DIRECTOR’SUPDATE
DearCommunity,
It’s the last Community Update before Spring Break and we are fast approaching the end of yet another school year at ISB! At this time in the year we always reflect on our achievementsasaschoolthusfar,andIamhappytoseethemanywaysinwhichour connectedinternationalcommunitygrewstrongerin2024-2025.
FridaymarkedthelastdayoncampusforourgraduatingClassof2025,andIwouldlike tothankourteamsfortheirworkinplanningandexecutingthewonderfulcelebrations for our seniors This year we honoured our graduating class by unveiling “Patterns of Community”, an artwork celebrating our diverse and cohesive community. I would like to congratulate Antoine Almada-Midy, our BTEC Art & Design Extended Diploma graduating student, for capturing the essence of how we are made stronger by our differences, and to wish him and all of Class of 2025 all the best in their upcoming exams and future careers We will miss seeing them around the campus, but cannot waittoseewheretheirpathswilltakethemnext!
Anothertestamenttoourstrongcommunityareouralumni,whostayconnectedtoISB andtothefriendshipsformedhere,nomatterwherelifetakesthem.Thispastweekwe hosted alumni reunions in New York and Toronto with close to 150 attendees between the two events, and this weekend we will host another reunion in Seattle. Closer to home, today our Middle School is hosting a Kudimbathon, where students will walk or run to support the Kudimba Foundation, a daycare for vulnerable children in Malawi with whom ISB has been partnering for many years We are also very excited that the 47theditionoftheannualISBInternationalFestivalishappeningonSunday,8Junefrom 10:00 to 16:00. We hope that your families and friends can join us for a full-day of fun activities,samplinginternationalcuisines,andenjoyingculturalperformancesfromthe manynationsthatarerepresentedatISB.
Ittakesallofustomaintainthissenseofcommunityand,yearonyear,it’sgreattosee thatstudents,parents,andemployeesalikearecommittedtomakingISBaplacewhere everyonebelongsandthrives.
Iwishyouallaveryrestfulbreak!
JamesMacDonald ISBDirector
PATTERNSOFCOMMUNITY
MURALREVEAL
Last Friday marked the last day of school for the Class of 2025, and what better way to celebrate than byunveilingalastingpieceoftheir legacy?
Patterns of Community, a stunning mural created by Grade 12 student Antoine Almada-Midy as part of his graduate work for the BTEC Art & Design Extended Diploma, was revealed to our community as we were celebrating our seniors' success to date and future ambitions
This inspiring artwork is a celebration of the strength and beauty of our ISB community of how we unite as one while honouring our unique identities It also serves as a tribute to our 2025 graduates, by marking the contributions of our talentedanddedicatedstudent-artists.
Antoine, who has been at ISB since Grade 5, is now preparing for his next chapter studying Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins or Glasgow School of Art. He wants to pursue a future career in the arts, and is very committed to making his dream comethrough.AfunfactaboutAntoineisthathehasalreadyfilled17sketchbooks (DINA4)inthisschoolyearalone.
FindoutmoreaboutAntoine’sexperiencewithBTECArt&DesignExtendedDiploma andotherBTECstorieshere
ISBARTS
Celebration of Nature & Songs – ISB All Choirs Performance
The Choir Department is excited to be performing their All Choirs Concert A Celebration of Nature and Songs in the stunningCathédraledesSaintsMicheletGudul,inBrussels on 7 May 2025. Our talented student musicians will sing a variety of beautiful choral music, including a spectacular performance of Vivaldi's Gloria. The concert will be dedicated to fundraising for the ASBL Notre Abri. Follow this linktofindoutmoreinformationaboutNotreAbri,including how you can donate Ticket bookings for the concert are alreadyopen
TheThreeMusketeers
SherlockHolmes:TheBakerStreetIrregulars
The Middle School Theatre Production, Sherlock Holmes: The Baker Street Irregulars,istakingplaceintheISBTheatreon9 and 10 May Sherlock Holmes is missing, and the streets of London are awash with crime Who will save the day? The Baker Street Irregulars a gang of street kids hired by Sherlock himself to help solve cases! Booking for tickets openson28April
Tickets for both events can be booked at www.isb.be/tickets.
