The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Annual Report 2022-23
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Table of Contents ISB Director’s Welcome
3
ISB Board Chair Report
4
Our Mission & Values
6
ISB Board of Trustees & Honorary Trustees 2022-23
8
ISB Learning Leadership Team 2022-23
9
The ISB Campus: A History
11
Academic Results
14
The Journey Beyond ISB
16
STEM at ISB
17
Opening Enrolment 2022-23 & Student Diversity
19
CAS Programme
20
DEIJ/Professional Development
21
Family Association 2022-23
23
Alumni Reunions 2022-23
25
FFSG Luncheon 2022-23
26
Campus Renovations 2022-23
28
Financial Reports 2022-23
29
Donor Roll 2022-23
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
An Introduction from ISB Director, James MacDonald Dear Families, Colleagues, and Friends of ISB, I am delighted to introduce our new Annual Report, which looks back on the year 2022-23. As well as being a year full of learning and growth, as a community we celebrated a momentous milestone: our campus - our home - became ours forever, 13 years ahead of the expiration of our lease. Many of you will know that when we refer to the ISB campus, we do not only refer to our physical structures but to the conditions in which our students can learn and thrive. Being able to freely develop the kind of vibrant, safe, and sustainable learning environment we believe is key to supporting our mission has been the pursuit of successive Boards and Leadership Teams for many decades, which is why I am so thrilled that we have finally succeeded in establishing our home in its perpetuity. If I look back on the past year, I recognise the progress we have already made in realigning our priorities as one school. As well as building a more cohesive learning experience across all school sections, we harnessed the power of technology by implementing a school-wide digital platform that helped us enhance communication around learning across ISB. It was also vital in allowing us to understand how we can better challenge and support each of our students. I am also proud of the fantastic IB Diploma results of our Class of 2023, who achieved some of the highest academic scores in the history of ISB. These results, coupled with our growing enrolment numbers, signal that we are headed in the right direction when it comes to helping our students become true Independent Learners and International Citizens of the world. I also appreciate that we now stand on the brink of a new chapter, and that the coming year will be crucial in moving forward with a campus development plan that will help us both maintain and improve the quality of our education at ISB. I am confident, however, that together we will continue to find improved ways of ensuring that all our students can be better challenged, included, and successful than ever before. And with that, thank you for being a part of the ISB Family! Kind regards,
James MacDonald ISB Director
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Board Chair Report Dear ISB Community, What an incredible journey this past year has been. Purchasing the land we have nurtured and cherished for so long has been on the Board’s agenda for many years, which is why I am particularly pleased that we can now look to the future in ways we have never done before. By having the freedom to fully invest in our campus structures, we will be able to develop a comprehensive campus development plan that will help to serve generations of ISB students to come. This opportunity to reimagine and restructure the school in new and exciting ways is truly unprecedented, and we are looking forward to embarking together on this new chapter in the history of our school. In this document, we also celebrate the many accomplishments of the past year: from our growing enrolment and the progress we have been making with our STEM-focused subjects, to the incredible IB Diploma results of our graduated students, who achieved some of the highest academic scores in the history of ISB. Through it all, we acknowledge the ongoing strength of our ISB community, knowing that it is only together that we will be able to continually improve the learning experience for every child. With this in mind, I want to thank my fellow Trustees, the Leadership Team, and all of the Faculty & Staff at ISB for their continued guidance and invaluable contributions to the past, present, and future of this beautiful school. Kind regards,
George Nazi ISB Board Chair
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Our ISB campus... Tells the story of who we are
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Mission & Values
“
At ISB our Mission is to develop independent learners and international citizens in an environment where all students are included, challenged, and successful.
”
Character Learning Standards and Goals Learning Dispositions:
Learners demonstrate OPENNESS.
Learners demonstrate REFLECTION.
Learners demonstrate RESILIENCE.
Personal Values:
Learners demonstrate INTEGRITY.
Learners demonstrate FAIRNESS.
Learners demonstrate COMPASSION.
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Our Leadership
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
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 2022-23 Board.
