ISB Alumni Newsletter - 21 June 2024

N E W S L E T T E R

21 JUNE 2024

WELCOME!

Dear ISB Alumni,

I am delighted to welcome you to the revived Alumni Newsletter. This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to keep you updated and engaged with the latest insights, memories, news, and updates from our beloved school.

To kick off this edition, I have recorded a special video message for you in an attempt to create a bit more of a personal connection.

We hope this newsletter helps to reconnect you with your school and with each other. It includes a variety of exciting content, such as the latest school news and updates, a wrap-up of recent events, upcoming events and our special "Walking Down Memory Lane" section featuring heartfelt alumni testimonials and memoirs.

We also want to hear from you – please send us your stories! We want to know all about your achievements and experiences, as they continue to inspire our current students and faculty Your connection to the school helps to strengthen our institution's legacy.

Thank you for your continued support and for being an essential part of our school community We look forward to staying connected and sharing many more updates with you

Warm regards,

James MacDonald ISB Director

ISB NEWS & UPDATES

WELCOME, CLASS OF 2024!

We are excited to extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our alumni family: the Class of 2024!

This remarkable group of graduates has shown resilience, dedication, and a strong sense of community throughout their time at our school As they embark on their next adventures, we are proud to embrace them into our ever-growing network of distinguished alumni

Your journey as alumni begins now, and we are thrilled to have you with us!

SCHOOL UPDATES

Owning our own home!

We are proud that, after 70 years of leasing, our campus - our home - is officially ours! This marks one of the most significant milestones in the history of our school.

46th International Festival

On Sunday, 9 June, ISB hosted the 46th

UPCOMING EVENTS

This section is dedicated to keeping you informed about our upcoming events. We are very excited to announce an upcoming Alumni Reunion!

Get ready for an unforgettable event! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more exciting details coming your way soon To give you a taste of the fun, here’s some pictures from our past Japan reunions:

Additionally, we are planning other alumni reunions and gatherings, so keep an eye out for further updates. We look forward to reconnecting with you and celebrating our shared memories.

We also want to hear from you! Please let us know where you would like a reunion to be held. We appreciate your input and feedback as it helps us plan events that are convenient and enjoyable for all our alumni.

WALKINGDOWNMEMORYLANE

INSIGHTFULMEMOIRFROMGAILHNELSON: “MYMEMOIROFISBDURING1956-1957”

The International School of Brussels A Bird’s Eye View of 7th Grade 1956-1957

The Chateau stood before me in Fall 1956 with formidable preeminence. Leaves were turning yellow and gentle winds swept the Boitsfort streets Climbing the hill through the iron gate foretold a 19th century elegance with echoes of glory The pathway was welcoming as the chateau appeared before me. Without knowing it, I had entered the iconic majesty of former wealth during the forlorn era of Imperial Power. The estate whispered a century of privilege across the playing field and the forbidden pathways overlooking the lake Peace and tranquility governed the domain Greek Philosophers could not have imagined a more perfect location for academic excellence combined with exquisite tranquility. Yet there I stood - a humble product of American invention quietly embracing Belgian history, civilisation, and culture.

The chateau gradually entered the soul during the following days, weeks, and months It shared a profound history for the curious mind. Built for the late 19th century upper class, the rooms were later perfectly sized for a dozen students per room including the ISB administrators. The second floor served two and perhaps three classrooms overlooking the playing field Forbidden to us was the third-floor attic which housed the servant cubicles in former times and was accessible through the spiral staircase Echoes of past times could be sensed there The rear of the chateau opened onto the playing field and the grand walkway to the forbidden forest (the iconic oak or was it a chestnut tree?) and to the rail lines carved out at the edge of the estate Our class intermissions were spent frolicking about the playing field but within hearing distance of the bell Yet the rear of the chateau stood silent observing all in wonder – the Sphinx The new generation lined up there in its shadows for assembly, arrival, and delivery to their Brussels homes.