On Monday, 31 March we hosted the Théâtre du Héron Company for a special performanceofTheThreeMusketeersatourISBTheatre
ThiseventwasorganisedbytheMiddleSchoolLanguageDepartmentasanopportunity forFrenchlanguageimmersionforstudentsintheMiddleSchool,andwasopentosome French-language students from the Elementary School and High School In total, approximately 260 students attended The Three Musketeers to witness the talented artistsandtofurtherengageartisticallywiththelanguageofourhostcity
Please check the Raiders Weekly Schedule to see information about upcoming Raiders games Allresultsfromthisseasoncanbefoundhere
As a reminder, the Spring Season Practice Schedule and all other relevant documents are availableintheAthleticsResources
HSChessTeamWinnersoftheISST8CyberChessTournament
It'snotjustourISBathletescompetingatahighlevel!CongratulationstoourHighSchoolChess Team, who won the recent ISST8 Cyber Chess Tournament against four other International Schools in Austria, Switzerland, London, and Germany, which are part of the ISST organisation. Theybattledthroughmultipleroundsofonlinechessmatchesandemergedaswinners.
CongratulationstoAdam,Ben,Lincoln,Ari,andMichael.GoRaiders!
JoinourLeadershipTeam!
Asannouncedpreviously,wearesearchingforournextBSAPresident.
TheBoardPresidentworkscloselywiththeentireBSALeadershipTeamandguidestheirwork tomakeapositivedifferencefortheinternationalsportscommunityinBrussels Clickhereto meettheteam!
BSAisanot-for-profitorganisation,andatthecoreofBSAisvolunteering BSAdependsonthe incredible commitment of our volunteers, from Sports Directors and coaches to board membersandthosehelpingoutbehindthescenesatourcommunityevents
Foranyadditionalquestions,pleaseemailoffice@bsasports.org.
OTHERNEWS
DarknessIntoLight2025
Join the High School Counselling Team at 5:00 AM on 10 May in Parc Cinquantenaire for a powerfulwalkofhope,unity,andsupport.Together,we’llwelcomethesunriseandraisefunds formentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention.
OurSchool’sFundraisingGoal:€200
Joinourteamhere!Passcode:Raiders2025
Adults€24|Adolescents€5
Even if you can’t attend, you can still donate via this link! Proceeds go towards the CommunityHelpService(CHS).
Moreinfo:DarknessIntoLight&theBelgianSpecificSite
Let’swalkfromdarknessintolight becausehopeshinesbrightestinthedark
InclusiveUniversity&ServicesNight
Wednesday,14May2025|18:00–20:00CEST|Virtual (Zoom)
ISB is hosting an Inclusive University & Services Night a virtual event designed for neurodiverse students and their families who are exploring inclusive post-secondary pathways The evening will feature universities and organisationsfromEuropeandtheUnitedStatesthatoffer programmes supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Attendees will learn about academic, vocational, and life skills programmes that promote independence, access, and belonging beyond HighSchool.ThiseventisopentoISBfamiliesandthewider community
Register here and check out the list of participating programmeshere
Kudimbathon
The Middle School is hosting th ort the Kudimba Foundation, a daycare for vulnerable childre walk or run laps to raise funds, continuing a decade-long par mba Click here for details on sponsoringyourchildandmaki olinMalawi
APRIL AT ISB
ISYOURFAMILYLEAVINGISB?
Wehaveresourcesandsupportinplacethat canhelp.TheHSCounsellingTeamwouldlike to share the ISB Transitions website, which was created to provide resources to assist families navigating various life transitions Topics covered include graduating, family changes,andmanagingstressfultimes.
Furthermore,on9MayourCounsellingTeam will hold school-specific parent sessions to guide families through upcoming changes andtransitions:
LowerSchoolParentSession–LeavingISB-Changes&Transitions
Friday,9May,09:00-10:00–ES/ECCLibrary
For those of you moving from Brussels and/or ISB at the end of the year, the Lower SchoolCounsellingTeam,PetalandCarla,areorganisingaTransitionMeetingtohelp you prepare for a new international location, a return to a "home" country, and/or a startatanewschool AllparentsofchildrenfromECCandESarewelcometoattend, as we will share great resources and tools to help with a variety of changes and transitions.
UpperSchoolParentSession–LeavingISB
Friday,9May,10:00-11:00–UpperSchoolLibrary
Upper School parents, if you will be moving from ISB, this session is for you Hear tips onthetransitionprocessforyourchildjoininganewschoolandyourfamilytoanew community.PleaseRSVPHere.
Lastly, don’t forget it is very important to inform our Admissions Team that you are leaving,bycompletingthisform
