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2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

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Congratulations to the 2023 winners of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. We wanted to celebrate the inspiring student work from BASIS Independent Brooklyn this year by sharing the work with our community. Students have created visually stunning and meaningful imagery, and we wanted to share many of the pieces honored by Scholastic in the hopes of inspiring others. We are proud to see them brilliantly uphold the BASIS Independent Brooklyn standard for setting the bar high for our school community and rising to meet those goals. 

“Our students’ hard work has led to great outcomes,” commented Head of School Josh Harmon. “I’m proud of their creativity and the execution that earned them their awards. Thank you to our teachers for inspiring and guiding our students to express themselves and capture their unique perspectives.”

Overall across BASIS Independent Brooklyn, 13 students were recognized with awards in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. A full list of students honored follows:

  • Olivia B. ‘27 – Honorable Mention (Drawing & Illustration)
  • Katey B. ‘23 – 2 Gold Keys (Photography)
  • Laila G. ’24 – Silver Key (Digital Art)
  • Samantha G. ‘24 – Honorable Mention (Photography)
  • Mateo K. ‘25 – Honorable Mention (Drawing & Illustration)
  • Avi L. ‘24 – Gold and Silver Key (Photography)
  • Yorgo M. ‘27 – Gold Key (Photography)
  • Alex R. ‘24 – National Silver Medal, Gold Key, and 2 Honorable Mentions (Drawing & Illustration)
  • Yuna S. ‘24 – Silver Key (Digital Art)
  • Arthur S. ‘27 – Honorable Mention (Photography)
  • Beckham V. ‘26 – Honorable Mention (Photography)
  • Isaac W., ’24 – Honorable Mention (Photography)
  • Maren W. ’23 – 2 Silver Keys (Photography)

Art Awards
On top of the regional accolades, this year Alex R. ’23 was honored with a National Silver Medal in recognition of exceptional work in drawing and illustration. His award-winning work was displayed in the national exhibit that toured the country. 

“Alex is a wonderfully talented artist,” said Ms. Heather Corbett, Fine Arts Subject Expert Teacher. “He had a solid background in realistic drawing coming into class this year and has worked to expand his comfort zone by exploring 5-point perspective in colored pencil, portraits in acrylics and landscapes in watercolors. He is generous and encouraging with his peers and thoughtful in his approach to both his work and the work of his classmates. I am very pleased to have been able to get to know and teach him this year.” 

Alex R. ‘S National Silver Medal Drawing:

“Congratulations to this year’s winners,” said Mr. Opirhory, Fine Arts Subject Expert Teacher. “Their dedication to the arts and unique vision represents the best of our community. With art ranging from photography to digital art, and drawing they continue to impress.”

Proud of his students, Mr. Opirhory provided background on each one that we wanted to pair with their recognized entries. All of his students awarded Gold and Silver Keys follow alphabetically.

“Katey Brickner’s contributions to the arts at BASIS Independent Brooklyn have been extensive through the years.  Her artistic merit is immense.  She works in a variety of mediums and it’s great to see her gain acclaim for her photography.  These images are a direct reflection of her creativity, emotional intelligence, and dedication to skill.”

Katelyn B.’s Gold Key Photograph “Veil of Silence”: 

Katelyn B.’s Gold Key Photograph “The Web Whisper”:

“Avi Lockner has excelled at capturing stark and vivid imagery.  His photography set such a unique mood with his use of contrast and composition. Dark in tone, they confront us with their underlying ideas.”

 Avi L.’s Gold Key Photography “Works”:

“Yorgo Malafis is a newcomer to photography yet he’s created a number of wonderful works in a short time. He has an eye for iconic and structured imagery and accentuates order in urban environments.”

Yorgo M.’s Gold Key in Photography “The Wall”:

“Yuna Stechert Is an amazing draftsperson/painter. Her talent working with figurative narratives improves with each piece. She works with oil, acrylic, gouache, and watercolor with an attention to detail and a solid understanding of what makes a great image.”

