International School of Brussels
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| Motto | Everyone Included, Challenged, Successful |
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| Established | 1951 |
| School type | Private |
| President | Kevin Bartlett |
| Location | Brussels, Belgium |
| Enrollment | 1,500 |
| Faculty | 200 |
| Endowment | Confidential |
| Campus | 162,134.62 m2 |
| Mascot |  Raiders |
| Home page | www.isb.be |
The International School of Brussels is an English-language international school that provides an international education to over 1500 students aged 2 ½ to 19 from 62 countries. The 40-acre (160,000 m2) secure campus lies in the Brussels commune of Watermael-Boitsfort, about 9 kilometres southeast of the city centre.
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[edit] Buildings and Campus
ISB is located on a 162,134.6 m2 wooded campus. Green is the predominant colour on campus. All of the buildings use new 'green' technologies, and trees planted by Middle School students dot the grounds. Surrounding the school is managed forest, with entries to the Brussels region's extensive forest trails across the campus.
The 19th century Château is the first building that visitors see and houses the reception area and administrative offices. The remaining buildings, which include the four schools, the performing arts centre and the gymnasiums are scattered throughout the campus, which also has extensive sports fields, covered play areas and a brand new running track.
[edit] Academic Buildings
Most classes at ISB are housed in one of four main buildings.
- Early Childhood Centre (ECC): students aged 2½ to 8, Head Caroline Nu'u
- Elementary School (ES): students aged 8 to 12, Head Anna Zeiders
- Middle School (MS): students aged 12 to 15, Head Mike Crowley
- High School (HS): students aged 15 to 19, Head Felim Bolster
[edit] Additional Buildings
- The Student Activity Centre, or Annex, houses the two gymnasiums, a recently renovated theatre, and additional high school classrooms.
- The Metairie houses the extensive music program offered at ISB.
- The International Community Centre (ICC) houses the ISBPlus and Lifelong Learning programmes, as well as the International Protestant Church.
At the moment, as the High School building is being completely rebuilt, the ICC was renovated to serve as a High School for two years. After that, when the High School is finished, the ICC will be transformed into an Elementary School as that building is getting rebuilt as well.
[edit] Security
ISB is a secure campus: all parents, faculty, and staff are issued bar-coded security and identification badges which enable them to access the campus and car parks. Visitors must sign in and obtain a badge at reception.
The campus is closely monitored by a full-time professional security team. CCTV cameras are strategically placed. Guards are on campus 24/7.
Brand new security infrastructure was funded by a generous grant from the US State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools. This includes an upgrade of existing infrastructure and the installation of an access controlled security fence around the Early Childhood Centre and Elementary School.
[edit] Academics
Like other international schools, ISB faces a unique challenge when it comes to curriculum. Within a national system, it may be obvious that students should learn principally about the culture of that nation. The dilemma for schools like ISB can be summed up by the question, "with sixty-seven nationalities at ISB, whose history is taught?"
Instead, content at ISB is structured through a set of themes that express the common ground of human experience; the ideas and issues that have relevance for all cultures.
On a less abstract level, ISB offers the four core courses – Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. In addition, ISB students take either French, English Language Development, or Study Skills. High School Students at ISB are offered both the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Diploma; the school itself offers two tiers of diplomas. Unique among many international schools, ISB also offers a Special Education Diploma.
ISB also offers courses in many other languages. From beginner to mother tongue levels, Spanish, Dutch, German, Japanese, Hebrew, and many other languages are available either in-school or through the ISBPlus programme.
[edit] Athletics
ISB’s broad athletic programme offers more than 50 individual and team sports over a three-season year. These include – just naming a few, American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Swimming and Soccer. These U12, Junior Varsity and Varsity sports compete in both the International School Sports Tournament (ISST) and DoDDs Leagues. Non-competitive and intramural programs are also offered for younger children.
ISB has a wide range of sports facilities. There is an outdoor grass field, and two full-size artificial ones as well as a track for running and field events. Furthermore, there are two indoor tennis courts. In addition to that, there are two large gymnasiums, and an Outdoor Education Centre packed with climbing walls and mountain bikes.
[edit] ISBPlus
ISBPlus is the extra-curricular programme at ISB. It offers students the opportunity, via a range of age-appropriate, in-school and after-school activities, to extend and enrich their interests in all learning areas in fun ways.
The activities provide opportunities for personal development for all students by introducing them to different interests and experiences. It is a safe, non-competitive environment where students can learn new skills or perfect existing ones. Thus, students are challenged and successful in their endeavours.
