The International School of Brussels
Annual Report 2024-25
The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Table of Contents ISB Director’s Welcome
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ISB Board Chair Report
3
Our Mission & Values
4
Our Strategy
5
ISB Leadership Team 2024-25
6
ISB Board of Trustees & Honorary Trustees 2024-25
7
Opening Enrolment & Student Diversity 2024-25
8
Exceptional Education
10
Academic Results Class of 2025
11
Class of 2025 - The Journey Beyond ISB
13
Professional Development
14
Future Focused
16
STEM at ISB
17
AI and Personalised Learning
19
Connected International Community
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Home Language Programme
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Community Engagement
23
Family Association 2024-25
25
Alumni Community 2024-25
27
A New ISB Representative – Our New Mascot Loup
29
Supporting Learning at ISB
30
Campus Renovations 2024-25
31
Financial Reports 2024-25
34
Donor Roll 2024-25
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
ISB Director’s Welcome Dear Families, Colleagues, and Friends of ISB, I am delighted to introduce our Annual Report, offering an overview of the school year 2024-2025. Writing this report in my final year as Director, I look back on the last six years that have taken our school to a new place of outcomes and confidence. In particular, the 2024-25 school year has been a standout year for ISB. Academic outcomes are the strongest we have recorded, across multiple external and internal measures, and our students have secured outstanding university placements. Our community proves that an inclusive school can also be a highachieving one, and now with five thriving graduation pathways (far more than the vast majority of international schools), we can further personalise our curriculum routes to the needs and aspirations of every student. Our enrolment is strong, which allows us to plan ahead for campus developments following the purchase of the land in 2023, and there are other good signs as well: key metrics such as the Net Promoter Score have risen sharply to 48, which is around 20 points above its historical level and a clear sign that our families are as happy as ever with the quality of education at ISB. In 2024-25, we also expanded our offerings. In Lower School we integrated the Home Language Programme into timetables and introduced French immersion in the ECC, now offering seven languages, far more than any other Brussels school. Elementary electives such as Junior MUN, Middle School Arts, Technology & Design, two extra AP subjects in High School (11 to 13), and stronger STEM pathways across all sections broaden choice and empower all students to find what sparks their interests. We began the last school year by launching ISB’s Strategy Playbook, setting our direction and reaffirming our commitment to personalised learning, and it’s great to look back and see how our achievements live up to our ambitions. Guided by the pillars of Exceptional Education, Future Focus, and a Connected International Community, we meet each student where they are, balancing support and challenge, building future-ready skills, and ensuring every learner feels seen and valued. I hope you enjoy reading about and celebrating the many accomplishments of 2024-25. Looking ahead, I am confident that ISB will continue to build on this momentum, strengthening our programmes and community through the shared commitment and dedication of our students, faculty, and families. Kind regards, James MacDonald ISB Director
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ISB Board Chair Report Dear ISB Community, It is my honour to welcome you to the ISB’s Annual Report for the 2024-2025 school year, marking my first message as Chair of the Board. This report reflects a year of meaningful progress, marked once again by strong student outcomes, sustained improvement across the school, and confidence in ISB’s direction and future. The achievements of the past year are significant. Academic results were the strongest yet across a range of measures, and university admissions outcomes were outstanding, with many of ISB’s students accepted to the best universities in the UK, Europe, US, and Asia. ISB’s honing of graduation pathways, now five distinct and diverse routes, demonstrates our commitment to ensuring every student can thrive, with best-in-class programmes that recognise individual strengths, provide the right balance of support and appropriate challenge, and deliver clear paths to ‘good-fit’ universities throughout the world. I am also encouraged by the overall health and stability of the school, with strong enrolment and high levels of family satisfaction, as reflected in a significantly higher Net Promoter Score – an important indicator of confidence in the ISB experience. The launch of ISB’s Strategy Playbook at the start of the year provided a clear framework for focus and intentional evolution. With personalised learning at its core, and guided by the pillars of Exceptional Education, Future Focus, and a Connected International Community, ISB strengthens its ability to deliver an education that is both rigorous and inclusive, preparing students not only for their next steps, but for the world they will help to shape. As a Board, our responsibility is to govern with care, to set and support the school’s strategic direction, and to ensure ISB has the oversight and resources required to flourish. We are grateful for the trust placed in the school and for the partnership that makes this work possible. On behalf of the ISB Board, I would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to James, as he completes his final year as Director after six years of dedicated leadership. His steady and impact-driven approach has strengthened ISB in lasting ways. He will leave a strong legacy on which our incoming Director, Allan Weston, will build. We invite you to read this Annual Report with pride and optimism. It is a reflection of a committed community – students, faculty, staff, and families – working together to create something exceptional. We look forward to building on this momentum as ISB evolves, innovates, and upholds its mission with integrity and ambition. Kind regards, Simon Baxter Chair of the Board
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Our Mission To develop independent learners and international citizens in an environment where all students are
INCLUDED
CHALLENGED
SUCCESSFUL
Our Values Openness
Resilience
Reflection
High Inclusion
Integrity
Fairness
Compassion
High Achievement
“We believe that high inclusion and high academic performance are complementary, and we shape our curricula and teaching methods to ensure each of our students' success.”
