The International School of Brussels
COMMUNITY UPDATE ISSUE 2 – 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
DIRECTOR’S UPDATE
Dear Community, As we settle into the new school year, I want to thank all members of our school community for the warm welcome we have received and for your support in ensuring such an excellent opening. I have had the pleasure to meet many of you at our open houses, which have provided valuable opportunities for parents to meet teachers and learn more about the quality educational opportunities available throughout the year. Thank you, again, to our faculty and staff for creating such welcoming and informative sessions for families. Last weekend, we also had the joy of welcoming members of the Class of 1971 back to campus for a very special 55-year reunion. For some, it was their first time stepping back onto campus since their graduation, walking through the school again, sharing old stories, remembering friends and teachers, and seeing familiar places. So much has changed over the past 55 years, but one thing remains the same for ISB alumni worldwide – the connections made at ISB!
Yesterday and today, our faculty have been taking part in professional development sessions focused on strengthening teaching and learning across ISB, led by Dr. Timothy Cleary, Professor in the Department of School Psychology at Rutgers University. Drawing on more than two decades of research, Dr. Cleary explored how we can help students become more motivated, engaged, and self-directed learners, with a focus on what we refer to as student agency. Through interactive sessions and tailored grade-level workshops, our educators had the opportunity to explore approaches that can strengthen student motivation, resilience, self-reflection, and academic success. Looking ahead, we are also preparing to welcome students and families from across Belgium to our Brussels College Night on Wednesday, 23 September, from 18:00 to 20:00. Representatives from colleges and universities across the United States, as well as US-accredited campuses in Europe, will be on campus to help students and their families learn more about the opportunities available through the American university system. The fair is open to high school students from across Belgium, as well as to families and educators, and provides an excellent opportunity to explore different pathways and learn more about the university experience in the United States. As we continue into the school year, I look forward to seeing how students across all of our sections engage in their learning, embrace new challenges, and continue to grow and excel.
Best regards, Dr. Allan Weston ISB Director
W E N
LOWER SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB VIDEO Last issue we interviewed Ms. Katy Williams, Lower School Science & STEM Teacher, about the new science lab in the Lower School, and now it’s time to see it in action! Our new Lower School Science Lab is giving students the space to get curious and hands-on with their scientific explorations. From using microscopes and lasers to designing experiments and analysing data, students are learning to ask questions, solve problems, and explore the world around them.
ATHLETICS Hi everybody! Loup here! What a great start to the Fall season – and we've got a seriously busy weekend ahead! We'll be hosting the JV/V Boys Volleyball tournament, our U14 Girls Soccer squad takes on ASH and FIS, and let's not forget our Field Hockey athletes facing ASL. My paws are already itching for it! A few other things from my den:
🐾 Need some extra Raiders gear? Prowl on over to the Macron webshop. You'll find all kinds of merch and travel suit options to make your Raiders pride known. Nothing says "pack pride" like matching fur!
🐾 We're on the hunt for Soccer referees this weekend. If you know somebody, or you'd like to help out yourself, we'd love to hear from you. Just get in touch with Coach Fischer.
🐾 One of my favourite events is only a month away! Homecoming will take place on 16 October, and it's going to be a night to remember! American Football, face paint, Arts in the Atrium, Volleyball in the gyms, and Soccer & Field Hockey out on the fields. More details and the exact schedule coming soon! I can hardly keep my tail still just thinking about it!
🐾 We have a busy weekend ahead, and it would be fangtastic if you are around and want to help in the Raiders Cafe!! Sign up here! That's it for now, Pack. Looking forward to seeing you around campus soon!
xoxo Loup
Registration is open for volleyball and basketball!
www.bsasports.org/register
We are delighted to kick off the activities for this school year! Come and make friends, or discover a new passion. Our Fall season starts on Monday, 21 September with new activities like Musical Theatre Workshops (4-session course), Strong-Her, Upcycling Design Studio, and of course our returning classics. Fall season runs until Friday, 27 November. We still have a few spots available, so do not hesitate to contact isbplus@isb.be and we will be happy to help you.
ISB ARTS Music Retreat Next week, our Middle School Musicians are off to Destelheide Cultural Centre for two exciting days of music making, ensemble building, and creative workshops! We can’t wait to hear all about their musical adventures when they return.
Three Theatre Productions Underway for Lower School, Middle School, and High School The stage is set, and the excitement is building! Our High School Mainstage production, She Kills Monsters, and Middle School Studio Theatre production, Death to the Chronological, 15 Plays. 30 minutes. Pure Chaos, have begun rehearsals. Meanwhile, our Lower School production, Little Voices, inspired by the film Inside Out, kicks off next week. We’re thrilled to see these talented performers bring their stories to life!
Private Music Lessons Start Monday, 21 September Our talented private music teachers return to campus next Monday, 21 September! There’s still time to register your interest in private music lessons for your child. Simply complete our Google Form to get started.
Season of Events 2026-27 Mark your calendars! Explore our Season of Events and save the dates for an exciting year of concerts and performances.
