BRUSSELS CUSD 42

Raiders, you know what this means!! 💙
#alumnievent #thisFriday #TogetherWeRise #WipeOUT! 🥁

23 days ago, Lori Hopkins

THE GOOD STUFF... 💙

The 5th & 6th Grade Boys Basketball Team wrapped up their final game of the season last night! We could talk about the incredible plays, the exciting shots, individual player stats, or even the one big victory we celebrated this season — but that’s not really the point here. The real story is the opportunity to learn and grow. 🏀

A BIG thank you to Coach Long for opening the gym and creating a place for these young athletes. The team rocked those new uniforms and refined their skills throughout the season. We appreciate the board's commitment to giving students the amazing opportunity to play, and of course, a shoutout to our awesome little crew of cheerleaders who found some pretty dazzling uniforms and brought the SUPER SPIRIT! 📣

This team is about building skills, creating opportunities to play, and bringing everything they have every time they step on the court. THIS is what elementary sports are all about — learning, growing, trying something new, and committing to something bigger than themselves!
They did that, and we are proud, indeed!
Together WE Rise! 💙

24 days ago, Lori Hopkins

THE GOOD STUFF... 💙
Congratulations to Mady for earning 2nd place in her division at the CAD Competition at LCCC on Friday! 🎉 Mady and Anna, accompanied by Mr. Brodbeck, proudly represented Brussels, showcasing their skills, dedication, and professionalism. It was also Spirit Day, making their Raider pride even more visible. Great job representing the Raiders! 👏🏻👏🏻

25 days ago, Lori Hopkins

THE GOOD STUFF... 💙
Alumni Night prep has begun, by golly! 🏀
These three superstars came to the gym early to start training. Judging by this photo, the competition is fierce, the skills are sharp, and the confidence is… extremely high. 🙌🏻
Think you can compete with this level of greatness? We’ll soon find out! 😉
This Friday, March 13th!

25 days ago, Lori Hopkins

The STEAM class at the high school learned about different types of bridges and how each one serves its purpose for different locations. They were challenged to build their own bridges out of paper to see how much weight they could hold. Each group was allowed 80 pieces of paper to roll up and build their bridges. Each one was successful in holding 4 two liter bottles of water, so we decided to up the stakes on weight by letting grade schoolers stand on them. Those paper bridges made it all the way to the 4th grade before collapsing. Everyone had a good time and thanks to the younger kids and their teachers for helping us out. Hopefully, we'll inspire some young scientists.

25 days ago, Amy Manker

Oh yes! 🎉 Mrs. Kaye Gilbreth and Mrs. Trish Long have truly earned the title of Queens of School Spirit! Their dedication to our Raiders shines through the homework support they provide, giving students the encouragement and guidance they need to succeed. Because of their commitment, some students have even catapulted to the top of their classes!
These two are always cheering others on and serving in the very best interests of kids. Thank you, Mrs. Gilbreth and Mrs. Long, for the heart, spirit, and support you bring to Brussels CUSD every day! 💙#TogetherWeRise

27 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Mrs. Gilbreth and Mrs. Long - Queens of School Spirit

Miss Lexie truly brings the sunshine to Brussels CUSD! 🤩 Her kindness, positivity, and steady support brighten the days of everyone around her. Whether she’s helping students, encouraging colleagues, or stepping in wherever she’s needed, she embodies the heart of our school community. We are so grateful for the light she brings to our district every day. Congratulations, Miss Lexie — this Sunshine Award is so well deserved! 💛#TogetherWeRise 💙

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Awesome Human Award 🥇
Mrs. Kathy Carey is truly a superhuman! Always willing to lend a hand, she goes above and beyond for our students and staff every single day. From driving students to helping wherever she’s needed, Kathy does it all with a giving heart and a positive spirit.
Thank you, Mrs. Carey, for everything you do for Brussels CUSD — you absolutely ROCK! ⭐ #TogetherWeRise 💙

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

As you wake up this morning and get ready for the day, let these incredible humans be a source of motivation and inspiration for you! They are proud Raiders and Eagles! 💙 #dresslikeaneagle #dresslikearaider

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Kudos to Mrs. Schleeper, the second recipient of the Sunshine Award at Brussels CUSD! 🌟 Mrs. Schleeper infuses our school with joy daily. She leads the school song, surprises us with fun T-shirts and dance moves, assists in classrooms, and always greets students and staff with a smile.
Her positivity and school spirit genuinely brighten our environment. Thank you, Mrs. Schleeper, for making our school shine! ☀️ #SunshineAward #TogetherWeRise 💙

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Congratulations to Miss Ava Tepen, our Junior High Student of the Month! 🎉 Ava stands out for her strong intellect, quick sense of humor, and commitment to always doing her best work. Her dedication to learning and high academic achievement make her a wonderful example for her classmates. Ava’s fun, witty personality brightens our school, and we are proud to celebrate her success. Keep up the great work, Ava! 💙

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Ava Tepen - Student of The Month - March

Sending a GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT FOR….the Brussels High School Student of the Month, Miss Alex Friedel! 🎉 Alex is known for her kind spirit, beautiful smile, and helpful disposition. She consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to her academic work while bringing positivity to those around her. We are proud of you, Alex! Keep shining and continuing to make Brussels proud. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 💙
#TogetherWeRise

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Alex Friedel - Student of the Month - March

Get Ready to RUMBLE!
Alumni Night is almost here, and it’s going to be a great one! 💙
We’ve got a full evening planned, and you can check out the agenda below for a sneak peek.⬇️⬇️⬇️
Come early to grab a seat, check out some memorabilia, and take a stroll down memory lane. You might see a photo of yourself from back in the day… and wonder what in the world you were thinking with that haircut. 😱
Catch up with old friends, swap a few stories (some of which may get better every year) 😉, grab dinner at the concession stand, watch some action, listen to the band, and see the cheerleaders perform the school song.
It’s the perfect night to laugh, reminisce, and realize that while a few things may have changed… some things never do.
We hope to see you there for a true blast from the past!
#togetherwerise #smallbutmighty