Our Seventh Grade Class of about 12 students was composed of American, Egyptian, Indian, Dutch, and South American nationals, most from diplomatic families The group was distinguished by the ISB Blazers which encouraged a sense of unity within the ISB Middle School Community. The High School had not yet been established and no other buildings were yet constructed on the estate Mr James Sidgwick led the class with lectures on English Literature – a desperate attempt to educate young restless minds in not only British but also European history and culture The best of us took notes while osmosis set in for others. But the times were distracting. The Faculty & Staff were veterans of World War II The chateau had been a German Military Headquarters during the war Locals knew the Nazi Occupation and the scars of war marked them Nobody talked The Soviets had just invaded Hungary (1956) The 1958 World’s Fair was in preparation The Cold War embodied uncertainty. Waterloo was a day’s drive as was the Gestapo Interrogation Center at Breendonk But these formidable events were well above the comprehension of our student class It was enough that many of us would later enter the ongoing Cold War that would define our identity including Berlin, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Vietnam, and beyond. For 1956-1957 it was enough to enjoy the peace and tranquility of ISB under the watchful eye of teachers that knew very well a more imperfect world

Residence at ISB only lasted one year since our elders were reassigned to US Air Forces in France. We departed Brussels with tearful regret in 1957. However, the ISB touchstone remains in the soul echoing the world as it should be while providing the benchmark for further study decades later ISB remains today echoing a time and place in which beauty, tranquility, and solitude served to enhance life in a turbulent world There will always be the lake overlooked by the pathway and the Victorian Bench hidden within. I sit there now in the shadow of ‘My Chateau’.

WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANE

A SPECIAL MOMENT ON A SPECIAL DAY

We are thrilled to share a heartwarming moment from our recent alumni event. Among the many esteemed graduates who joined us last week, we had the honour of welcoming a very special guest – a member of the first ever ISB graduating class of 1962, Chuck Dorney!

This incredible reunion brought together alumni from every age and corner of the globe, creating an atmosphere filled with nostalgia and camaraderie It was truly amazing to see how our school’s spirit has remained strong throughout the decades.

FORMER FACULTY TESTIMONIAL

“I had the privilege and pleasure of working at ISB for 34 years. Thanks to the trust that Robert Ater and Malcolm Cromarty offered me in 1982, I began my career as a Social Studies teacher and, later, Middle School librarian I ended my career as the Head of the MHS Library working with a "golden team" of outstanding professionals who, like so many others at ISB, became friends.

I have not one but many "nice" memories to list here, but let me enjoy revisiting a time when, charged with the task of advising various groups of MS students over three years, I rediscovered the joy of building trusting relationships with young people who offer humour, kindness, and yes, their affection in return for a teacher's enthusiasm, passion and generosity ” - Mrs Basha (ISB 1982-2016)

JAMES SIDGWICK AWARD

The winner of the James Sidgwick Award 2024 is Beata Olek!

Ms. Olek consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to the success and wellbeing of her students, and all of us at ISB warmly congratulate her!

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to teach chemistry, an amazing science, where complex questions often have simple answers (electronegativity) or just generate more questions (but why?). Thank you all so much for remembering our challenging and fun journey through the Periodic Table landscape.” - Beata Olek

GIVINGTOISB

ENHANCINGOURSCHOOLTOGETHER

Support for the ISB Annual Fund is an important way in which our global community helps enhance the ISB experience, year after year Your contributions help enrich our learning environment and facilities, providing students with the best possible education

Through the generous gifts from parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and friends around the world, we are able to invest in a wide range of projects and programmes. These investments allow us to make significant improvements that benefit every student and help shape the future of our school.

We invite you to visit our webpage by clicking here. To explore the different ways you can support the ISB Annual Fund and to learn more about the impact of your contributions, you can always contact us at alumni@isb.be.

Thank you for being an essential part of our global community and for your continued support. Together, we can continue to make ISB a place where students thrive and excel.

ALUMNISUCCESSSTORIES

WEWANTTOKNOWALLABOUTYOU!

This dedicated section will highlight the remarkable journeys and achievements of our alumni community.

Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear from you! Whether you've started a successful business, made significant strides in your career, or are making a difference in your community, your story can inspire and motivate others

To feature your story in our newsletter and on our website, please reach out to us by email at alumni@isb.be with your story and portrait picture We look forward to celebrating your success and sharing it with our community. To read some of the amazing stories from your fellow alumni, please visit our Alumni Success Stories webpage.