Update for Families: Water Is Safe to Drink 💧
Good news! The town has confirmed that the school’s water is safe to drink.
It will not be necessary to send water bottles tomorrow (Thursday, Oct 23, 2025). The town has confirmed that it was a service leak not a water main break.
Drinking fountains and bottle-fill stations will be open as usual.
Thank you for your flexibility and support! 🦅
Brussels CUSD 42 is asking all students to bring a filled water bottle to school tomorrow (Wednesday, October 22, 2025). Due to a water main break, school water is not currently clear.
What families can do:
Send a filled water bottle (consider sending an extra if you can).
Remind students not to use drinking fountains until we share an all-clear.
Watch for updates from the district as the situation is resolved.
Thank you for your flexibility and support while we keep students safe and learning.
A Spooktacular Event Is Coming Your Way! 👻
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 31, 2025, from 2:15–3:15 p.m. at the Brussels High School Gymnasium for our Spooky Walk-Through! 💀
Students from Brussels Elementary and St. Mary’s will be showing off their amazing Halloween costumes in a fun, family-friendly parade through the gym. 🎃✨ Parents, grandparents, and community members are invited to come watch, cheer, and enjoy the creativity of our little ghouls and goblins! 🧡 Expect spooky tunes, festive décor, and plenty of photo-worthy moments — nothing too scary, just tons of Halloween fun!
Come celebrate creativity, community, and Halloween spirit with us! 🧙🏻
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Now Available in Macoupin, Jersey, and Calhoun Counties! 😃
Families across the region can now register to receive free, high-quality books each month for children from birth to age five through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library — a nationally recognized early literacy program.
Thanks to the partnership between Regional Office of Education #40, the Calhoun Community Foundation, Brussels CUSD #42, and other local school districts, families can help their children develop a lifelong love of reading right from home.
The Imagination Library sends one book per month directly to enrolled children—at no cost to families—helping prepare them for school and beyond.
Enroll your child today at imaginationlibrary.com 📚
Thank you!
Thank you!
Sending a BIG THANK YOU to our incredible bus drivers and riders who make each trip safe, positive, and enjoyable for our students!
They show up every day—rain or shine—to ensure our kids get to and from school safely. Their smiles, patience, and care make such a difference. We definitely have some of the best around!
Let’s take this week to really…
* Promote school bus safety,
* Recognize and celebrate our transportation staff!
We appreciate you for all you do to keep our students safe on the road! 💙🚌💙
#SchoolBusSafetyWeek #ThankABusDriver #togetherwerise #smallbutmighty
Parent-Teacher Conferences for our junior high and high school students will be held on Tuesday, October 21, and Thursday, October 23. We invite you to sign up for a time to meet with your student’s teachers using the link that follows:
https://forms.gle/L2xTnH91JNbT36b3A
Once all responses are received, I will finalize the schedule and confirm your assigned date and time.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to support your child. We truly appreciate our partnership with you and enjoy seeing your student’s success. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
Truly,
Dr. Lori Hopkins 💙
#togetherwerise #smallbutmighty
Hey families! 💙
Just a little reminder — there’s no school on Monday or Tuesday this week! Enjoy the extra-long weekend! We’ll see everyone back on Wednesday, and guess what? It’s a continuing HOMECOMING week and PAJAMA DAY!
So, no need to wrestle anyone into their school attire — just roll out of bed, grab some breakfast, and come cozy and ready to learn! Can’t wait to see all those fabulous PJs on Wednesday! 😃
🦅 Inside the Eagle’s Nest
What a wonderful week at Brussels Elementary School!
🎨 During Flight Time, students explored their creative side by listening to classical music while painting beautiful watercolor masterpieces—a calming and inspiring experience for all!
🎃 Our classrooms were filled with the sights and smells of fall as students made Pumpkin Pie Playdough and used a variety of materials to design their own jack-o’-lanterns after reading Pumpkin Jack.
🦓🐘 And of course, our zoo field trip was a roaring success! The weather was perfect, and our students had an absolute blast exploring, learning, and making memories together.
👵👴 Of course, another heartfelt thank you to all the amazing grandparents and surrogate grandparents who joined us for Grandparents Day!
📚 And a big thank you to everyone who helped make our Book Fair such a success! Students and families enjoyed shopping for new reads, and we are so grateful to those who volunteered and worked behind the scenes to make it all possible.
🦅 Lastly, a special shout-out to our “Principal in Training” this week, who helped greet guests, make announcements during grandparent's day, and kept our school day running smoothly! Leadership starts early at Brussels School, and we’re so proud of our future Eagles leaders in action.
It’s been another week full of creativity, curiosity, and smiles at the Eagle’s Nest! 💙
#TogetherWeRise
I just spoke with Traci Hillen from Calhoun, and we’re thrilled to share that we will have a combined 5th/6th (also 4th who are playing up) grade girls basketball team this year! 🎉
Here’s what to know:
We’ll play out of Brussels.
Practices will be held both in our Brussels gym and in Hardin at the old grade school gym.
As soon as game and practice schedules are finalized, we’ll share them with everyone.
I’m so excited for this opportunity for our athletes—it’s a great partnership and an even better chance for our girls to grow, compete, and have fun. Thank you to our families and community for your support—and to Calhoun for teaming up with us! 💚🤝💛
Stay tuned for schedules and updates—let’s go, team! 🦅🏀
Brussels Elementary School is placing orders for apparel! If you or your child(s) is interested, just download and print this form, and turn it into the office by 10/24/25. Please make all checks payable to Brussels Grade School.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Megan Steward at msteward@brussels42.net .
Thank you to everyone who joined us for donuts & coffee, warm conversation, a spirited game of BINGO, and a joyful Book Fair visit. Our students and community are truly blessed by the amazing individuals we call grandparents. 💛
A special shoutout to the surrogate grandparents who “adopted” students whose grandparents couldn’t attend—you made the day extra special. We appreciate you!
Hoop Into Fall! Grades 1–6 Basketball Open Gyms
Ready to play, learn, and have fun? Coach Dan Long is hosting free-flowing, skill-building open gyms for grades 1–6. Boys and girls - all skill levels welcome—come get reps, make friends, and grow your game!
When:
Saturday, October 11 • 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Saturday, October 18 • 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Monday, October 27 • 5:00–6:30 PM
Where:
Brussels School Gym
What to Expect:
Fun skill stations: dribbling, passing, layups, footwork, defense
Mini-games & contests that build confidence and teamwork
Positive coaching, great sportsmanship, and lots of high-fives
What to Bring:
Clean court shoes, comfortable athletic wear
Water bottle (labeled)
Big effort and a great attitude!
Good to Know:
For students in grades 1–6
No experience needed—everyone plays
Questions? See Coach Dan Long - dlong4484@gmail.com
See you on the court! 🦅