ISB Board of Trustees 2022-23 Simon Baxter Anat Berger Alex Bongrain Alexander de Beir Christian Fadier Dimitra Fellner Sylvie Gigovic Andrea Kalan Frank Koster
Lawrence Lane Francois-Valery Lecomte Suzanne Jin Mesinoglu George Nazi Jeneva Patterson Aaron Smethurst Wojciech Stanislawski Mark Reid
ISB is honored by the support of our Honorary Trustees. These are individuals who have given extraordinary service to ISB, and who wish to maintain an active, long-term relationship with the school.
ISB Honorary Trustees 2022-23 Scott Alcott Richard Burnett Claudia Coory Estela Dengler Pierre Hochuli John Hudson Henry Johnson
Ray Kubis Bernard McFadden Eric Osterweil Jim Rosenstein William Seddon-Brown J. André de Barros Teixeira
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
The Learning Leadership Team (LLT) implements the mission and improvement plans, and develops strategies to advance all aspects of life and learning at ISB. Below is the LLT for the 2022-23 school year.
ISB Learning Leadership Team (LLT) 2022-23 James MacDonald
Leigh Heglund
School Director
Assistant Head of High School
Sasha Marshall
Adam Salem
Head of Early Childhood
Assistant Head of High School
Loretta Stanley
Gordon Eldridge
Assistant Head of Early Childhood
Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
Anna Zeiders Head of Elementary School
Lee Rosky Director of Athletics and Activities
Christopher Leakey Assistant Head of Elementary School
Kristen Schroeder Director of Inclusion and Challenge
Mike Crowley Head of Middle School
Jonathan Murray Director of Finance and Operations
MJ Farris Assistant Head of Middle School
Fanny Chan Director of Advancement
Laura Berntson Head of High School
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Our ISB campus... has been home to generations of families
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Celebrating the Land The ISB Campus: A History As the oldest international school in Belgium, the purchase of the land is an important milestone in the history of our school. As the decades came and went, our campus continued to provide our students with a flexible, safe, and sustainable learning environment in which they could play, pursue their passions, and discover the world. Now that we can look ahead to the future in new and exciting ways, we want to celebrate our journey as a school and as a community, recognising how far we have come and what this has meant to generations of ISB students who grew up, and found their way, on our beautiful campus.
The History of the ISB Château The Château des Fougères, or the Château Bischoffsheim, was built in 1854 as a country home for Baron Jonathan Raphael Bischoffsheim and his family. The Baron was a friend and advisor to Leopold I, the first King of Belgium. He was also an enthusiastic botanist, which is why a walled garden and three greenhouses were added to the grounds where our Elementary School and Stockhem buildings stand today. At the same time, the little farmhouse we know as the Metairie was built. The Baron died at his Château on February 5, 1883, but his family continued to live there until about 1895. Occupancy of the Chateau was then taken over by Chevalier de Bauer, who added two wings to the Château. During World War I, the Chateau was under occupation, and in 1920 it was rented by Alice Solvay, of the famous Solvay Chemicals family, for her daughter and son-in-law. In 1935, Mme. Delchambre used the Château as a senior citizens home, staffing it with young nurses who trained at her nursing school in Brussels.
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Celebrating the Land The ISB Campus: A History
At the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent occupation of Belgium, the Château was once again occupied by the Germans for most of the war, until briefly becoming the headquarters for British and American Army transport units in 1945. After the war, the Château became a home for older people, as well as for those who had been displaced by the war.
The Château is the third home of the school. For two brief periods, ISB was located in other parts of Brussels, first on Rue St. Hubert in Woluwe St Pierre, and then on Avenue van Becelaere in Boitsfort. The International School of Brussels moved to the Château in 1953 and continues to occupy its grounds to this day.
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Our ISB campus... Continues to enhance the ISB Learning Experience
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Academic Results At ISB, our students have access to personalised pathways which use the US High School Diploma as a base for all students, with additional opportunities for further qualification through IB, BTEC, and AP Courses, as well as the full IB Diploma and Career-related Programmes. Year after year, our results show that our students score consistently above world averages. As a school, we celebrate student autonomy and choice, and we are proud to offer the largest inclusive IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) in Belgium. As an inclusive school, we strongly believe in student and family choice regarding academic pathways. Students are guided by individual academic counseling and all pathways are open to all students.
