Director’s Letter
DearAlumni,
Aswereachtheendofanotherschoolyear,thiswillbemyfinalDirector'sLetter to you as ISB Director It feels like a very special moment, and one filled with gratitudeforeverythingwehavesharedovertheyears.
First of all, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for a reunion this year, whether in London, Amsterdam, Madrid, or Stockholm, or here on campus foreventssuchastheClassof2000reunion,FFSGlunch,Classof2006reunion, and our big all-alumni reunion, Summerfest in June. It was truly wonderful to welcome so many of you back, reconnecting across generations and celebratingwhatmakesISBsuchauniqueandspecialcommunity.
TheseyearsatISBhavebeenwonderful Ithasbeenarealjoytomeetsomany ofyouandhearyourstories ThereissomethingtrulyspecialabouttheISBspirit thatcontinuestoconnectusnomatterwhereweareintheworld.
AsIpreparetostepintomynextchapter,Idosowithafullheart ISBhasbeena hugepartofmylife,andIwillalwayscarryitwithme Ithasbeenanhonourto serve this community, and I am deeply grateful for the trust, support, and friendshipsovertheyears.ISBwillalwaysfeellikehometome.
And now, IamalsobecominganISBalumnusmyself, and I may join some of thefuturereunionsaspartofthisamazingalumnicommunity Thankyouonce again for being such an important part of ISB I look forward to seeing how this communitycontinuestogrowandthriveintheyearsahead.
Withwarmestregards,
MacDonald ISBDirector
THANK YOU & GOOD LUCK!
ISB NEWS
On Thursday, 25 June, we waved our students goodbye for the summer, marking the end of yet another amazing year at ISB! 2025-26 was filled with many wonderful moments, and we are all very grateful to witness the Class of 2026 grow, move up, and move on to their next chapters.
Throughout the final week of the school year, our Grade 2, Grade 6, and Grade 9 students celebrated important milestones in their learning journeys through heartwarming Celebrations of Learning, marking exciting transitions into the next stages of their ISB experience.
We wish all of them the best of luck in this exciting new chapter of their learning journey!
Grade2
ISB NEWS
Grade9 Grade6
A very warm welcome to the newest members of our global alumni community the Class of 2026!
Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone. As you begin your next chapter around the world, remember that wherever life takes you, you will always have a home at ISB.
We can't wait to follow your journeys, celebrate your achievements, and welcome you back for future reunions and events.
IB & AP RESULTS
Click in the image below to see full results!
More than 200 alumni from across generations returned to campus for the second edition of Summerfest, our all-alumni reunion! It was a wonderfulafternoonfilledwithreconnectingwithformerclassmatesand teachers,friendlygames,music,food,andplentyofmemories.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special. It was a fantastic way to kick off ISB’s 75th Anniversary celebrations,andwecan’twaittowelcomeyoubackagainsoon!
VIDEO RECAP
TheSoundsofExcellence MajorISBStringsconcert
Thursday,February25,2027,inBrusselsatthe CathedralofSt.MichaelandSt.Gudula. WewouldlovetoinviteasmanyStringsalumniaspossibleto bepartofitandperformwithus!
ISBalumnaEstherYoo(Classof2012),whohasgoneonto buildanexceptionalcareerasaprofessionalviolinist,willbe joiningusasourguestsoloist. . PERFORM WITH US!
TheClassof1976isorganisingtheir50threunionin Greenville,SouthCarolina, from30Octoberto1November2026.
Named after James Sidgwick, who served as Deputy Headmaster at ISB (1956-69) as well as Headmaster of the Elementary School (1969–88), the award was created by members of the ISB Alumni Community to recognisethededicationandprofessionalismofISBteachers.
Each year, our alumni select a winner from a list of teachers who have taught at ISB for at least 5 years. This year’s award celebrates a Middle Schoolfacultymember.
ANDTHEWINNERIS...
BECKYHOAG!
We warmly congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition!
“I am absolutely gobsmacked to receive this honour. To think students remember me years after my retirement, and even more years after they graduated is truly humbling. I loved teaching. I loved seeing the light go on in eyes when a concept became clear. I loved seeing students grow in their mathematical understanding and appreciation. And I loved working with new teachers as they began their teaching careers. As I told my students, teaching is the best occupation ever becauseyoucanmakeadifference.Teachingtakeseverythingyouare willingtogiveit.Somethinglikethis,thefactthatstudentswereaffected positively by my classes, proves it is so worthwhile. I’m so pleased I was able to convince many students that math was doable, and maybe evenfun.
Since retiring, my husband and I have traveled extensively, visiting all 7 continents,fromthenorthernmosttipstothesouthernmostpoints.AndI even ran into a previous student in the airport a few years ago! I highly recommend travel. And the family down the street here in Lakeway TexashadtheirkidsatISByearsago Iwassurprisedtoseepicturesof ISBontheirwalls!
So, thank you, students and faculty alumni. This recognition means so muchsinceitcomesfromyou.Thankyou.”–BeckyHoag
IntroducingtheISBAlumniImpactAward
This year, we were proud to introduce the ISB Alumni Impact Award, a new annual recognition celebrating alumni who continue to make a positive impact and embody the values and spirit of ISB long after graduation.