Homeless
Animal welfare
Refugees
Disadvantaged children
Individuals with additional needs
Low-income families
Environmental projects
Senior Care Support Project
Engagement in Numbers School Year 2025-26 +/-
6400
Total hours volunteered with communities in need
600
No. of feminine packages provided
492
No. of students involved
27
No. of base community engagement partners
200
No. of winter care kits provided
7800
No. of meals & snack packages provided
200
No. of hygiene packages provided
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Community Partners
HEALTH OFFICE With the colder months ahead of us, we would like to remind our community about the general health-related absence guidelines. As a general rule, if your child is displaying symptoms and is unwell, they should remain at home. If symptoms worsen or do not improve after 48-72 hours, we encourage you to get a doctor’s opinion.
They are coughing frequently They have a severe cold with a continually runny nose They have vomited within the past 24 hours They have had a fever within the past 24 hours They have any condition which could be communicable
These guidelines help ensure a healthy environment for our students, teachers, and staff.
The FA teams have been busy kicking off the new school year, organising exciting new events and classes for our parents. Both longtime favorites and brand-new FA clubs are already meeting across campus, bringing our community together and offering something for everyone. Interested in learning more about what the FA has to offer? Visit our FA website for more information and to explore all the opportunities available this year.
FA LANGUAGE CLASSES The FA offers language classes for ISB parents to improve their language skills while having fun. Run by ISB parent volunteers, the classes take place once a week for 1.5 hours. This year we offer French, English, Spanish, Flemish/Dutch, and Italian. Registration for the first semester of the language programme is now open! All classes will start the week of 21 September and will run for ten weeks. We ask 50€ for the semester (10 classes) to cover material costs and support the Belrefugees Charity. Monday
Tuesday
Flemish/ Dutch (A1) 10:00-11:30
Spanish (A2/B1) 11:30-13:00 Italian (A2) 13:45-15:15
Wednesday French (B1)FUL L 9:00-10:30 English (B1) 10:30-12:00 Conversation
Thursday French (A2) 09:00-10:30 If interested, please email languagelearn@isbfa.be
French (B2) 13:45-15:15 Conversation F
French (A1) ULL 13:45-15:15
FA CLASSES
FA CLUBS & GROUPS
From our very popular cooking classes to expert-led workshops on and off campus, the FA offers many opportunities to learn while having fun. Explore the complete list of FA Classes
The FA offers numerous opportunities to learn a new skill, stay active, meet other ISB parents, and be part of our ISB Community. Find your next Group Activity
FA EVENTS
FA VOLUNTEER
The FA takes advantage of all that Belgium has to offer, with museum tours, cultural walks, theatre nights, breakfast, lunch, and evening get-togethers, and divisional meetups. Discover all upcoming FA Events
Every year, hundreds of dedicated volunteers contribute countless hours of service to our students and our school. Volunteering is a great way to meet other members of the ISB community and to share your gifts with ISB students. Discover ways to volunteer with the FA
ISB Parents are automatically members of the ISB Family Association, and we encourage ALL parents to join us for learning, fun, and friendship.
BMOBILUS SERVICE ITY SECURITY
Reminder: Late Bus pre-registration is mandatory The Fall season is approaching. Families who want their children to use the late bus must pre-register through the designated form before the season begins. Parents must record absences via the BatOnRoute safe app on the days their child is not taking the late bus so seats remain available for other riders. Late-bus service is restricted to students in Grade 5 and above. Buses serve only existing hub stops; home-stop drop-offs are not available during late-bus runs. Service operates Monday through Thursday. Two daily departures are offered at 17:20 and 18:15.
IT NEWS The Odoo Platform can now be accessed on the ISB Community Portal. What is Odoo and what is it used for? Odoo is useful for fee-paying parents/guardians who can now view invoices, track their status, and pay invoices by credit card directly on the platform. This is optional, as all parents will also continue receiving invoices by email. Current ISB parents can use Odoo to launch a new ISB application, should they want to enrol another sibling to ISB. Further instructions on how to link your current ISB Parent account to the Odoo platform will be sent in the next invoicing email (where applicable), and are available on the Community Portal. For any questions related to your parent account, please contact ithelpdesk@isb.be. For any questions regarding invoices and payments, please contact accounting@isb.be.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP FOR FREE!
IMPORTANT Reminder to Complete or Update the Health and Consent Form Important reminder that all parents are required to provide up-to-date health information about their student(s) via the form in PowerSchool. We are also required, under the GDPR statutes, to ask parents of students under the age of 13 for consent to use certain types of images (photographs, videos). The Health and Image Consent Form is a mandatory requirement for all ISB parents. A doctor’s visit is not required to complete the form.
This fall ISB is organising tailored Open Day Events to show parents who are new to Brussels or interested in changing schools what our programmes and community have to offer. Virtual Open Day | Wednesday, 30 September 14:30-16:00 Should you have any family members or friends who are curious about ISB, invite them to learn more about personalised learning and to meet our team! Registrations via the form here.
Kattenberg 19 B-1170 Brussels Belgium +32 2 661 42 11 reception@isb.be www.isb.be