BRUSSELS CUSD 42

Just a reminder!

Families are invited to attend a PTO Meeting on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 6:30 PM. This brief, one-hour meeting is an opportunity for parents, grandparents, and guardians to learn more about how the PTO supports students and teachers, fosters community, and enhances the school experience through activities and events.

Refreshments will be provided.

For questions or additional information, please contact the school administrators at 618-883-2131. We look forward to your participation!

Congratulations, Mr. Baalman! ☀️
Our Sunshine Award winner is as supportive and easygoing as they come. If his classroom is needed, he willingly finds another space for PE, helps set up the gym, supports evening events and games, and brings humor that brightens every situation. His positive spirit brings joy to students and staff alike—we can always use more of that! 💙

Congratulations, Mr. Brodbeck! 💪
Our Super Human Award winner truly goes above and beyond—ensuring facilities are always up to snuff, fixing leaks, keeping the heat running, salting sidewalks, and even stepping in to take a bus route when needed. And in the midst of all that, he somehow also finds time to teach! His dedication keeps our school running smoothly and safely each day. 💙

Congratulations, Coach Stephens! 👑
Our Queen of School Spirit has taken on the role of middle school girls' volleyball coach while also spending time in the hallways during lunch—organizing activities, building relationships, having meaningful conversations, and supporting students in countless ways. Her positivity, energy, and care for students shine through in everything she does. 💙

Throughout the holiday break, we will be sharing moments from recent happenings, highlights of exciting upcoming events, and celebrations of our incredible award winners across Brussels CUSD 42.💙

In the meantime, we wish you a joyful and peaceful holiday season spent with family and friends—filled with happiness, gratitude, and many blessings in the year ahead. 🎄

Together We Rise.

☕💙 Thank You for the Sweet Surprise! 💙☕ Our teachers and staff were treated to a wonderful hot chocolate bar today, and it truly warmed more than just our hands—it warmed our hearts! From the cozy drinks to the thoughtful touches, this surprise brought smiles, comfort, and a much-needed moment of joy to our day. To our anonymous donor: thank you for thinking of our staff and for showing such kindness and appreciation. Gestures like this remind us how supported and valued we are. We are so grateful to be part of a community that lifts one another up. Together, we rise. 🦅💙

The Board of Education Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 16, at 7:00 PM in the Brussels Elementary cafeteria.

🦅 Inside the Eagle’s Nest 🦅 What a wonderfully busy week it has been inside the Eagle’s Nest! Kindergarten kicked things off with a sight-word snowball fight—a perfect mix of learning, movement, and fun. Our young scientists were also hard at work growing crystals, making observations and discovering how science comes to life. Students also explored an Icelandic Christmas tradition, spending time getting cozy with a good book and enjoying chocolate—what a special way to celebrate reading while learning about another culture. In science, excitement was in the air as students experimented with electric circuits, lighting up their curiosity and strengthening their problem-solving skills. Grades 3–5 had an unforgettable experience visiting the Star Lab, followed by creating festive reindeer crafts. The week also included the joy of Santa’s Workshop shopping, made even more special by our National Honor Society members, who volunteered their time to help students shop. What a wonderful example of leadership, kindness, and service! We crowned our Star Eagles of the Month. Abel Baalman and Camden Bonner! 💙 ✨ You never know what’s happening inside the Eagle’s Nest! ✨ #TogetherWeRise

Patriotism lives not only in our words, but in our daily actions—when we stand together with respect, honor our flag, and commit ourselves to building a stronger school and a stronger society. ❤️🤍💙

#togetherwerise #smallbutmighty

THE GOOD STUFF! 💙
Sending some GREAT BIG GRATITUDE to our amazing students who worked the concession stand—and to one incredible dad who braved the cold to prepare menu items for the night! Truly, working the stand is about so much more than what you receive in return… it’s about showing up for your school and helping your community.
It’s really something special to see how so many willingly chip in outside of their school and work day to volunteer for something bigger than themselves. School at Brussels is about way more than the Three R’s—we are building contributing citizens with lots of heart.