Yuna S.’s Silver Key in Digital Art “Fleeting Happiness”:

“Maren Williard’s photographs are a spectacular look into the idiosyncrasies of life. This is done so succinctly by juxtaposing the roles of children and adults in a comedic and introspective fashion.” 

Maren W.’s Silver Key in Photography “Eve’s Temptation”:


Maren W.’s Silver Key in Photography “They Grow Up So Fast”:

Dean of our High School Program Mr. Goldman was proud to share that Laila G. ’23 was awarded a Silver Key for her layered and deeply-historical work created as part of his AP U.S. History class. Dean Goldman shared that it is an “impressive synthesis work, encompassing multiple centuries, and asserts her answer to the question ‘What is the Story of America?'”

Laila G.’s Silver Key in Digital Art “The Pursuit of Happiness”:

Our students continue to inspire us. We are extremely proud of them, their intelligence, artistic vision, and – most of all – their potential. 

The Communication Journal: How our Students Use Their CJ to Be Successful

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Helping students manage their time and schoolwork effectively is core to the BASIS Curriculum. One of our most important tools in developing students with life-long habits of self-direction and disciplined, critical enquiry is the Communication Journal (CJ).

At first glance, it’s an analog daily planner. In practice, it’s the epicenter of our students’ educational experience, a record of their wins, their losses, and most importantly, their areas for improvement. During the school day, we focus on building the student-teacher relationship. The CJ is critical in helping families feel involved in their child’s education at the end of the day. It is the first daily touch-point between teachers and parents and acts as a discussion started at home between students and their families.

The CJ is central to our curricular philosophy not to post homework or grades online, or remove students from conversations about their own education. It is the tool that makes this philosophy a powerful growth opportunity for students to own their own academic and intellectual progress.

Over time, after successful usage of the CJ has been proven, students can expect to have more independent ownership of their CJ, and less and less oversight by their teachers and parents. Our goal is to start strong and while they are building their habits, have consistent daily checks. But as the years move on, we train students to become more independent, and less dependent on others for their own academic responsibilities.

TK – K Communication Journal

Even our youngest students have their own CJs to record their work and have their parents sign each evening. For TK, their teachers are writing their notes, but in K that all changes and students are expected to record their own CJ notes each morning.

Students in Kindergarten recording their CJ notes for the day

Grades 1 – 3 Communication Journal

Unlike students in TK and K who primarily stay in their classroom throughout the day, students beginning in Grade 1 travel from classroom to classroom for each subject. The expectation of a CJ note from each Subject Expert Teacher (SET) begins in Grade 1 and continues on through high school. Students in Grades 1 – 3 receive assistance recording their CJ notes from their Learning Expert Teachers (LET) who will often give out stamps or stickers for a job well done!

A Grade 2 student’s CJ notes for the week

Grades 4 – 5 Communication Journal

For students in Grades 4 and 5, the use of the CJ is now a daily habit. Though our Grade 4 students still have their LET to help them, in Grade 5 the responsibility rests solely on the student. Students who have been with us throughout their elementary years know its power in keeping them accountable for their education, and even new students can appreciate this tool for helping them keep their upcoming assignments and assessments organized on a daily basis.

A student in Grade 4 sits right down to record their CJ note for Science even before class begins

Grades 6 – 8 Communication Journal

In middle school, we start to see more and more students not needing their parent signature every night. There are fewer CJ checks happening in the classroom and at home depending on the student. But, at the first sign of disorganization, the first step expressed by their Dean of Students, one of their SETs, or their parents is always the same, “Let’s look at your CJ.”

A Grade 8 student shows off their well-organized CJ with their friend

Grades 9 – 12 Communication Journal

In high school, the CJ is perfected. Not only are students rarely needing their parents to sign their CJ, but they are now using it as their own tool to organize their after-school activities. Many high school students will write reminders for things to print at home, office hours to attend, and even their clubs in their CJ. The goal of being organized, thinking ahead, and ready for each day has been achieved.