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-James MacDonald, School Director
Our Strategy for the Future Exceptional Education
Leaders in Personalised Learning Connected International Community
Future Focused
At ISB, we are fuelled by a strong heritage and are driven to adapt to changing and demanding futures. We see technological advancements as opportunities to be seized and utilised for our community’s progress. With our international learning environment, amazing resources, and world class expertise we can pursue even greater ambitions for our students. We envision a future where every student’s learning journey is tailored to their unique strengths, interests, and needs, thereby fostering a deep, personal engagement with their education. Our strategy has personalised learning at the heart, and it is supported by three other areas of focus – providing an Exceptional Education, fostering a Connected International Community, and being Future Focused.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
ISB Leadership Team 2024-25 The ISB Director is responsible to the Board of Trustees for all aspects of school life, and is supported by a strong Leadership Team of Sectional Heads and Department Directors, each with strategic responsibilities for different areas of our school. The configuration of our Learning Leadership Team (LLT) for the school year 2024-25 was as follows: James MacDonald School Director Sasha Marshall Head of Early Childhood Centre Loretta Stanley Assistant Head of Early Childhood Centre LaTyia Rolle Head of Elementary School Christopher Leakey Assistant Head of Elementary School Mike Crowley Head of Middle School Assistant Director Mary Jeanne Farris Assistant Head of Middle School Research & Innovation Strategist Dr. Christopher Schuster Head of High School Leigh Heglund Assistant Head of High School Adam Salem Assistant Head of High School Lee Rosky Director of Athletics & Activities Fanny Chan Director of Advancement Gordon Eldridge Director of Curriculum & Professional Development Samuel Hureau Director of Finance & Operations
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Kristen Schroeder Director of Inclusion & Challenge
ISB Board of Trustees & Honorary Trustees 2024-25 ISB Board of Trustees 2024-25 ISB is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for setting the school's strategy, and is the guardian of the school's mission. This includes holding the school to account for delivering on all aspects of the mission, verifying that the school operates on a sound financial basis, and taking all necessary steps to ensure the long-term success of the school. The following individuals served on our 2024-25 Board: Simon Baxter
Francois-Valery Lecomte
Anat Berger
Suzanne Jin Mesinoglu
David Brightling
George Nazi
Philippe Colpron
Maria Pardo
Carolyn Cooley
Mark Reid
Christian Fadier
Giulio Rindi
Dimitra Fellner
David Shell
Sylvie Gigovic
Wojciech Stanislawski
Matthew Ladds
Federica Valente-Marinkovic
Mattias Lange
ISB Honorary Trustees 2024-25 ISB is privileged to be supported by our Honorary Trustees. These are individuals who have given extraordinary service to ISB, and who maintain an active, long-term relationship with the school. Scott Alcott
Ray Kubis
Alex Bongrain
Bernard McFadden
Richard Burnett
Eric Osterweil
Claudia Coory
Jim Rosenstein
Estela Dengler
William Seddon-Brown
Pierre Hochuli
J. André de Barros Teixeira
Henry Johnson
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Opening Enrolment & Student Diversity 2024-25
1,305
63
Nationalities
Opening Enrolment 2024-25
At ISB, we are proud to celebrate internationalism, and we make sure our campus is a culturally rich space that facilitates learning from and with people from all over the world. Our international student community for the school year 2024-25 included students from 63 different countries.