IBDP Results Participation:
157 142 108 Number of 2023 graduates
Number of Students taking IB exams
50%
26%
97%
% of Bilingual Diplomas
% of students taking IB Courses with accomodations
% Pass Rate
Total Diploma candidates
Scores: Our IBDP Average remains the same as 2022 even in a year where the IB is pulling back on COVID mitigations.
35 5.6 Average IBDP score
15.2%
32.3%
60.9%
85.7%
% of students receiving 40 points or more
% of students receiving 37 points or more
% of students receiving 34 points or more
% of students receiving 30 points or more
Average Course score
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Academic Results IBCP & BTEC Results
3
15
Number of BTEC courses offered
Number of students taking BTEC
8
100%
Number of students taking BTEC within the IBCP
IBCP & BTEC Pass Rate %
AP Results In our second year of administering AP courses and exams, 59 students from across grade 9-12 completed 89 exams in 13 different subjects. ISB students scored significantly higher than the world average in each subject, as well as higher than the average student compared to other students in Belgium who sat AP exams in the subjects we offer.
89
3.7
AP Exams taken
Average score
83%
% of exams with scores of 3 or higher
59
13
5
Number of students taking AP Exams
Number of AP Exam subjects
Number of AP subjects taught
15
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
The Journey Beyond ISB At the International School of Brussels, we want to acknowledge the success of each of our students as they move on to life beyond ISB. We are proud of the diversity of interests, talents, and skills these results represent.
CLASS OF 2023:
156 GRADUATES 696 APPLICATIONS
WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS
$2.5M
73
(USD) (24 WORLD CLASS UK-BASED UNIVERSITIES)
OFFERS
SCHOLARSHIP
TOP 100
TOP 100
TOP 10
NATIONAL LIBERAL ARTS
78
21
1
OFFERS
OFFERS
9 OFFERS
UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM #58, TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF DELFT #61 KU LEUVEN #76
STANFORD X2, OXFORD, IMPERIAL X2, UCL X4
(EU)
OFFER
ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS: GAP YEARS: MILITARY SERVICE:
AMERICORPS
TOURISM & LEISURE
AMERICAN FOOTBALL ACADEMY
SPANISH SINGING ACADEMY
VET PRACTICES
TECH & INNOVATION PROGRAMME
ISRAEL (2)
UAE (2)
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
STEM at ISB Developing New Pathways for Excellence in STEM ISB has recently entered the next phase of its work in the development of new STEM-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects, including programmes we call ‘Pathways to Excellence’. After adopting a design process to ensure that we are continually integrating curriculum in new and better ways, we will provide new, interdisciplinary learning opportunities and pathways for all of our students. The work that we have begun in this area will also create further alignment across our four school sections, as well as additional challenge opportunities from which our students will be able to benefit in the months and years to come. As a forward-looking school with a commitment to developing a community of independent and successful learners, we believe that finding ways of combining more STEM within our programmes is fundamental to better serving all of our students at ISB.
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
An International Community
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Opening Enrolment & Student Diversity 2022-23 Opening enrolment 2022-2023:
1,291 At ISB, we are proud to celebrate internationalism every day. With students from over 66 different nationalities, it is this diversity that sets us apart and makes ISB a wonderful home for our families. This list represents the percentage of students from each country within the ISB community.
