COMMUNITY UPDATE
DIRECTOR’SUPDATE
DearCommunityMembers,
It was wonderful to welcome so many of you on campus for last weekend’s Homecomingcelebrations Around2000attendees–parents,employees,alumni,and studentathletesfromotherinternationalschools–joinedonFridayduringwhatisone of the most exciting events of the year Homecoming is a great reminder of what a special community we have at ISB and an opportunity to showcase student talents andtostrengthencommunityconnections.
ItwasgreattoseedozensofstudentartistsperformingintheAtriuminfrontofalarge audience ThankyoutoourcreativeanddedicatedArtsDepartmentforarrangingthis production and, on a daily basis, for encouraging our student artists to find and cultivate their talents We also heard inspiring student speeches about the significanceofbeingaRaiderinshapingthemasyoungpeople,andtheirgratitudeto all their coaches and Athletics team members for creating such amazing opportunities for them. It was a lot of fun for all of us to watch so many student athletescompeteonFridayandSaturdayacrosssucharangeofsports.Asyoumight haveheardalready,ahighlightoftheeventhadtobethesurpriseunveilingofanewly wrapped Raiders bus at our whole-school assembly I can honestly say that, over the courseofmycareer,Ihaveneverseenstudentssoexcitedtoseeaschoolbus!
Let me also take this opportunity to offer a special thank you to two groups: our incredible Campus Support Team (CST) who always go above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly and our Family Association of parent volunteers who contributeinsomanyways.
Onacompletelydifferentnote,someofyouhavebeenaskingabouttheschedulefor nextschoolyear,andwearehappytosharewithyouthefinalisedschoolcalendarfor the 2025-2026 school year. It can be accessed below in today’s issue of the CommunityUpdateandonISB’sdigitalplatforms.
Hope you enjoy reading about the many announcements and activities from across ourschooldepartments,andIwishyouallawonderfulweekend!
Kindregards,
James MacDonald ISB Director
ISBARTS
ThePerformingArtsDepartmentwouldliketocongratulateourMiddleSchoolmusiciansfor alloftheirhardworkandcollaborationduringtheannualMusicRetreatatDestelheide EducationCentre,from30Septemberto2October Over150MiddleSchoolvocalistsand instrumentaliststookpartinthethree-dayintensiveretreat.Studentmusiciansimproved theirmusicalskills,stretchedtheircreativity,andhadalotoffunworkingtogetherintheir ensemblesandasafullgroup.We’dalsoliketothanktheteachersandthechaperones,who madethispossibleItcouldn’thavebeendonewithouttheirsupport
This week, the Performing Arts Department welcomed the Pell Ensemble to campus for a week-long intensive with twenty of our Middle School Theatre students, culminating in a performance this Friday, 11 October Pell Ensemble is led by choreographer Rebecca Evans andSueAdams,creatinggenre-defyingcross-disciplinarydigitaldanceworksforstageand beyond Seemoreabouttheirworkhere Tomakethisshow,studentsexploredthepowerof technologyandcodinginperformance,movementwiththeirbodies,andhowperformance canbeinteractivefortheaudienceandperformers.
STEM
From 7 to 11 October, students from the Middle School elective courses Drama and Performance, DesignCodeCreateandSTEMDiscoveryparticipatedin aMOVEANDCODEworkshop,facilitatedbymembersof Pell Ensemble (the same ensemble helping with the Middle School 5-day Play!). Students learned how movement can be choreographed using elements of coding, and planned, coded, and built an interactive light system using a Crumble Sparkle light matrix Finally, students tested both their choreography and prototype light system in order to perform a final interactiveproject.
Here'swhyISBvolunteersatL'Olivier!
L’OlivierisanelderlyhomeinUccle,whereISB organisesactivitiesandplaysmusiconceamonthto providehappinessandmakeadifferenceinthelives ofalltheresidents.Lastweekendwasthefirstvisitof theyeartoL'Olivier,inwhichweorganisedactivities thatwerecentredaroundthethemeofautumnWe playedBingo,2truthsandalie,andamusicalquiz. Theelderlycanoftenleadamonotonouslifeandour monthlymissionistosparksomesmilesWhenthey haveagoodtime,itfillsourheartswithjoyandit showsustheimportanceofsupportingthemore vulnerablecommunitiesofourcity
Weareproudtobepartofaschoolthatmakessuchanotabledifferenceinthelivesofthose whoneeditmost.