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Belgium
18.77%
Ireland
1.00%
Mexico
0.38%
Malta
0.15%
United States
18.16%
Poland
1.00%
Qatar
0.38%
Serbia
0.15%
Israel
7.89%
Brazil
0.92%
Austria
0.31%
Slovakia
0.15%
France
4.83%
Turkey
0.84%
Egypt
0.31%
United Arab Emirates 0.15%
Canada
4.37%
Portugal
0.77%
South Africa
0.31%
Bulgaria
0.15%
Sweden
4.37%
Finland
0.69%
Argentina
0.23%
Belarus
0.08%
United Kingdom
3.37%
Denmark
0.61%
Lithuania
0.23%
Croatia
0.08%
Italy
3.30%
Greece
0.61%
Nigeria
0.23%
Hungary
0.08%
Japan
3.14%
New Zealand
0.61%
Russia
0.23%
Morocco
0.08%
Spain
3.07%
Australia
0.54%
Ukraine
0.23%
Slovenia
0.08%
South Korea
2.84%
Pakistan
0.54%
Lebanon
0.23%
Saudi Arabia
0.08%
Netherlands
2.53%
China
0.46%
Swaziland
0.23%
Haiti
0.08%
Norway
2.22%
Cyprus
0.46%
Chile
0.15%
Lesotho
0.08%
Germany
1.99%
Romania
0.46%
Colombia
0.15%
Kazakhstan
0.08%
India
1.92%
Switzerland
0.46%
Estonia
0.15%
Namibia
0.08%
Iceland
1.46%
Kuwait
0.38%
Luxembourg
0.15%
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Exceptional Education
10
Academic Results - Class of 2025 All ISB Graduation pathways – such as the US High School Diploma, the Individualised Diploma, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, the BTEC Programme, or the Advanced Placement (AP) Programme – open doors to great future opportunities. With the widest range of IB courses in Belgium and diploma results that consistently surpass global averages, ISB stands out as the country’s leading inclusive IB school. As an inclusive school, we strongly believe in student and family choice regarding academic pathways. Students are guided by individual academic counselling and all pathways are open to all students.
IBDP Results Participation:
160 141
Number of 2025 graduates
118
Total Diploma Number of candidates students taking IB exams
49%
27%
100%
Bilingual Diplomas
Students taking IB courses with accommodations
Pass Rate
Scores:
35 5.5
Average IBDP score
Average course score (out of 7)
20%
42%
59%
81%
Students receiving 40 points or more
Students receiving 37 points or more
Students receiving 34 points or more
Students receiving 30 points or more
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
AP Results
3.84
186
AP exams taken
103
Number of students taking AP exams
Average score (out of 5)
19
Number of AP exam subjects
90%
Exams with scores of 3 or higher
13
Number of AP subjects taught in school
BTEC Results
2
Number of BTEC pathways offered
12
33
Number of students taking BTEC
27
Students working towards external BTEC qualifications
100%
BTEC Pass Rate
The Journey Beyond ISB - Class of 2025
753
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
497
4.7
APPLICATIONS PER STUDENT
220
DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS
OFFERS RECEIVED
20 $1.5M
COUNTRIES
(USD)
SCHOLARSHIPS
117
(24 WORLD CLASS UK-BASED UNIVERSITIES)
OFFERS RECEIVED
TOP 100
TOP 50
OFFERS
OFFERS
TOP 25
TOP 10
OFFERS
OFFERS
148
WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 12
24
80 15
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Professional Development ISB remains deeply committed to our mission: Everyone Included, Everyone Challenged, Everyone Successful – Independent Learner, International Citizen. Fulfilling this mission means ensuring that every student is truly known, supported, and stretched in ways that meet their individual needs. To guide this work, we continue to focus on four key areas that enable meaningful personalisation of learning: Relationships, Pedagogy, Flexible Learning Pathways, and Learning Systems. This year, our professional development programme for faculty centred on the relationship-building and instructional practices that help bring personalised learning to life in every classroom. We partnered with five outstanding external organisations – each a leader in its field – to offer a set of five high-quality workshops for teachers: Translanguaging: Supporting our multilingual learners in drawing on all of their language skills to thrive academically. Character Learning: Strengthening the productive, caring relationships that allow students to grow as international citizens. Metacognition: Helping students develop the reflective habits and learning strategies essential to becoming truly independent learners. Mixed-Ability Classrooms: Equipping teachers with strategies to personalise learning for students with diverse levels of readiness. Restorative Practices: Fostering classroom environments built on mutual respect, empathy, and a strong sense of community. Teacher response to these learning opportunities was exceptionally positive. More than three-quarters of our faculty reported that the workshops were extremely useful in helping them meet their professional goals, and a similar number expressed enthusiasm for welcoming the presenters back to continue supporting our growth. As we continue advancing our work in personalised learning, we look forward to offering further professional learning experiences that deepen teacher expertise and enrich student learning across ISB.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Future Focused 16
STEM at ISB During the 2024–25 school year, ISB advanced its whole-school STEM vision through deeper curriculum alignment, expanded learning experiences, and strengthened community partnerships. All divisions continued work toward ensuring every student completes at least one meaningful STEM project annually, supported by a newly piloted STEM Project Planner and updated documentation of STEM standards and design-cycle integration across ECC-HS.