In the beautiful words of Dr. Seuss:
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”

That “little bit more” was on full display last night and the nights leading up to the BIG GAME! Thank you to every helper, every volunteer, and every supporter, whether helping get the gym ready, preparing the food, carrying in boxes, cleaning up after—this is what makes our school and community so special. 💙

#togetherwerise #smallbutmighty

What a night at The Pit! 🏀💙
We feel incredibly blessed to have hosted the first-ever home game of our athletic co-op with Calhoun at Brussels High School, featuring the Calhoun Lady Warriors vs. the Roxana Lady Shells—and what a historic night it was! Even more special, our very own gym, The Pit, is the third gym featured on page 22 of Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois—a stunning coffee table book celebrating the many stages of high school basketball across our state.
The book’s author, Vincent D. Johnson, joined us in person, selling and signing copies while sharing unforgettable stories from the road. With a full house, an electric atmosphere, and a well-deserved standing ovation for longtime winning girls’ basketball coach, Dave Franke, the night couldn’t have been more perfect. And to top it all off—the Lady Warriors brought home the WIN! Whoop! ❤️🖤
Great night. Amazing spirit. Pure community pride!
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our team—we felt that energy from the stands!
A huge THANK YOU to Calhoun High School and Coach Hillen for allowing us to host this special game. We truly look forward to hosting again! 🌟
Captured a few great moments from the night but failed to get a team photo. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Next time! ❤️🖤

Abel arrived with a big bag of toys and an even bigger spirit of giving. 🥰
These sweet gifts are the first donations to our Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive, and we are so touched by his generosity. It’s wonderful to see such kindness from a young heart.
Thank you, Abel, for sharing joy with others this season. We are so grateful for you! ❤️🙏🏻💚

Congratulations to John Williams, our December Brussels Junior High Student of the Month! 👏🏻 John brings positivity into the classroom every day with his smile, strong work ethic, and willingness to help others. He takes pride in completing his work on time, asks thoughtful questions, and shows true maturity in his desire to learn. He is a wonderful role model for his peers, and we are proud to celebrate him! Great job, John! 💙

Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten…So the old saying goes. And our kindergarten Eagles are proving it every single day! From sharing and creating to exploring and discovering, these kiddos stay busy learning, growing, and shining. 🌟 It’s a joyful place to be — right here in the Eagle’s Nest! 🦅💙 #TogetherWeRise

📚🍕 Pizza Hut BOOK IT! 🍕📚 Our readers have been on fire this month! Students have been diving into their books, tracking their minutes, and proudly working toward their Pizza Hut BOOK IT! reading goals. We love seeing their excitement grow as they discover new stories and earn those well-deserved pizza certificates! Keep cheering them on at home — every page makes a difference! Way to go, Eagles! 🦅💙📖

Inside the Eagle’s Nest 🦅❄️ What a magical and joy-filled week we’ve had here at Brussels! From celebrating birthdays, to using addition to design our very own snow globes, our halls were buzzing with creativity and excitement. Students helped decorate our Christmas trees and doors, crafted the cutest reindeer math projects, and were surprised to find that the Grinch himself had stopped by to leave a mischievous little message! Grades 1–5 melted our hearts (and their snowmen!) with a writing activity all about how their snowy friends met their frosty fates — the stories were as creative as they were adorable! Our young engineers continued to shine with hands-on building challenges that showcased problem-solving, teamwork, and lots of “aha!” moments. Our 1st–3rd graders also shared their opinion writing on a variety of topics using the OREO model (Opinion, Reason, Example, Opinion). They did such a fantastic job explaining their thinking — be sure to ask your student about OREO writing and see what sweet ideas they came up with! 🍪✏️ Indoor recess brought energy and laughter, Gingerbread Playdough Science filled the classrooms with sweet smells and big smiles, and when work was done… it was Scrabble time! What a fun way to build words and memories. ✨ You truly never know what exciting adventures are happening inside the Eagle’s Nest — but one thing is certain: it’s always amazing! #TogetherWeRise 🦅💙