The International School of Brussels
COMMUNITY UPDATE ISSUE 4 – 16 OCTOBER 2026
DIRECTOR’S UPDATE Dear Parents, As you know we are looking forward to celebrating Homecoming today as this year marks two important milestones: 75 years of ISB and 55 years of Homecoming. This long-standing tradition brings our community together to celebrate student achievement, school spirit, and the connections that make ISB special. This week, in preparation for today’s celebrations, our Grade 2 students took part in a session led by Lee Rosky, Director of Athletics and Activities, focusing on our Big 4 Principles: Safety, Fairness, Kindness, and Respect, and how these values apply to sport. Ahead of their Big 4 Match this morning, students explored what it means to compete while treating others with empathy and care. They demonstrated that our Raiders are role models for younger students, showing that strong sportsmanship means striving to do your best while respecting those around you. Homecoming offers an opportunity to come together as a community, support our student-athletes, enjoy the vintage sale and food trucks, and watch performances by our student-artists. This year also marks a first for Homecoming, with our NESDA Debate Team taking on FIS. NESDA (New European Speech, Debate and Acting Association) brings together students from international schools across Europe to celebrate excellence in public speaking, debate, acting and oral interpretation, while developing confidence, critical thinking and communication skills. I encourage you to attend and show your support for our students as they represent ISB in this new addition to the programme. I am looking forward to seeing everyone this afternoon, starting at 16:15 for our Homecoming celebrations. Lastly, as announced earlier, we are pleased to introduce ISB’s Family Referral Programme. When a family you refer joins ISB and meets the programme’s qualifying enrolment criteria, your family will receive a €2,000 credit for each referred student whose enrolment qualifies. The credit can be used towards the school fees or any other school expenses of your children, it can be transferred to eligible children from other ISB families, or it can be donated to ISB programmes and initiatives. Thank you again for your support of our amazing school community. Best regards, Dr. Allan Weston ISB Director
THE OUTDOORS:
AN EXTENSION OF THE ISB LOWER SCHOOL CLASSROOM
ISB’s Lower School Outdoor Education Programme supports students’ growth beyond the classroom, using the forest on our doorstep as a space to explore, discover, and develop essential life skills. Through regular, hands-on experiences – from hiking and orienteering to team challenges and cooking outdoors – students build confidence, independence, and resilience. They learn to collaborate, solve problems, make decisions, and take appropriate risks, while developing curiosity, adaptability, and a deeper connection with the natural world. These experiences help students understand their strengths, embrace challenges, and grow into capable, confident, and compassionate learners.
Watch Forest Learning in action in our new video!
ATHLETICS Hey everybody - it’s Raiders nr 51 here, aka Loup. It’s the last weekend of games before the Fall break and this pack has a big weekend lined up for you! Homecoming! The schedule can be found here, and it would be absolutely wolftastic to have you there. Expect food trucks, JV/V games, vintage sale, and so much more! Come join the pack and make some noise! Howling for a little help: To make sure our Athletics Trainer can take the best care of our student-athletes, we are on the hunt for gently used knee braces, crutches, shoulder slings, and walking boots. If you’ve got any of them lurking in your den, in need of a new home, we would gladly take them off your paws! Drop them off at the Chateau Reception. Not sure if something is in good enough shape? Reach out to our Athletics Trainer, Mr Nils Jackson, who will happily sniff it out. Winter Season: We are working hard on the Winter Season schedule and will share this, along with the sign-up form, after the break. Stay tuned, because it’s coming soon! Until then, have fur-bulous last week, and we’ll see you back in the den in November!
It’s great to be a Raider. Loup
🐾
BSA Spooktacular Trunk-or-Treat SUNDAY - OCTOBER 18, 2026 10am until 11:30am
r o f s e Priz ! s r a C d e t a r o c e D t s Be
T r e a ts f o r th o s e i n c o s tu m e !
All BSA families & frie n are invited! Sign up H ds ERE Questions? Email office@bsasports.org
ISB ARTS We have two exciting performances coming up in the Performing Arts Department. Our student musicians and actors have been working hard to put together the following events:
Middle School Theatre Production: Death to the Chronological This year’s Middle School Studio Production is putting the audience in total control. You pick the order of 15 original plays as our cast races against a 30-minute timer. Beat the clock, and the audience claims the mystery prize! If we don't finish: NO PRIZE. Since the audience chooses the order, and some plays alter the very fabric of space and time itself, EVERY show will be unique! To have a full experience, you really must come and see more than one show! Performances on 20 October in the Black Box – three performances times: 16:30, 17:30 & 18:30.
Upper School Strings Concert: Movie Night Step into the magic of the movies with an unforgettable evening of live orchestral music! Enjoy beloved themes and soundtracks from Coco, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Zootopia, and more, brought to life by the talented Upper School String Orchestras. From epic adventures to heartwarming moments, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss! Concert on 21 October in the ISB Theatre, starting at 19:00.