Key STEM Developments in 2024-25: 100% of ECC-Grade 10 teams engaged in documenting or refining grade-level STEM Focus Projects, including new coding, maker, and engineering experiences. SAM Labs integration expanded across Lower School, with Grade 3 and 5 pilot projects and dedicated SAM Squad professional learning for teachers. Middle School students completed signature STEM experiences in their core classes and in two new STEM elective courses, STEM Discovery and Biotech STEM. These experiences included the Science 7 Boat Project and design proposals for the new ECC STEM Space. High School teams continued tracking STEM course pathways and increased interdisciplinary project offerings. Community partnerships strengthened, including renewed collaboration with Greenlight for Girls and participation in coding and technology workshops. Faculty professional development & curriculum review: The Technology Curriculum Review Team worked throughout the year to align ISB’s technology and engineering design standards – integrating ISTE, engineering design cycle elements, and coding expectations from CSTA – while supporting faculty to ensure consistent PreK–12 implementation.
ISB continues to build a cohesive, future-focused STEM pathway, ensuring students gain meaningful, handson experiences that develop problem-solving, creativity, and innovation skills.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Greenlight for Girls (G4G) in Brussels I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the G4G (Greenlight for Girls) initiative, which focuses on encouraging girls to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The programme was an amazing experience that allowed me to visit the U.S. Embassy in Brussels not once, but twice. During my first visit, I interacted with a diverse group of peers and mentors who share a passion for STEM. The event was an inspiring space to exchange ideas and specifically, I got a deeper understanding of how important sustainability is for our future, which was the focus of the first workshop. [...] Being at the embassy surrounded by inspiring women working in STEM fields who gave me invaluable advice for the future, made the experience even more special, as it showed me that my voice and ideas matter. I am incredibly grateful to my school, for making opportunities like G4G possible. This experience has only deepened my interest in STEM and has left me excited for the next challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Grade 12 Student
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We are fostering a culture where AI supports every learner’s journey – deepening personalisation while keeping humans at the heart of education. Christopher Leakey, Assistant Head of Elementary School and member of ISB’s AI Working Group
AI and Personalised Learning ISB has long been at the forefront of exploring and utilising technology to support personalisation and learning. From the first computer labs to the 1:1 laptop programme, ISB looks toward the future and endeavours to prepare students for a changing world. While AI holds significant potential for learning, it also has challenges in its sustainability and ethical use. ISB has taken a human-centred approach, keeping comprehensive student learning at the core, while also ensuring that our students have the experience and skills to navigate and utilise this powerful tool. For the last two years, our AI Working Group built ISB’s approach by focusing on best practices from international organisations such as UNESCO, learning from experts in the field, and sharing with other international schools. Guidance for teachers and students on using AI ethically was developed and is currently being implemented, along with building student and teacher literacy around AI. Transparency and trust have been key in developing ISB’s approach to AI usage – ensuring that each student who uses AI understands how to get the most from the tool, is aware of the biases and errors that can appear, and is transparent about how AI is used to support their learning. By using educational AI tools, such as our school-wide FlintK12 platform, teachers can create targeted chatbots that greatly enhance the student experience. Potential applications include support for test preparation, deeper content exploration, and immediate writing feedback – all provided in a secure environment designed to actively support learning, not supplant it. Looking forward, ISB will continue to explore how AI can support teaching and learning so that our personalised instruction further develops to meet each student’s individual needs.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Connected International Community