Thank you for taking the time to understand our commitment and dedication to this cause and we hope that you, like us, are proud to be part of a community that always lends a helpinghandtothoseinneed
ISBNEWS
WearetremendouslyexcitedtolaunchournewISBVirtualTour ��
Families who are moving to Brussels and want to know more about ISB but cannot travel to our campus just yet, parents who are curious about seeing our facilities and want a sneak peek before booking a campus tour, or alumni who want to revisit a place of so many fond memories can now explore our beautiful campus setting, our school departments, and our athleticsandartsfacilitiesfromthecomfortoftheirhome Weinviteallofyoutohavealook andtakeavirtualtourofyourown!
We kicked off this month with one of the most loved ISB events, our annual Homecoming event. It was wonderful to see everyone on campus for sports, performances, fun, community, and friendship. Thankyoutoeveryonewhomadeitpossible.
As you plan your activities this autumn, remember that the FA has great opportunities for parents to continue to come together, including some great parent clubs. From forest walks to cycling, and from sustainability to socialising, there is something for everyone. All ISB parents are welcome to join these wonderful opportunities to learn something new while makingfriends
JoinaGreenTeamForestWalk
JoinourveryactiveGreenTeamandsupportthemwithideasandefforts to become more sustainable There are also weekly forest walks on Monday For info or sign-up, please contact Carolina Suzor at greenteam@isbfa.beorjointheWhatsAppGroup.
GetoutwiththeISBDadsGroup
TheFADad'sClubcomestogetherforsportsoradrinkandsupportsthe schoolinvariouseventsandactivities AllISBfathersarewelcometojoin Formoreinformation,contactAndrewGerbigatisbdads@isbfa.be
EnjoytheforestwiththeFACyclingClub
The Cycling Club is back this Fall Get out and enjoy the amazing forest around ISB with other parents For more information, contact Cameron Tomkinsonatcycling@isbfa.be
Doyouhaveanideaforaclub? Pleaseletusknowatcommunity@isbfa.be
Letterman jackets are now available to purchase for members of Fall Season Varsity teams. HereistheOrderFormLink.
The Fall Season has been going strong for our Volleyball, Field Hockey, Tennis, American Football, Soccer, and Cross Country teams Please see the Raiders Athletics Weekly Schedule for details on upcoming games, meets, and matches. You can find the results (updatedweekly)ontheAthleticsResultspageontheISBwebsite
Come one, come all to ISB's first ever Unified Soccer HomeMatch!
This Saturday, 12 October from 10:30 - 12:30, ISB will be hosting the KOSC Wijgmaal team in a soccer exhibition on the Lower Field. Feel free to come by and support some of our hardworkingunifiedathletesandpeercoaches
Unified sports is a programme in association with the Special Olympics, which aims to unite athletes with and without learning exceptionalities through social integration. This year we have 19 unified athletes ranging from ages 8 to 18, and 15 unifiedpartnersfromages11to18
Ifyouhaveanyquestionspleasereachouteitherviaemail We hopetoseeyouthere!
TherearenoISBPlusactivitiesduringtheupcomingLearningConferencesonThursday17 andFriday18October,butsupervisionisavailablefrom8:30-17:00foracostof70EUR. Youarewelcometoregisteryourchild(ren)ingradesPreSchool-Grade6viatheadhoc link.ThedeadlinetoregisterforsupervisionisMonday14October.Ifyouhaveanyquestions, pleaseemailisbplus@isb.be.
Registration for our Winter Basketball Programme (U8/U10/U13) will open on 22 October at www.bsasports.org/register and the schedule can be found here Our first day of training willbeSunday,24November
(Please note the schedule is subject to change based on total registration and volunteer coachavailability Anychangesintheschedulewillbecommunicatedtoregistrantsbeforethefirstdayoftraining)
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleaseemailoffice@bsasports.org.
HELLO MYNAMEIS
Loup
WearehappytoannouncethatLOUPisournewmascot’sname!
Thank you very much to all our students and colleagues who participated in this naming campaign. We received many great suggestions, and also beautifulportraitsanddrawingsofourwolfinaction �� Itwastrulyimpossible todecide,whichiswhywerequestedyourinputagaintodemocraticallyselect fromthefourfavourites.Thefinalvotingresultsareasfollows:
Loup:105 ��
Winnie:92
Marrock:80
Isby:66
We’d like to acknowledge and congratulate Marieke Eikendal de Groot, HS Counselling Office Coordinator and HS Office Assistant for her inspiration and for proposing the winning name ��
2025-26SCHOOLCALENDAR
The school calendar for next school year2025-2026isnowavailableonthe ISBwebsiteandCommunityportal.
ITNEWS
ISBCAFETERIAACCOUNT
Wouldyouneedassistancetoconnectto your child’s cafeteria account, please findastepbystepmanualhere.
Shouldyouneedhelptoresetyourlogincredentials,ourITteamis availableviaemailatIThelpdesk@isb.beandwillhappilyhelpyou.