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

Attention Brussels Raiders! Homework Help starts Tuesday, March 10, and will be weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15–4:15 p.m. It supports students with assignments and staying on track. For questions, contact the school office. #TogetherWeRise 💙

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

LET THE SPIRIT CHALLENGE BEGIN! 💙
Raiders and Eagles… It’s time to show your school pride!
The class with the MOST SCHOOL SPIRIT wins a prize tomorrow!
The SNICKERS SNACK PACK For the spirited wear that makes everyone SNICKER with excitement!
The STARBURST BAG For the STAR of SCHOOL SPIRIT!

What to do:
* Wear BLUE & WHITE
* Wear BRUSSELS
* Wear EAGLES
* Wear RAIDERS
Snap a pic, post it, and tag us!
Use the hashtags: 
#togetherwerise #smallbutmighty #brussels #raiders #eagles

BIG THANKS TO AWESOME BRUSSELS FAN, Chad Baalman! We can't wait to see your tag! 🤩

Let’s see which class brings the BIGGEST spirit to our small-but-mighty school! 💙

28 days ago, Lori Hopkins

🟦🟨 BCUSD 42 Parents — We Want to Hear From You! 🟨🟦

There are only a few days remaining before the 5Essentials Survey closes on March 13, and we would truly value your feedback. Your voice matters, and your input plays an important role in helping us continue to grow and improve as a district.

Please take a few moments to share your thoughts and let us know how we are doing. Your responses help guide decisions, strengthen our schools, and support our students.

👉 Click here to participate:
http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Thank you for partnering with us and for being an essential part of BCUSD 42! 🦅✨

about 1 month ago, Pam Long

🦅 Inside the Eagle’s Nest 🦅 There is always something exciting happening inside the Eagle’s Nest, and this week was full of hands-on learning, teamwork, and plenty of curiosity! Our young learners in grades K–2 stayed active and focused during indoor recess by participating in yoga, building strong minds and bodies while having fun together. Students also continued practicing important early literacy skills by working on CVC words and building confidence as readers. First grade students worked together during STEM time, collaborating and problem-solving as they explored new challenges and learned the power of teamwork. In third grade, students partnered up to sort subject-verb agreement sentences, strengthening their grammar skills while learning from one another. Fourth grade students dove into creativity and critical thinking as they worked on their end-of-novel projects, bringing their reading to life through thoughtful presentations and activities. Our fifth grade scientists had an exciting week exploring mixtures, solutions, and chemical reactions. Students created their own trail mix, made lemonade, and conducted experiments to observe chemical reactions in action. They even took part in a little unexpected investigation — trying pecans for the very first time! While it may not have been math-related, curiosity led the way as students explored what pecans look like on the inside and discovered a brand-new taste experience. Students also enjoyed collaborating with the high school during a STEAM challenge, showing great teamwork and problem-solving across grade levels. Lila put her engineering skills to the test by experimenting with bridge strength, while classes had fun participating in Winter Olympic–style activities that encouraged movement, cooperation, and school spirit. You never know what learning adventures you’ll find when you step inside the Eagle’s Nest — where curiosity, collaboration, and discovery happen every day! 🦅✨

about 1 month ago, Pam Long

Spelling Success at Brussels CUSD 42! The Regional Office of Education is excited to announce the return of the regional spelling bee! This year, all fourteen school districts within ROE40 sent their top spellers in grades 4 through 8 to compete for the title of Regional Champion. After first competing in spelling bees held within their own school buildings, the area is best spellers advanced to the regional competition and Brussels CUSD 42 is proud to share that our very own Oliver Bishop, a fourth grader at Brussels Grade School, earned an impressive sixth place finish out of 14 schools. We are incredibly proud of Oliver's hard work, courage and dedication. Representing our school at the regional level is a wonderful accomplishment! Way to go Oliver - your Eagle family is cheering you on! Together We Rise

about 1 month ago, Pam Long

Woo hoo! 👏🏻 We are excited to share that Jaxon Smith and Audrina Pohlman, along with the rest of the Scholastic Bowl team, competed in the Pike County Conference Scholastic Bowl Tournament on 2/17 in Pittsfield. Jaxon and Audrina made the all-conference team, each among the top 6 scores for the evening. Congratulations! We are proud! 💙
#togetherwerise #smallbutmighty

about 1 month ago, Lori Hopkins

Jaxon and Audrina - Congratulations! All Conference - Scholastic Bowl!

Dearest Parents and Guardians of Brussels CUSD No. 42 Students,

At Brussels CUSD No. 42, we are proud to serve not only our students, but our entire community. Your voice matters deeply to us, and we are asking for your help.

Each year, families are invited to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey. While the state only requires a 20% participation rate, our goal is 100%. Why? Because the only way we truly know what you want for your community schools — and most importantly, for your children — is for you to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas.

Your feedback helps us:
* Understand what we are doing well
* Identify areas where we can grow
* Make informed decisions that directly impact your child’s education
* Strengthen our schools and our community

This survey is confidential and takes only a few minutes to complete, but the impact of your input is lasting.

Please help us by taking the survey today. You can participate by scanning the QR code or by clicking the link below:
http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

We genuinely value your partnership and appreciate the time you take to support Brussels CUSD No. 42. Together, we can ensure our schools continue to grow and thrive for every child.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. 💙

Truly,
Dr. Lori Hopkins

about 1 month ago, Lori Hopkins

5Essential Survey parent participation request