Grade 9 students CJ showing its use for not only their classes, but also their after-school enrichment activities

Unsurprisingly, our Alumni often cite the use of the CJ as one of the most helpful habits learned from our program. Many use their own tools of organization with their electronic devices now, but every year we have a few seniors who ask us for an extra CJ before they leave us.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here. 

College Counseling Spotlight: Preparing for Decision Day

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Every year on May 1, students are cementing where they will attend college on National Decision Day. What are we doing to prepare our students for this big, impending decision?

This year, our College Counselor, Ms. Abrams, has been working with students and parents in grades 9-11 to ensure they feel confident and comfortable with the college admissions process, and we are also pleased to share some of the standout internships and programs our soon-to-be seniors are doing this summer.

Our students learn a lot about the college process and how this journey will be unique for each one of them. During the vital junior year, grade 11 students have:

Individual, weekly meetings in the College Counseling office to form college lists and identify the “right fit” schools that suit their personalities and support their academic goals.

Group sessions to discuss major college application checkpoints, such as essay writing, resume building, and summer program enrollment.

Collaboration time with teachers to share information and prepare for the recommendation letter writing process.

Our grade 9-10 students have access to Ms. Abrams’ resources and are encouraged to stop by her office to start discussing their plans for the future. She helps them choose high school courses that will be beneficial for completing their goals, and her door is always open for them to discuss volunteer and summer program opportunities, and college research.

Once students reach their senior year, they take a daily college counseling course to help them succeed in successfully planning for the next stage of their education journey.

Admissions Reps Visiting Our Campus
Further, we host college admissions representatives on campus in the fall, and this year we welcomed reps from over 50 colleges and universities. These visits provide an advantageous opportunity to learn straight from the source about what makes a college unique, and they allow students of all grade levels to get their questions answered. This process helps our students hone their college choices to the point where they will be happy to attend anyone on their list.

Supporting Parents in the Process
Every month, Ms. Abrams distributes an informational newsletter on local college fairs, parent workshops, and organizations in the community that can help build student resumes. For example, families have access to a curated list of hundreds of Pre-College Summer Program opportunities and volunteering.

Additionally, Ms. Abrams hosts various webinars for parents about topics such as Financial Aid, The Common Application, and the SAT/ACT tests. She also makes time for individual check-ins to ensure that she, the families, and the student are all on the same page and that everyone’s goals align.

Preparing for Senior Year
Our students are currently brainstorming for their personal statements and supplemental essays, which will help them get ahead before the rush of college applications in the fall semester. After their AP tests, juniors will work on these essays in their English classes with Ms. Abrams and their English Subject Expert Teacher to ensure they receive constructive and valuable feedback.

Additionally, students are working on leveling up their resumes and conveying themselves in the best way possible. They are visiting colleges both in person and online, and we are excited to take all of our high school students to SUNY New Paltz this May to get a feel for a college campus.

Pre-College Summer Programs for Our Students
Many students will engage in pre-college summer programs at major universities or through community organizations. These programs help teach students important skills for their futures, such as collaboration, time management, organization, and advocacy. See below for some student highlights!

Ashley W. (Class of ’24) is attending New York University’s Pre-College program this summer. She is so excited to dive into two courses: Applied Psychology and Intro to Marketing. Ashley has loved NYU for a very long time and is looking forward to making new friends and expanding her passions this summer.

Deniz E. (Class of ’25) has lots of plans for this upcoming summer. First, he will attend Columbia University’s three-week Summer Immersion Program where he will focus on two courses: Globalization and Challenges in International Economics and Politics, and Political Economic Ideologies of The Modern World. Deniz loves New York City and is excited to work on Columbia’s campus this summer. He will also work at the USTA’s Tennis Summer Camp as a Junior Coach and help young children improve their tennis skills.

