday was a real joy to walk through. I loved seeing students talk about their projects with so much pride and excitement. Thank you to the families who were able to join us, and to Ms. Jesse and Ms. Alexe for the time and care they put into guiding the students through this learning.

The sports days on Wednesday and Thursday were just as wonderful, filled with teamwork, laughter, and school spirit. A big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen. These events take a great deal of behind-the-scenes work, and we really appreciate the time and effort from all staff and students.

Next week, we are looking forward to the MYP1/3 Science Fair and the Celebrations of Learning. Parents and guardians are more than welcome to attend the Celebrations of Learning - it will be a great opportunity to come together and honour the great work our students have been doing.

A reminder that there will be no ASA next week. The last day of school is Friday, June 19th, and it will be a noon dismissal. Term 3 Learning Update will be issued through ManageBac on Thursday, June 25th.

Have a great weekend!

Dr. Rui Li

Principal

• Tuesday, June 16th - MYP1&3 Science Fair
• Thursday, June 18th - Grade 4/5 Celebration of Learning
• Friday, June 19th - MYP4 - DP1 Celebration of Learning (9 am)
• Friday, June 19th - MYP1 - 3 Celebration of Learning (10.30 am)
• Friday, June 19th - Last day of classes and noon dismissal

Please remember it is formal day next week for the end-of-year celebration assemblies:

• Thursday, June 18th: Grades 4 and 5
• Friday, June 19th: MYP1 to DP1

Lost and Found Reminder

Our Lost and Found is currently overflowing with items - from water bottles and hoodies to lunch kits and sports gear -and we’d love to see these belongings reunited with their owners! We encourage all students and families to take a few moments over the coming week to stop by and check for any missing items.

Please note that any unclaimed items will be cleared out at the end of next week, so don’t miss your chance to look. Thank you for helping us keep our school organized and hopefully bringing a few long-lost favourites back home!

Grade 4 & 5 Science Fair

Curiosity flourished at Tuesday's Grade 4 & 5 Science Fair. Students didn’t just present experiments - they truly spoke the language of science. From thoughtful hypotheses and detailed observations to confident explanations of their results, students impressed everyone with their ability to clearly articulate their learning and scientific thinking.

It was inspiring to see such enthusiasm, creativity, and curiosity in action as students asked questions, explored ideas, and shared discoveries with pride. We are incredibly proud of the confidence and knowledge our young scientists demonstrated throughout the event.

A huge thank you to our staff and families for supporting this amazing learning experience. The future of science is bright!

Junior and Senior Sports Days

Our Junior and Senior Sports Days took place on Wednesday and Thursday this week - both blessed with beautiful sunshine. Students threw themselves into a wide range of activities - from soccer matches and ultimate frisbee games, to egg and spoon races, capture the flag, tug of war, and more. Across both days, the field was alive with energy, laughter, and the friendly buzz of competition Every action contributed to hard-earned house points. Staff joined in with enthusiasm - modeling teamwork and good spirit alongside the students.

What stood out most was the way students of all ages and abilities came together. Whether sprinting across the field, carefully balancing an egg, or strategizing in a team game, everyone found their place and shared in the joy of participation. The focus was not just on winning, but on connection, encouragement, and having fun together - evident in every cheer and high-five.

Both days were a wonderful celebration of community spirit, and the simple joy of play.

Spring Break 2027 – Japan Cultural Experience Trip

For Students in Grades 8–12

We are excited to announce an incredible Spring Break 2027 trip to Japan for students in Grades 8–12 - an unforgettable opportunity to explore one of the world’s most fascinating countries through culture, connection, and adventure.

This educational and cultural experience will allow students to:

• Build global awareness and intercultural understanding
• Experience daily life and traditions in Japan
• Strengthen international friendships and connections
• Develop independence, confidence, and global citizenship
• Create lifelong memories with classmates and teachers

Trip Highlights

Students can look forward to an amazing itinerary featuring:

• Tokyo Disneyland / Disney Resort experience
• Riding Japan’s famous Shinkansen bullet trains
• Exploring the excitement and energy of downtown Tokyo
• Experiencing the beauty of Japan’s iconic cherry blossom season
• Cultural visits, local cuisine, shopping, and historical sites
• Opportunities to connect with the Saku Chosei school community

Japan offers a perfect blend of ancient tradition and modern innovation, giving students a truly immersive global experience unlike any other.

More details regarding dates, costs, and itinerary can be found in the video slideshow above (narrated by our own Mr. B, who will be one of the staff chaperones on the trip).

We encourage interested students and families to begin considering this exciting opportunity now. We look forward to sharing this remarkable journey with our students!

LEGO Engineering - we need your help!

We are excited to expand our after-school programming for Grade 4/5 students next year and are looking to build a LEGO collection to support a new LEGO Engineering ASA and stop-motion animation projects.

We gratefully accept LEGO donations of all kinds, including complete sets, incomplete sets, and loose bricks and pieces. Any and all donations will be gratefully received and can be dropped off at the school’s front desk.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping us create engaging, hands-on learning opportunities!

Here are some sneak peaks of some grid method drawings inspired by Chuck Close. This method involves dividing a source image into a grid and then recreating it square by square on a larger surface. Like Close’s work, this approach emphasizes careful observation, breaking complex images into manageable parts, and often results in highly detailed, sometimes stylized portraits built from repeated marks or patterns within each grid cell.

MYP2 Art

The Under the Sea watercolor unit in MYP2 has concluded. Students learned about various environmental challenges, mostly focusing on the ocean, and combined research with art techniques. The goal was to create a painting that sends a message via visual language without reliance on writing using universal symbols instead. Can you match the environmental issue to the painting?

MYP2 explored the lagoon for crabs and Manilla shells last week (and enjoyed freezies in the sun)!

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; Grade 4 to MYP2 Coordinator
• Kate Barton - MYP 3-5 and Personal Project Coordinator
• Linda Bayes - DP Coordinator & University Counsellor
• Martin Staffolani - Executive Director of Recruitment

Your comments and feedback are welcome! Please click here to leave a comment, ask a question, or raise an issue. Thank you!

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.