Tickets for both events can be booked at www.isb.be/tickets
October: Making a Difference Month Challenge For community engagement credit for the month of October students are challenged to complete small jobs/tasks (e.g babysitting, gardening, dog walking, car washing, cleaning, tech support, etc.) for their families/friends/neighbours/associates) to raise a minimum of 30 EUR that will be donated to the community engagement partner of their choice. You can find information about the projects we are raising money for here. Students will need to provide evidence that they completed the tasks/jobs, alongside a thoughtful reflection on how their task(s) benefited the person/people they have helped and how the money they donate will benefit the organisation they chose to support – they cannot just donate the money. Participation is voluntary, however Grade 11 students leading a community engagement project that we are raising money for are expected to participate as part of their Super Project Leader requirements. The amount of money the student confirms they have raised at the end of the month will be billed to your ISB account. (We need to be completely transparent with funds raised and donations made to our community engagement partners, so we do not handle cash). The students should give any cash they raise to you as parents/guardians to cover the amount that is billed to your ISB account. Please be aware that completing tasks (paid or unpaid) for family/friends etc. is not usually recognised for community engagement credit – this is an exception for the Making a Difference Month Challenge!
CELEBRATING ADHD AWARENESS MONTH AND INCLUSION & CHALLENGE AT ISB October is ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) Awareness Month, and to mark the occasion, our Family Association has created posters highlighting some of the unique strengths and positive attributes associated with ADHD. These posters are displayed across our school sections, and we encourage you to take a moment to explore them. Our libraries have also put together special displays featuring books about ADHD, as well as stories with characters who have ADHD. We invite you to stop by and discover some of these titles! These initiatives are a wonderful way to celebrate neurodiversity and recognise the many different ways in which individuals think, learn, and experience the world. They also provide a fitting close to a week spent with our visiting consultants, April Remfrey and Laura Cox, as part of our ongoing Inclusion & Challenge revisioning. A heartfelt thank you to the students, parents, and employees who took the time to share their experiences, perspectives, and practices throughout the week. Your voices are essential as we reflect on our strengths, explore opportunities for growth, and shape the future of Inclusion & Challenge at ISB. Interested in learning more about ADHD and ADHD Awareness Month? We invite you to explore the following resources:
ADHD Awareness Month ADHD Europe Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
HEALTH OFFICE
The Power of Mindfulness Taking a moment to pause can make a big difference! Mindfulness is the practice of being aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment without judgment. In our busy daily lives, taking a few moments to slow down and check in with ourselves can support both mental and physical wellbeing.
Why practice mindfulness? Regular mindfulness practice may help with the following: Better focus and attention Less stress and burnout More awareness and control Better mood and more energy
How to make mindfulness a daily habit You don't need special equipment or a lot of time to get started! Try these simple steps: 1.Start small. Set aside just 2-5 minutes each day to pause and be present. 2.Focus on your breathing. Take a few slow, comfortable breaths and notice how your body feels. Focus on the air moving in and out of your nose. You can do this at any time, sitting, standing, or walking. 3.Use everyday moments. Practice mindfulness while walking, eating, stretching, or getting ready for school. 4.Notice without judgment. Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings without labeling them as good or bad. Gently bring your attention back when your mind wanders. 5.Create a routine. Choose a regular time, such as after waking up, during a study break, or before bedtime. 6.Be patient with yourself. Mindfulness is a skill that develops with practice. Even a short pause counts!
SEARCHING FOR NEW COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES! Moving to a new country can be exciting, but it can also feel a little lonely. International Contacts help give new families a connection to home – a familiar language, culture, and community that can make a big move feel a little smaller and a lot more welcoming. Sometimes, simply knowing there is someone here who understands where you come from can make all the difference.
The role is simple and flexible: 1
Send a welcome email to families about 3-4 times per year.
2
Add new families to your country's WhatsApp group, if there is one, so they can connect with others, ask questions, and find helpful resources and support.
The list of current International Contacts can be found here. Please email intcontacts@isbfa.be if your country does not have an International Contact and you want to help! Please also let us know if your country is not listed on the International Contacts Form.
It’s that time again! We’re currently looking for country booths to join us for the 2027 International Festival on Saturday, 20 March 2027! We currently have booths representing: Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, FA Global Booth, France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Nordic (Finland, Sweden & Norway), Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, The Netherlands, Greece & Cyprus, and USA. Don’t see your country listed? We’d love to have you! If you would like to volunteer to represent your country and help create a booth, please fill out this form. Someone from the International Festival Committee will be in touch very shortly!
BUS SERVICE MOBILITY SECURITY
New Late bus pilot routes (South Uccle, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, and Waterloo) Since 12 October 2026, ISB has introduced a pilot Late Bus service providing new coverage towards South Uccle, Rhode-Saint-Genèse, and Waterloo. Two additional departures are now operating: Late Bus 53 at 17:20 and Late Bus 63 at 18:15, following the Chaussée de Waterloo with designated stops along the main route. The service is designed to bring students closer to their home area or to strategic public transport connections. As with the existing Late Bus service, it is free, shared, and unsupervised, for Grade 5 and above, from Monday to Thursday. It is not a door-to-door service, and students must be able to travel independently. This route will initially operate as a pilot, and its continuation will depend on sufficient, regular usage. Registration is required. Families wishing to use the service must register their child via the Late Bus Access Form, and consult the Late bus user guide and Late bus routes and stops.
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, 21 October 2026 (14:30-16:00 CEST) In Person Open Day | Wednesday, 4 November 2026 (13:00-16:00 CET) Virtual Open Day | Wednesday, 18 November 2026 (14:30-16:00 CET) 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