Hudson L. (Class of ’25) is excited to attend The University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Summer Program. After thoroughly enjoying both his AP Biology and AP Psychology courses, Hudson is enrolled in UPenn’s Neuroscience Research Academy. He is looking forward to learning more about the brain and how it connects to our emotions. Specifically, he is excited to spend time on a beautiful college campus.

Julia N. (Class of ’26) will attend Columbia University’s Pre-College program for Architecture this summer. Besides being a dedicated student and soccer player, Julia loves art. She is eager to explore her more creative side while working alongside like-minded peers on a college campus this summer.

2022-2023 Student Accomplishments

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Though many things about fall 2022 were unfamiliar, our students continued to shine through clubs and contests that were held in person and virtually. Here, we highlight our students’ accomplishments from the first part of the 2022-2023 school year. Congratulations, Red-Tailed Hawks!

STEM

Nation’s Top Teens in STEM
Chelsea H. ’24, a Buteo Scholar, was named one of “16 Under 16 in STEM” by The74, a news site covering education, and became one of the nation’s top teens in STEM. 
Click the link to read the news.

STEM Day by Hexagon US Federal 
Alina A. ’26, Grace A. ’26, and TJ Z. ’25 participated in a STEM Day event hosted by Hexagon US Federal in November and competed in a contest to share how they think Hexagon US Federal technology can address the challenges of the future.

Scholarship 

National Merit Scholarship
Seven Seniors- Robert D. ’23, Spencer A. F. ’23, Cavan B. G O ’23, Arthur H. ’23, Aneesh V. ’23, Robert W. ’23, and Raleigh C. W ’23 were named Finalists in the 2023 Competition for National Merit Scholarship awards.  

Volunteer

President’s Volunteer Service Award
A letter from the White House. Fiona X. ’24 received a gold medal and certificate from the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program. The gold medal for young adults (16-21) is the highest award for the program and is eligible only for volunteers with more than 250 hours of service within the last 12 months. 

Math

Mathcounts Team
Twelve selected mathletes from the mathcounts team attended the NOVA chapter competition.  Our school won 2nd place in this super competitive chapter.  

The top 25% of students from the selected mathletes of the chapter are recognized.
Congratulations to:
 
Rebecca C. ’27, 4th place
Ian W. ’27, 5th place
Chloe G. ’27, 18th place
Sophia W. ’27, 23rd place
Anna W. ’27, 24th place
Tang T. ’27, 26th place
Delia A. ’28, 32nd place

American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10/12 
We have several students that have qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Exam, (AIME)  after receiving exceptionally high grades on the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 10/12. These students are listed below. Anna W. ’27 also scored in the top 1% nationwide during the AMC on10/12. We hosted the AIME at BASIS this month.

Students who received a Certificate of Achievement for being an 8th grader scoring above a 90 and Acceptance to the AIME:
–    Chloe G. ’27
–    Anna W. ’27 (Also received Honor Roll for scoring in the top 1% Nationwide)
–    Ian W. ’27
Acceptance of the AIME:
–    Adithya P. ’26
–    Enxiang “Gabe” Z. ’26
–    Chelsea H. ’24


Mathleague 
Congratulations to Owen H. ’30 and Jude B. ’31 participated in the qualifying round of Mathleague, and both have made it to the next level. They will be participating in the State Rounds in May. 

Quiz Bowl

Middle School Invitational Quiz Bowl Tournament
Our MS Quiz Bowl Teams participated in the Burleigh Manor Middle School Invitational Quiz Bowl Tournament on 11/5/2022. Our school has one team that qualified for the 2023 Middle School National Championship Tournament (MSNCT). Justin Y. ’27 was ranked No. 1 and Mohan P. ’27 was ranked No. 3 among MS players in the preliminary rounds of the tournament.

