President’s back to school report

Dear parents,

Once again, the school year has begun with careful optimism and a need to remain flexible as we find our way together through the Covid-19 pandemic. The APEEE is aware of concerns around quarantine rules, hybrid teaching, testing and tracing – we have therefore requested a continuation of the Task Force set up last year with the school management, teacher representatives and school nurses. The Task Force has met twice so far this year and the minutes can be found on our website >

Please communicate your questions to your Section Representative or an APEEE Board member so that they can be added to the TF agenda. As always, updates and information about our services are regularly posted on our website as well >

If you have a specific, urgent query about Covid-19 (for example in case of a confirmed positive test), please contact the school’s dedicated email address: LAE-COVID19-NOTIFICATION@EURSC.EU

Confirmed positive cases of pupils who use APEEE services should be reported to covid19@bru4.eu

Both the school and the APEEE have dedicated webpages with detailed explanations : School > / APEEE >

  • School Administrative Board

The EEB4 School Administrative Board took place on Sept 16. It was the first Admin Board presided by the new Secretary General of the European Schools, Mr Andreas Beckmann. Mr Giancarlo Marcheggiano has taken up a new post as Director of ES Alicante. We warmly welcome Mr Beckmann and wish Mr Marcheggiano the best in his new school.

At the Administrative Board, Mr Beckmann reported that the Task Force set up to plan the 2021-22 school year designated 2 main focus points for which extra budgetary resources were allocated: 1) educational support and 2) replacement of teachers in quarantine. The Task Force also created a survey for all parents to fill out, in order to gain more information about how last year was experienced. The deadline for this survey has been extended to Oct 31.

The main theme for this school year is Diversity and Inclusion, around which the school has developed action plans for six points:

  • Quality of teaching and learning: embedding the 8 Key Competences in forward planning
  • Ensuring security and well-being [KiVA]
  • Continuous professional development
  • School identity and the European dimension
  • Assessment and harmonisation
  • Learning How to Learn programme

The APEEE once again raised the issue of overcrowding in the school and the impact it has on our services and the well-being of students. The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) and Commission representatives confirmed their understanding of the situation and emphasised that this is a top priority. With regards to well-being, the OSG has created a dedicated Working Group to which parent members will be invited to participate through Interparents (NB EEB4’s IP representative Stephanie Buus is one such member).

  • Parent information meeting

On October 28, the APEEE will host a virtual meeting at which Section Representatives will be introduced and parents will have an opportunity to ask questions. The school Directors are also invited to participate in a Question & Answer session. A separate communication has been sent, with a registration link for parents who would like to participate.

Best regards, 

Kristin Dijkstra, President of the APEEE of Brussels IV