Brussels American School Unit 8100, Box 13       APO AE 09714-9998 Telephone: 32(0)2-717-9552 | DSN: 368-9552 | Fax: 32(0)2 -717-9577 | DSN 368-9577

 

About BAS | Mission Statement | Elementary School | Middle School | High School | HS Profile

Brussels American School (BAS) serves students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. The elementary section of the school consists of Kindergarten through Grade 5. It is housed in one of the four major buildings and has a playground and special learning facilities. Grades 6-8 serve as transitional grades between the elementary and secondary programs; students attend classes in both the elementary and high school buildings.

The school has its own playing fields, library, special learning facilities, and labs for science, computer studies, home economics and business. The campus also includes a multi-purpose room for assemblies and a gymnasium. The Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) provides hot lunches daily in the school cafeteria. A la carte lunch items such as salad, sandwiches, beverages, fresh fruit, pastries and ice cream may also be purchased. BAS enrolls approximately 300 students from 21 different countries.

Brussels American School belongs to a federal organization known as the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The DoDEA system was established in 1946 to provide quality education from kindergarten through grade twelve for the children of American military and Department of Defense personnel stationed overseas. As it presently exists, DoDEA is one of the nation's largest school systems. It has a population of over 95,000 students in 236 schools located in 15 countries. Students who graduate for DoDEA have spent an average of three years studying, learning, and experiencing a culture other than their won an a first-had basis overseas.

The mission of Brussels American School is to provide each student a diverse education in a safe, supportive environment that promotes self-discipline, global citizenship, tolerance and academic excellence.

In accordance with our mission statement, Brussels American School will:

• provide a broad curriculum encompassing proven instructional techniques that meet the special needs of all students and which utilize appropriate assessment instruments;
• establish an environment where students can participate in and understand the democratic decision-making process and that encourages students to explore new, and challenge existing ideas;
• foster a positive atmosphere that promotes socially responsible behavior;
• enrich student experiences through exposure to a variety of aesthetic and cultural activities;
• help students to reach maximum physical potential and to see the relationship between proper health habits, their physical well-being, and performance; and
• encourage interaction between students of all nationalities with emphasis on understanding their host nation.

BAS and other DoDEA schools offer educational opportunities like those of quality school systems in the United States. Based on enrollment, DoDEA is among the largest school systems in American public education.

The BAS campus is situated on 17 acres of landscaped grounds in Sterrebeek, a Brussels suburb. Since the school opened in October 1967, numerous improvements to the facilities have been made, yielding a complex that adequately serves the educational, athletic, extracurricular and social needs of a diverse student body and community.

Parents are US Military personnel assigned to NATO, employed by the US State Department and Department of Defense, foreign NATO employees, other NATO agencies, and the NATO Support Activity. Forty-five percent are military officers, fifteen percent are non-commissioned officers and forty percent occupy upper level civilian positions equivalent to the rank of Lt. Col. or above.

Brussels American School’s small enrollment provides a distinct advantage for its students. The students enjoy a high degree of close, personal contact with staff and instructors, which creates a family-like atmosphere. Course offerings compare favorably to the curriculum of larger Defense Department schools and schools of like size in the United States. The small school size also permits most students to actively participate in athletic and extracurricular activities.

Elementary School:
The Elementary section at BAS (Kindergarten through Grade 5) includes one self-contained class of approximately 25 students for each grade. The core elementary curriculum is enhanced through the whole language approach to reading, writing and language arts. Students are involved in the Writer’s Workshop, whole group instruction for reading, mathematics, social studies, science, health and French, as well as art, music, computer, host nation, and physical education. Currently there is no pre-school program.

Middle School:
The Middle School program at BAS addresses the unique needs of students in grades 6 through 8. Beginning with a transitional 6th grade, the curriculum aims at educating the “whole child.” The core subjects of language arts, science, math and social studies plus health, physical education and foreign language focus on developing the social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of each student. Elective courses introduce students to a number of artistic and practical fields: drama, music, band, chorus, keyboarding, computers and journalism, and allow exploration of individual abilities. Intramural sports provide students physical activity deemed so important to this stage of their development.

Occasional study trips provide an opportunity for students to experience the history and culture of Europe. A Student Council introduces the young adolescents to the fundamentals of student government and encourages them to be active in planning events for their age group. After-school sports and curriculum-based enrichment activities provide a change of pace from academic programs. The Middle School recognizes that middle level students deserve a special environment where they can learn who they are and who they want to become.

High School:
The curriculum features honors and advanced placement English, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics and History. Students also have taken Advanced Placement exams in French, Spanish, German, European History and Computer Science. The school offers a strong academic program with opportunities for four years of college preparatory English, Social Studies, Math, Science, three years of Spanish and five years of French. The business department offers a full range of business courses.

Units of credit are awarded on a semester basis. One unit of credit signifies successful completion of any subject meeting five periods a week for two semesters. Each semester is 18 weeks in length. For classes through 2001, students must earn a minimum of 22 credits to graduate. For the class of 2002 and beyond, 24 credits are required.

Additional math, science and foreign language are also recommended for college-bound students. Extracurricular and interscholastic athletic programs offer a full range of opportunities currently including student government, journalism and yearbook, as well as football, volleyball, cross country, tennis, cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, soccer and track and field.

High School Profile

DoDDS Grading Policy: MARK   GPA   A Excellent 90-100 4.0   B Good 80-89 3.0   C Average 70-79 2.0   D Poor 60-69 1.0   F Failure 0-59 0.00   Only AP classes receive weighted credit College Recommending Mark = C

Graduation Requirements: English 4 credits   Social Studies 3 credits   Mathematics 3 credits   Science 3 credits   Vocational 1 credit   Fine Arts 1 credit   Physical Education 1.5 credit   Health 0.5 credit   Computer 1 credit   Foreign Language 2 credits   Electives 4.5 credits   Units of credit are awarded on a semester basis. One unit of credit signifies the successful completion of any course meeting five periods per week for two semesters. At a minimum, DoDEA students must earn 24 credits for graduation. Additional math, science and foreign language are also recommended for the college bound.

Curriculum Features: AP English, Language and Lit/Comp are available in grades eleven and twelve. AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Physics B and C, and AP US History are offered. Students also take AP exams in Computer Science, European History, French and Spanish. the school offers opportunities for four years of college preparatory English, social studies, math, science, French and three years of Spanish. The business department offers a full range of business courses. Model NATO, Model United Nations and the Future Business Leaders of American provide opportunities for debate and international travel.

Certification: The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) provides public certification. BAS is fully accredited without citation.

Guidance and Counseling: Guidance and counseling are provided by one full-time counselor.

Class Statistics: Class of 2007   18 students from 5 countries, 9 males and 9 females, 5 are foreign students. All of the class of 2007 declare an intention to attend a two or four year college. Grade Point Average - six semesters     67% with 4.0-3.0     33% with 2.9-2.0     0% are below 2.0     Senior class average GPA is 3.38           Classes of 2001, 2002, 2003,2004,2005 & 2006   2006 17 graduates     2005 18 graduates     2004 32 graduates     2003 23 graduates     2002 35 graduates     2001 23 graduates     These classes included 51 foreign students.         SAT Summary 2005-20063 --- 32 tests     Verbal 557, Math 555, Writing 531 - Total 1112     AP Exams Scores, May 2006 --- 30 exam scores reported by 20 students.  70% scored 3 or higher.       100% went to 4-year colleges