BIM HS Quiz Bowl Team
On December 3rd, the BIM High School Quiz Bowl team triumphed at the VCU Winter Quiz Bowl Tournament. The team of Caden Z. ’25, Cavan G. ’23, and Phoenix D. ’25 won the tournament. This is the first time a BIM Quiz Bowl team has won a state-wide, varsity level tournament. Three of our players were recognized as individual All-Stars. In the novice division, James F. ’26 came in 3rd, and in the upper division, Henry P. ’25 came in 7th, and Cavan G. ’23 finished in 1st place and was the 3rd highest scoring player in VCU’s 15 years hosting state-wide tournaments. Our teams’ results have qualified them for 3 national Quiz Bowl tournaments to be held in the spring. The members of each team were:
-Caden Z. ’25, Cavan G. ’23, Phoenix D. ’25
-Henry P. ’25, Raleigh W ’23, Ram T. ’23
-Aarya V. ’26, Brandon D. ’26, James F. ’26, Jiashu Z. ’25.

Longfellow Academic Tournament To Endallwars (LATTE)
Our Middle School Quiz Bowl team won 3rd place at the 2023 Longfellow Academic Tournament To Endallwars (LATTE) on Saturday, February 11, 2023. The team had the following students: Delia A. ’28, Colin S. ’28, Mohan P. ’27, Richik P. ’27, Kameron L. ’27, and Brayden B. ’27. 

Science Olympiad

Fairfax Invitational Tournament
Our entire High School Science Olympiad Team proudly represented BIM in the recent (01/07) Fairfax Invitational Tournament which included high schools from MD/DC and all of VA.  It was particularly exciting to go against BASIS DC. This is the inaugural year of BIM having a competitive, full high school team. The top 5 placements were recognized and medaled:

1st place in Scrambler (engineering): Team Caden Z. & Phoenix D. ’25
1st place in Detector Building (engineering): Team Caden Z. & Phoenix D. ’25
4th place in Anatomy Physiology Team: Veer B. & Orien L. ’25
5th place in Chem Lab Team: Fiona X. ’24 & Hera L. ’26

2023 Science Olympiad at Virginia Tech Invitational (Division B)
Our school’s Science Olympiad Division B team ranked number 5 among many strong teams across the country.
We’d like to congratulate the following teams who got recognized in the award ceremony.

In 1st place:
Disease Detective: Grace Y. ’27 and Justin Y. ’27
Fast Facts: Rebecca C. ’27 and Sophia W. ’27

In 2nd place:
Anatomy and Physiology: Rebecca C. ’27 and Grace Y. ’27
Forestry: Sophia W. ’27 and Grace Y. ’27
Road Scholar: Rebecca C. ’27 and Ian W. ’27

In 3rd place:
Crave the Wave: Ian W. ’27 and Ellie Z. ’28
Green Generation: Lillian S. ’27 and Grace Y. ’27

In 4th place:
Solar System: Sophia W. ’27 and Justin Y. ’27

In 5th place:
Meteorology: Zain M. ’28 and Sophia W. ’27

Sports

Fencing

Tahiyah H. ’27 won 7th place in woman’s foil Division 2 and 6th place in Junior women’s foil, 5th place in cadet women’s foil at the American Challenge; Tahiyah H. ’27 was awarded the bronze medal at the Super Youth National Competition of the Rockies for youth 14 women’s foil;  3rd place at the National Super Youth Challenge in Cadet Women’s Foil; 3rd place for Junior Women’s Foil at the Nova Knights Regional Youth Competition; 1st  place in both Junior and Cadet Women’s foil at RYC River City Rumble. She also won 2nd place in the Y14 women’s foil! 

Sahar H. ’31 won 2nd place in the youth 10 women’s foil and 2nd place in the NoVA Knights youth 12, women’s foil, and regional youth competition. 




Fairfax Challenge Fall RYC/RJCC & Y8 (Non-Regional)
Andrew Y. ’32 participated and won 1st place with the GOLD medal in Mixed Y8 Sabre in a fencing tournament (Fairfax Challenge Fall RYC/RJCC & Y8 (Non-Regional))!

