Annual Report 2022-23
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
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
Our ISB campus... Tells the story of who we are
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.
Personal Values:
Learners demonstrate RESILIENCE.
Learners demonstrate INTEGRITY.
Learners demonstrate FAIRNESS.
Learners demonstrate COMPASSION.
Our Leadership
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
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 School Director
Sasha Marshall Head of Early Childhood
Loretta Stanley Assistant Head of Early Childhood
Anna Zeiders Head of Elementary School
Christopher Leakey Assistant Head of Elementary School
Mike Crowley Head of Middle School
MJ Farris Assistant Head of Middle School
Laura Berntson Head of High School
Leigh Heglund Assistant Head of High School
Adam Salem Assistant Head of High School
Gordon Eldridge Director of Curriculum and Professional Development
Lee Rosky Director of Athletics and Activities
Kristen Schroeder Director of Inclusion and Challenge
Jonathan Murray Director of Finance and Operations
Fanny Chan Director of Advancement
Our I has been home to generations of families
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
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
Our ISB campus... Continues to enhance the ISB Learning Experience
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.
Participation: IBDPResults
157 142 108
Number of 2023 graduates
Total Diploma candidates Number of Students taking IB exams
of Bilingual Diplomas Scores:
% of students taking IB Courses with accomodations
Pass Rate
Our IBDP Average remains the same as 2022 even in a year where the IB is pulling back on COVID mitigations
35
Average IBDP score
5.6
Average Course score
Academic Results
IBCP&BTECResults
3 15
Number of BTEC courses offered
Number of students taking BTEC
AP Results
100%
IBCP & BTEC Pass Rate %
8
Number of students taking BTEC within the IBCP
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
59
Number of students taking AP Exams
83%
% of exams with scores of 3 or higher
13 5
Number of AP Exam subjects
Number of AP subjects taught
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
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
An International Community
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.
Nationalities
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
Low-income
Disadvantaged children Individuals with additional needs
Engagement in Numbers
5,000
3,176
460
25
580 250
Our Family Association
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 Jenne Whitelaw
Administration Kelly Kent
Treasurer Luiza Palhano
Communications Brooke Peterson
Jennifer Medeiros
Rachel Reiner
Amy Canon
Kathy Guerra
Sports Council
Arts Council
Transition
Community Events
ECC
Representatives
ES Representatives
MS Representatives
HS Representatives
ISB Dads
Karen Kennedy
Matt Carrington
Melanie Cherevaty
Majorie Dubeau
Rachel Reiner
Marla Zackheim
Anna Biggerstaff
Dania Idriss
Anisa Khamissa
Francesca Cavalli
Valentina Cocini Rindi
Heather Faase
Alison Zingaro
Jennifer Medeiros
Loes Selen
Anisa Khamissa
Rola Salloum
Dania IdrissLuiza Palhano
Neil Doherty
45
Years tradition
2,000
Members
240
Events per year
70
Parents & faculty members across FA teams
40
Nationalities represented across FA teams
120
Volunteers helping out the school each month
3,500
Hamburgers flipped during the 3 sports seasons
Our Alumni
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
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!
Campus Renovations 2022-23
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
Financial Report
Income & Expenditure Breakdown
Financial Report
Balance Sheet
Our Donor Roll
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
2000s
Matthew Gelfand '04
Kevin Horst '06
Restricted Gifts to Awards Funds
Jay Norton Jr P'98, '01
Companies & Organizations
ISB Family Association
Kevin Horst Gift in Kind
Patricia Bachrach '65
Current Employees
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
The International School of Brussels Foundation inc.
The US State Department of Overseas Schools
Kattenberg 19, B-1170 Brussels, Belgium