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Home Language Programme In the spirit of honouring our diverse student body, in 2024-25 we launched the extended Home Language Programme in the Lower School. In addition to English, French, and Dutch for native speakers, ISB started offering classes in the other languages most spoken at home by our student community – Swedish, Japanese, Korean, Hebrew, and Spanish – during the school day and within students’ timetables. The Home Language Programme not only supports the development and maintenance of students’ home languages, but also enriches their overall academic experience. By strengthening problem-solving abilities, expanding vocabulary, and enhancing literacy, multilingualism offers students a clear cognitive advantage and opens doors to deeper learning. Through an additive multilingualism approach, students draw on all of their language resources at school, ensuring continuous growth in their home language while benefiting from cognitive gains that transfer across languages. The programme also affirms identity and equity by making every student’s cultural and linguistic background visible, valued, and celebrated. This fosters pride in their home language and culture, and ensures that all students can fully engage in learning from their first day at ISB. Ultimately, the Home Language Programme equips students with the proficiency they need to thrive both during their time at ISB and in their future academic or personal journeys, including those who return to their home countries. Within a year since its launch, the number of students taking part in the Lower School Home Language Programme increased from 128 students in autumn 2024 to 158 students at the beginning of autumn 2025. Furthermore, the Home Language Programme was also extended to the Upper School in the following academic year 2025-26.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Every class, we practice writing Korean words correctly. We’ve also learned how to write explanatory texts and even how to write poems using metaphors. Student Grade 3, Korean Speaker
The Home Language Programme is key to keeping our connection to our culture, roots, and family. It also helps our children grow up bilingual and proud of their identity. The Spanish classes have improved their confidence, vocabulary, and reading and writing skills. They have also strengthened our family and cultural ties, especially with the grandparents. G1 Parent, Spanish Speaker
Through language, our students don’t just learn to speak – they learn to embrace their cultures, celebrate their roots, and honour the traditions that make them unique. Helen Byrne, Lower School Home Languages Coordinator
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Community Engagement Programme
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Community Engagement Programme At ISB, community engagement is at the heart of the learning experience, reflecting our pride in being part of a connected international community while valuing our local environment, its traditions, and its people. Through class projects and volunteering opportunities in the Lower School, and through our CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) programme in the Upper School, students across all year levels have opportunities to get involved in meaningful projects, both on campus and within the wider community. From human rights initiatives and environmental work to supporting refugees and individuals with additional needs, students choose causes that inspire them and often step beyond their comfort zones. The 2024-25 school year was filled with exciting and rewarding experiences that nurtured social awareness, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to making a difference, helping students not only contribute to their community but also discover possible directions for their post-ISB futures.
The Community Partners
Homeless
Refugees
Disadvantaged children
Individuals with additional needs
Low-income families
Animal welfare
Environmental projects
Senior care support project
Engagement in Numbers
6,200
480
27
Total hours volunteered to help communities in need
No. of students involved
No. of base community engagement partners
600
No. of hygiene packages provided
24
500
No. of feminine packages provided
6,900
500 No. of winter care kits
No. of meals, lunch & snack packages provided
Family Association From the moment your child joins ISB, your whole family becomes a cherished part of the ISB Family Association (FA). Coordinated by parent volunteers from within our community, the FA is devoted to creating a connected, welcoming environment where every family feels included, engaged, and celebrated. Our passionate parent volunteers generously share their time, energy, and heart with the school, helping to bring our community to life. Each year, they organise hundreds of events for the entire family, including the much-loved annual ISB International Festival.