66 Nationalities
19.03% 18.58% 6.44% 4.79% 3.82% 3.67% 3.60% 3.60% 3.45% 3.30% 3.15% 2.47% 2.02% 1.95% 1.87% 1.42% 1.42% 1.05% 0.97% 1.05% 0.75% 0.75% 0.75% 0.67% 0.67% 0.67% 0.60% 0.60% 0.45% 0.37% 0.37% 0.37% 0.30% 0.30% 0.30%
USA Belgium Israel France Spain Italy Sweden Canada Japan The Netherlands United Kingdom South Korea India Norway Germany Iceland Ireland Portugal Turkey Poland Australia New Zealand Ukraine Brazil Denmark Pakistan Romania South Africa China Finland Lithuania Mexico Austria Egypt Greece
0.30% 0.30% 0.30% 0.30% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.22% 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% 0.15% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07% 0.07%
Nigeria Russian Federation Slovakia United Arab Emirates Chile Malta Kuwait Lebanon Swaziland Argentina Luxembourg Oman Qatar Singapore Switzerland Bangladesh Belarus Colombia Croatia Estonia Haiti Hong Kong Hungary Namibia Panama Peru Saudi Arabia Serbia Slovenia Taiwan Venezuela
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Community Engagement Community Engagement is a key component of the High School experience. The aim is to expose students to new experiences, often outside of their comfort zone, and to foster a lifelong commitment to helping others.
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
5,000
± 460
25
Total hours volunteered to authentic communities in need
No. of students involved
No. of base community engagement partners
3,176
580
250
No. of lunch packages provided
No. of hygiene packages provided
No. of feminine packages provided
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice at ISB At its core, an international school is a very special place where people of different cultures, faiths, and traditions can work side-by-side to build a better world. At ISB, we continue to work towards our mission of fostering International Citizens and Independent Learners in an environment where everyone is Included, Challenged, and Successful. We are on a path to building a strong and supportive community which respects and celebrates diversity, and where all of our community members are treated with dignity and feel truly included. ‘Everyone included’ signals our commitment as a school to the principles of DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice). As such, we have defined our mission of ‘everyone included’ as follows: “Learners experience inclusion when they authentically belong to a community that values them as unique human beings with inherent worth, and are empowered and supported to both learn and contribute in a meaningful way.” To ensure that we truly encompass these DEIJ principles in everything we do, we need to have the appropriate building blocks in place for this to happen, both within our classrooms and throughout the broader community. Some of these practices include: The Upstander Protocol: Across our school, we promote a protocol that encourages everyone in the community to speak up or act in support of others, becoming an upstander against injustice and unfair treatment. Classroom Culture: We have partnered with the Crisis Prevention Institute to provide professional development for all our teachers and support them in creating a calm, safe, and inclusive classroom culture. Curriculum: Our curriculum includes specific DEIJ Standards which support students in celebrating diversity, valuing all aspects of their individual identities, and developing a sense of what it means to them personally to act in support of a world that is more just. Character Learning: Our curriculum includes standards designed to help students reflect on what it means for them personally to demonstrate character traits such as: Compassion, Integrity, Fairness, Openness, Resilience, and Reflection. We have a dedicated team of leaders, leadership partners, and community members that are supporting one another to create an environment that lives up to the highest standards we have set for ourselves.
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Our Family Association
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Family Association Led by parents in our community, the ISB Family Association builds a well-informed school community where all families are welcomed, encouraged to participate, and all nationalities are celebrated. These committed and generous parent volunteers are instrumental in the success of the school by supporting events, programmes, and strengthening our community. President Administration
Jenne Whitelaw Kelly Kent
Treasurer
Luiza Palhano
Communications
Brooke Peterson
Sports Council
Jennifer Medeiros Rachel Reiner Amy Canon Kathy Guerra Karen Kennedy Matt Carrington Melanie Cherevaty Majorie Dubeau
Arts Council
Rachel Reiner
Transition
Marla Zackheim Anna Biggerstaff
Community Events
Dania Idriss Anisa Khamissa Francesca Cavalli Valentina Cocini Rindi
ECC Representatives
Heather Faase Alison Zingaro
ES Representatives
Jennifer Medeiros Loes Selen
MS Representatives
Anisa Khamissa Rola Salloum
HS Representatives
Dania IdrissLuiza Palhano
ISB Dads
70
45 Years tradition
Parents & faculty members across FA teams
2,000
40
Members
Nationalities represented across FA teams
240
120
Events per year
Volunteers helping out the school each month
3,500 Hamburgers flipped during the 3 sports seasons
Neil Doherty
23
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Annual Report
Our Alumni
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
This Will Always Be Your Home There is no better way to celebrate the legacy of our school than to reunite with our alumni from all over the world. We are so grateful for the bonds that exist between ISB, its alumni, and our former Faculty & Staff. They are at the heart of our success as an institution, and they will continue to pave the way for the future we envision at ISB. Last year was one filled with nostalgia and memorable moments. In February, James MacDonald, ISB Director, traveled to Boston together with members of the ISB Foundation to meet with former students, teachers, colleagues, and friends. In June and July, we held another series of reunions on our ISB campus, welcoming back home the Classes of 2013, 2018, 1998, 1985, and 1986. Another memorable event was the Varsity Soccer Reunion with Coach Kaisin, which saw our former student-athletes take over their beloved Upper Field for a legendary ISB game! Each time, we are reminded of how special it is to be a part of the ISB Family. We are now looking ahead to a new chapter of reunions in the Fall of 2023. In the meantime, to all our ISB Alumni: please remember that this will always be your home.