Cobra Challenge SYC/RCC/Y8
Andrew Y. ’32 and Aiden L. ’33 won the silver medal and the bronze medal respectively for men’s Y8 saber at the Cobra Challenge SYC/RCC/Y8.

Apex Regional Fencing Tournament 
Ifechi O. ‘31 won the gold medal at the Apex Regional Fencing Tournament for Youth 10 Women Epee in Apex, North Carolina. 



Karate
King of the Hill 
Aaryasinh V. ‘26 won 1st place 🥇 in King of the Hill, a Karate Tournament in the DMV area.


Shooting
Shooting XIII CAT Championships Lima 2022
Suman S. ‘23 was in Lima, Peru competing at the Championship of the Americas (CAT Games) in women’s 10-meter Air Pistol, which is an Olympic event. Suman won first place in both individual and group events and secured a quota position for Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. 

Dance
National Solo Dance Final (U.S. Figure Skating)
Evelyn Z. ‘28 won 1st place in the National Solo Dance Final! (Bronze Solo Pattern Dance) and a silver medal in the Juvenile Solo Combined Dance. 

Art

Scholastic Art Awards 
Chelsea H. ’24 received 3 Honorable Mentions, 1 silver key, and 4 Gold keys.

The titles of Chelsea’s awarded works:

A Silkworm Pseudo-science Drawing & Illustration Mclean Honorable- Mention
Urban Flight Painting Honorable- Mention
Seafloor Mixed Media Honorable- Mention
Asian Express Grand Design-  Silver Key
Fracking And Fractures Drawing & Illustration- Gold Key
Metamorphosis Drawing & Illustration- Gold Key
Brainstorming Roots To Scientific Fruits Mixed Media- Gold Key
Jiaozi Drawing & Illustration-  Gold Key

Piano
The NVMTA Bach Baroque Competition and Festival
Fiona X. ‘24 participated in the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA) annual Bach-Baroque festival at Columbia Baptist Church, Falls Church VA, and got selected for the second round audition for her piano performance.  

All second round performers, whether or not they are chosen to play in the Honors Recital, will be recognized at the Honors Recital. A select number of students from the second round will be chosen to perform in the Honors Recital on Saturday, February 25 at 2:00 pm at Columbia Baptist Church.

The NVMTA Bach Baroque Competition and Festival is an annual event that celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as many other Baroque composers. Only exceptional performers are selected to 2nd round out of dozens of seasoned performers.

Foreign Language

State Latin Convention
Grade 7 Latin students won the State Latin Convention.

Chinese National CLASS Essay Contest 
Back in September and October, our grades 8-12 Mandarin students wrote essays to participate in a national-level Chinese Essay Contest: the 19th National CLASS (Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools) Essay Contest, an opportunity brought to them by the high school Mandarin teacher, Ms. Li. Although everyone in the High School Mandarin program submitted an essay, our school could only submit 10 students’ essays. These 10 students were identified as the top 10 at the school level after a thorough evaluation. Students were tasked to craft an original, 2-page essay in Chinese in response to their respective prompts. They worked tirelessly on their essays to compete against other K-12 students around the USA in three categories: Regular, Immersion, or Heritage. Essays were evaluated by a committee of judges. The committee recognized our students’ essays were exceptionally strong!

This month, we were notified that several of our students have won awards! Awards include Gold, Silver, and Honorable Mention.
Gold Award:
Kingston Z. ‘27
Yilin Z. ‘27
Joel C. ’26
Sophia J. ‘26
Angela J. ‘26
Michelle Y. ‘26
Silver Award:
Jessica D. ‘25
Fiona X. ‘24

2022 National Chinese EXPO of Student Works  
In December, our Grade 11 Mandarin students participated in the 2022 National Chinese EXPO of Student Works with their video submission of the shadow show: “Nian’s Story.” The 11th-grade students worked extremely hard on this project. They started this project last school year and worked on it this year for the 2023 Lunar New Year Celebration. Students created and drew their own puppets, and backgrounds, and even wrote an original script telling the story of Nian and Xi. It is an important story of why red is such an important color in Chinese culture. This past January, “Nian’s story” won an award for their entry in the 2022 National Chinese EXPO of student Works (NCESW).
 