Created at the initiative of members of the Class of 1993, the award honours the legacy of their classmate Seth Fox, whose dedication to bringing people together and strengthening the ISB community continuestoinspiresomany
It is very special to announce that Seth Fox is named the inaugural recipientoftheISBAlumniImpactAward,ensuringthathislegacywill continuetoinspirefuturegenerationsofISBalumni.
TheawardwaspresentedduringSummerfestby MikeCrowley,Headof Middle School, who shared heartfelt reflections on Seth and the remarkable impact he had on his classmates and the wider ISB community.
The award was accepted on behalf of Seth's family by his classmate Elizabeth Young Weeden, who shared a moving tribute celebrating Seth'slife,friendship,andlastingconnectiontoISB.
ALUMNI VISITS
One of the greatest joys of our work is welcoming alumni back to campus! Over the past few months, we ' ve had the pleasure of hosting many former studentsfromacrosstheyears,eachbringingbackwonderfulmemoriesand stories.Herearejustafewofthevisitswe'veenjoyedrecently.
Ifyou'replanningtobeinBelgium,we'dlovetowelcomeyoubacktoISBtoo! SimplycompletetheAlumniCampusVisitForm!
Don’t forgetto followuson Instagram @alumnisb
MentoringNoticeBoard
MENTORSREADYTOHELP
Economics&InternationalOrganisations
Marie-Gabrielle de Liedekerke, Class of 2010: Economist at the European Commission (formerly with the OECD and UK Civil Service). Offering mentoring to students and alumni interested in economics, public administration, and international organisations, including career advice andinsightsfromherexperienceininternationalinstitutions.
Communications,Writing&PublicRelations
BrianO'Neel,Classof1985:Writer,editor,andpublicistwithmore than 30 years of experience in public relations. Happy to offer career guidance, writing and editing advice, and share personal, professional,andlifeexperiences.
Law&Entertainment
Ryan Ward, Class of 2004: Entertainment lawyer based in Los Angeles, formerlyanintellectualpropertylitigator.Offeringmentoringtostudents interested in legal careers, particularly in entertainment law, including careeradvice,industryinsights,CVsupport,andprofessionalguidance
AlumniSpotlight
DESTAHAILE,CLASSOF2002
Congratulations to Desta on the upcoming publication of her first book, Languages through Music, due to be released in January2027!
As a musician, teacher, and writer, Desta explores how songs and rhythm can make language learning more engaging. We wishhereverysuccesswiththisexcitingmilestone!
AlumniVoices
RICHARDHARRIS,CLASSOF1967
“IattendedISBfromSeptember1954toJune1963,andIwasveryhappy to be there. Looking back, oneofthegreatestgiftstheschoolgaveme was being "taught to think for myself". That lesson proved essential throughoutmycareer,whichtookmeinseveraldifferentdirections.After graduating, I attended Columbia University in New York and went on to work as a writer and producer in network television, later ran my own studio designing and producing hand-painted fabrics, and eventually becameaprofessionalchef.
OneofmyfavouritememoriesfromISBcomesfrommyfirstfewyearsat the school. The whole student body would assemble every day in the main room on the ground floor of the Château under the beautiful paintedceiling,andwewouldsingChristmascarolsallthroughtheyear It was a great way to start the day. It'samemorythathasstayedwith mefordecades.
My advice to today's ISB students is simple: "Enjoy your time there. It will beoverbeforeyouknowit."
AlumniVoices
ORENJACOBI,CLASSOF1994
“ThereissomethingveryspecialaboutISB.
ImovedtoBrusselsfromAustraliain1986attheageof9.Myfirstyearin a local French-speaking school was very difficult. Although I picked up the language quickly, I was a “different” child and endured constant bullying Lookingback,IalsofeelIwasgoingthroughanidentitycrisis
Then came the opportunity to attend ISB. Being around people from different countries made me feel at home. The commonality and openmindedness amongst “strangers” from foreign lands enabled me to feel part of a group again – the global group. Kids need to feel like they belong,andISBgavethatbacktomeinstantaneously.
When I returned to ISB three years ago, I realised something I had never been able to put into words: when I'm at ISB, I don't feel like I'm in Belgium or Brussels. I feel like I'm in a separate entity all of its own. It felt likehomethen,anditstillfeelslikehomenow.
ISBwasn'tjustaschool–itwasaplacewhereIfoundbelonging,andI believeitshapedabigpartofwhoIamtoday.”
Help the Future of ISB
No matter where life has taken you since ISB, you remain an importantpartofourstory.
Every year, gifts to the ISB Annual Fund help us go beyond what tuition alone can provide, supporting initiatives across our four strategic pillars. Your generosity creates exceptional opportunitiesforstudents,supportsinnovativefacultyprojects, enhances campus spaces, and ensures that future generationsofISBstudentscontinuetothrive.
Everygift,nomatterthesize,makesameaningfuldifference.
If you would like to leave a lasting mark on campus, you can also purchase a commemorative brick in our Memory Lane Brick Walkway. Whether celebrating your years at ISB, honouring a teacher, remembering a special friendship, or markingafamilyconnectiontotheschool,yourbrickbecomes apermanentpartofISB'shistory.
Memory Lane Brick
HAPPY