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1,700+
Years tradition
25+
International booths at the annual International Festival
Members
30+ Members in operational roles
100+
Volunteers helping out the school each month
390+
Events on and off campus each year
8,186 Hamburgers flipped during the 3 sports seasons
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Family Association Operations Team 2024-25 Jenne Whitelaw President Maria Kesänen Administration Luiza Palhano Treasury Brooke Peterson Communications Alycia Clark Sijen Olthof Sports Council Rachel Reiner Arts Council Dr. Elizabeth Joy Shaffer Welcome Team Hania Ghabra International Festival
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Irene Pozzoli Anisa Khamissa Francesca Cavalli Valentina Cocini Rindi Alessandra Cantini Community Events Caroline Suzor Green Team/Forest Walks Tiziana Grometto Davide Reynaud Bagel Team Andrew Gerbig ISB Dads Alessandra Cantini Language Learning Francesca Cavalli Cooking Classes Cameron Tomkinson Cycling Club
Jill Brightling ECC Representative Ashley Anderson Alen Arikan Dagrun Wold Adrienne Bory Lisa Håkanson Norén Karika Shah ES Representatives Valentina Fiore Rola Salloum MS Representatives Danya Idriss Luiza Palhano Laleh Bauer-Akbarian HS Representatives
Alumni Community 2024-25 Our Alumni For almost 75 years ISB has been a second home to so many individuals who left their mark and helped us become the school we are today. Our alumni are at the heart of our success as an institution, and they will pave the way for the future that we envision at ISB. Currently we have over 25,000 alumni around the world, and we cherish every opportunity we get to celebrate them and to welcome them back home. Alumni Tours The 2024-25 school year was truly a celebration of ISB’s global alumni community. We began the year with a remarkable Alumni Reunion in Tokyo, where more than 200 alumni gathered to reconnect and reminisce. Shortly after, we continued our journey to London, bringing together alumni from across the UK for an evening filled with shared memories and new conversations. In April 2025, ISB travelled across North America, hosting reunions in New York, Toronto, and Seattle. Each stop reflected the incredible reach of our community and the lifelong bonds formed at ISB. Back on campus, we were delighted to welcome the Former Faculty & Staff Group (FFSG) for their Spring Lunch, an annual opportunity to honour the teachers and staff who helped shape generations of students. We closed the year with the Class of 2015 and Class of 2020 returning to ISB for their 10- and 5-year reunions, filling the campus with the excitement and nostalgia of old friends reunited. These gatherings remind us of the strength and warmth of the ISB alumni community, one that continues to grow, reconnect, and celebrate shared experiences, no matter where they are in the world. Alumni Communications This year has been an exciting one for strengthening how we connect with our global alumni community. Following the successful launch of our quarterly Alumni Newsletter last year, it has quickly become a valued touchpoint, sharing school updates, alumni features, reunions, and mentoring opportunities through our new notice board. Alumni have expressed genuine appreciation for these updates, which help them stay connected and informed, no matter where they are in the world. One of our most impactful developments has been the launch of the official ISB Alumni Instagram account, which has already begun engaging our younger alumni and expanding our reach in dynamic ways. Together, these initiatives continue to strengthen connections, celebrate our community, and keep ISB alumni close to home.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
James Sidgwick Teacher Recognition Award 2024-25 Every year, our alumni are invited to nominate their favourite teacher amongst those who have taught at ISB for at least 5 years. Each year, the nominees are selected from a specific school section, and the 2024-25 award celebrated a teacher from the Early Childhood Centre or Elementary School. Named after James Sidgwick, who served as Deputy Headmaster at ISB (1956-69) as well as Headmaster of the Elementary School (1969–88), the award was created by members of the ISB Alumni Community to recognise the dedication and professionalism of ISB teachers. After receiving numerous nominations and testimonials about many great Early Childhood Centre and Elementary School ISB teachers, we announced Jeffrey Brewster, the Lower School Librarian, as the winner of the 2024-25 award. Mr. Brewster consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication to the growth and wellbeing of his students. Imaginative, empathetic, and generous, he always placed the student at the centre of everything he did. We warmly congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!