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
FFSG Reunion & Sidgwick Award Recipient We are always thrilled to have our Former Faculty & Staff back on campus with us. Similarly to our Alumni Reunions, this annual event is a wonderful opportunity to honour the legacy of our school and reconnect with so many former friends from ISB. In the Fall, we hosted a virtual FFSG Reunion which gave our Former Faculty & Staff from all over the world the opportunity to come together and reminisce about ISB. It was such a joyful moment for everyone. In May, we hosted our traditional FFSG luncheon and celebrated the recipient of the James Sidgwick Teacher Recognition Award: Deborah Heglund, who was Head of the Middle School (MS) Science Department. Deborah contributed to the life and learning of our community for two decades, and it was such a joy to be able to honour her time at the school and all of her incredible accomplishments. Following a nostalgic lunch in the MHS Cafeteria, our FFSG shared a piece of cake and a cup of coffee with some of our current Faculty & Staff members. It was a memorable day and we are looking forward to welcoming all of them back home in the coming year!
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Annual Report
Our ISB campus... provides a safe and sustainable learning environment
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Campus Renovations 2022-23
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Financial Report A non-profit school since its founding in 1951, ISB’s enduring success is built on a legacy of sound governance and financial management. Despite year-to-year fluctuations in income and expenditure, through careful multi-year financial planning, we continue to deliver an ISB Experience characterized by: An innovative educational programme that engages and empowers all learners High-quality teaching and Student Support Services that ensure excellence in learning A secure campus and related operational services that support today’s learning landscape
Income Statement Tuition Fees
91%
Other Scholasitc Income
3%
Other Income
6% Expenses
Personnel Expenses
69%
Educational Expenses
3%
Facilities
5%
Other
23% 29
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Financial Report Income & Expenditure Breakdown
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The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Financial Report Balance Sheet
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Our Donor Roll
The International School of Brussels
Annual Report
Donor Roll 2022-23 We want to thank the ISB community for demonstrating their ongoing support to the school through financial gifts. These gifts help us pursue our enduring mission of ensuring that every child at ISB is better challenged, included, and successful.
Graduates & Former Students 1960s John Back '68 Kenneth Davis '69 Eleanor Wood Ramage '66 Gary Vance '67 1970s Thomas Harnett '75 William Thompson '78 1980s Jeffrey Weaver '84 1990s Shahriar Broumand '90
Gift in Kind Patricia Bachrach '65 Current Employees Kevin Horst Former Employees Joseph Lillis Richard Hall Dorothy Blake Lawrence Kelly Kathleen Deuel Former Parents Carol Kelly P'87, '88 Jay Norton Jr P'98, '01 Karen Joyce P'14
2000s Matthew Gelfand '04 Kevin Horst '06 Restricted Gifts to Awards Funds Jay Norton Jr P'98, '01 Companies & Organizations ISB Family Association The International School of Brussels Foundation inc. The US State Department of Overseas Schools
Kattenberg 19, B-1170 Brussels, Belgium +32 2 661 42 11 www.isb.be