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A New ISB Representative – Our Mascot Loup From February to September 2024, ISB ran a school-wide campaign to select and name a new mascot, replacing the Knight with a more inclusive symbol that reflects our forest environment. Three candidates – the Wolf, the Fox, and the Badger – were designed in partnership with the Leadership Team and Athletics Department and promoted through the Community Update and on-campus campaigns. Voting mechanisms engaged all age groups: Upper School students and staff voted online, while Lower School students voted in person using marble ballots. The Wolf won by a clear majority, becoming the official ISB mascot from the start of the 2024-25 school year. To introduce our new mascot to the community, the Wolf was present at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, welcoming students, parents, and teachers back to campus after the summer holidays. During 2024-25, a comprehensive rebranding campaign saw all the logos on campus (the gyms, sports fields, the Raiders’ cafe, and the Raiders’ food truck) changed to our new mascot, and the Wolf replaced the Knight on all Raiders’ uniforms and ISB merchandise. Once elected and introduced to our community, the Wolf had to be named, and who best to decide on the name but our students and staff? We ran a second campaign requesting name submissions, and a final vote to pick between the emerging favourites. Loup, the Wolf, was chosen and named by our school community, in a democratic exercise that brought everyone together behind our school’s new symbol. From teachers’ presentations on the campaign and the power of voting, to student portrait submissions of the Wolf, everyone was involved and excited to play a part in our school’s historic election. More than 330 name submissions and a further 340 votes led to the selection of Loup, the Wolf, officially announced at Homecoming in October 2024. Loup has become, in the meantime, a true whole-school character, making appearances at events throughout all sections and for all students. The new mascot’s reach goes beyond our Athletics Programme and became an ISB symbol for everyone. Involving all staff in this project, from administrative departments to heads of schools, and all students from pre-schoolers to seniors and from STEM enthusiasts to our performing artists, successfully emphasised the whole-school approach we nurture at ISB, and established Loup as the representation of ISB's diverse and inclusive community.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Supporting Learning at ISB
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Campus Development 2024-25 Day-to-day school activities and new developments are supported by a committed operational team who ensures that all practical and administrative aspects of our school run smoothly to empower learning and to create new opportunities.
ECC
New drama studio/learning space hosting The Museum of Magical Things
New paint on the second floor, the hallway, and the main stairwell from ECC0 to ECC-1
ES
Various improvements to the creativity cave, including the addition of a sink cabinet
Elevator replacement
Lower School
Complete renovation of the faculty restrooms on the first and second floors
Improvements to the ECC playground, including a new mini climbing wall by the sandbox and lifting the roof of the cabin
Walking paths replaced and improved rainwater drainage system at the outdoor gate and the turnstile
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
MS
Restrooms upgrades on all floors – new mirrors and new mirror lights
HS
Replaced the water fountains and added an additional one on the ground floor
Metairie
Landscaping of the planting areas, painting the facade, the woodwork, and the planters, and installation of a new panel
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Ongoing redesign of the large STEM room at the ICC (ICC105 extension)
Athletics
Complete renovation of the athletics track via an innovative technique – We have the first track in the country to use this resurfacing process on a Mondo track!
Renovation of the sanitary floors at the ICC
Campus wide
Repainting of the parking spaces and green pedestrian pathways in the car park and entrance to ISB – This project was completed entirely by our CST team.
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The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Financial Report Founded in 1951 as a non-profit school, ISB’s long-standing success rests on a strong tradition of effective governance and prudent financial management. While income and expenditure naturally vary from year to year, thoughtful financial planning enables us to consistently deliver an innovative educational programme that empowers every student to realise their full potential, supported by safe and inclusive state-of-the-art facilities that meet the diverse needs and talents of our community.
Income Statement Tuition Fees
92%
Other Income
8%
Expenses
34
Personnel Expenses
70%
General Expenses
13%
Depreciation
10%
Learning Resources
3%
Facilities
2%
Other Expenses
2%
Income & Expenditure Breakdown
Balance Sheet
35
The International School of Brussels | Annual Report 2024-25
Donor Roll 2024-25 We want to thank the ISB community for demonstrating continued generosity and belief in our mission. These financial gifts strengthen our ability to ensure every child at ISB is included, challenged, and successful, and they empower us to remain a leader in exceptional inclusive education, continuing to nurture well-rounded individuals who make a lasting impact. Our donors play a vital role in shaping a future where every student can thrive, and we are deeply grateful to have them as partners on this journey.
Current Families
Former Students
Dimitra Fellner (Board Member)
Anne Thompson 1975 Gary Vance 1967
Former Parents
Chuck (Harvey) Dorney 1962 Heather Micati 1989
Anne Marchal P’23
James Waldin 1968
Jay Norton Jr P’98, ‘01
Kenneth Davis 1969
Karen Joyce P’14
Matthew Gelfand 2004
Thomas Halsey P’89
Larry (Laurence) Tanner 1964
Stephanie Hilbert P’92
Susan Smith 1984 Tom Hartnett 1975
Former Employees Kevin Horst (also former student 2006)
Restricted Gifts to Awards Funds
Lawrence Kelly
Jay Norton Jr P’98, ‘01
Mary Ellen Cochran Michele Wren
36
Everyone Included Everyone Challenged Everyone Successful
The International School of Brussels
ISB Annual Report 2024-25