Congratulations to:
Haasini A. ‘24
Devin P. ‘24
Justin L. ‘24
Logan S. ‘24
Fiona X. ‘24

Debate Club

Debate Regular-Season Tournament

The team of Rebecca C. ’27 and Chloe G. ’27 went undefeated and took first place in the novice divisions. The teams of freshman Sophia J. ’26, Angela J. ’26, Ben R. ’26, and junior Paulina H. 24 went undefeated in the junior varsity division and took 3rd and 4th places.

The team of Xinyu Y.  ’27 and Grace Y. ’27 went undefeated and took 2nd place out of 66 entries in the Novice division, and the team of Ben R. ’26 and Paulina H. ’24 went 3-1 and took 6th place in the Varsity division in their second tournament of the season.

Our debate team participated in its final regular-season tournament of the year. The team of Juniors Shaun J. ’24 and Chelsea H. ’24  went 4-0 and earned first place in the varsity division.

Well done, Red-Tailed Hawks! 

BASIS Means Business: Wildcat Edition

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Upper School students were invited to participate in a new initiative across all BASIS Independent Schools introduced earlier this year.

BASIS Means Business encourages our students to create and innovate as they develop an entrepreneurial business idea and present it in a Shark Tank-style competition.

One finalist from each network school will compete in the finals on Saturday, Feb. 25 (held via Zoom) and the winner will receive $10,000 toward their charity of choice.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Pierce B. (’24) and Scarlett S. (’24) presented their ideas to the Upper School student body and our three judges.

The panel of judges included Kirk Murphy (Intro to Business elective teacher), Paul Kim (Wildcat parent and businessman), and Ms. Ermakova (Subject Expert Teacher, Math & Economics).

The presentations were on:

Biowrap – an eco-conscious replacement for plastic wrap (Pierce)

GardEco – Gardens for the urban home (Scarlett)

Both students showed impressive composure and professionalism. As far as the judges were concerned, high marks for both students were given regarding their public speaking. During the Q&A portion, the judges didn’t hold back from asking critical and pointed questions not to be too harsh but because they saw the potential in the students and their ideas. For example, they challenged the students about R&D, the cost of having a zero-carbon facility, and how to monetize online content behind a paywall.

The benefit of this project extended beyond the participants to the audience of high school students. The presenters demonstrated to their peers what it means to lead and set the tone for future competitions. It is clear that while marketing strategies and overall business acumen will always grab everyone’s attention, the foundation of success relies on the manner in which you present yourself and your ideas.

…and the Wildcat advancing to the BASIS Means Business finals is:

Scarlett S., Class of ’24

Now, the judges agreed that Scarlett has what it takes to go against her competitors from BASIS Independent Brooklyn, McLean, Fremont, Silicon Valley, and Bellevue and bring home the big prize. She has access to all of the resources and support offered by the BASIS Independent Manhattan community to prepare her for success. We look forward to the finals this month, but even more, we are eager to watch this program grow over the years to come.

100 High School Students (and 10 Chaperones) Visit NYC and D.C.

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For the 2022 – 2023 school year, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley was excited to bring back our New York City and Washington D.C. trip for high school students! 100 of our high school students and their chaperones toured both cities for six days seeing the sights, visiting historical monuments, and experiencing American History “in the room where it happened.”

The high school history curriculum at BASIS Independent Schools includes AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP U.S. History, AP World History, AP European History, and a number of Capstone Courses such as Crime and Punishment: Criminal Justice and the Constitution, Existentialism and the Absurd, and Law and Philosophy.

This trip allowed these students to experience and see much of what they learn in the classroom, in real life.

Day 1

After taking a red-eye and landing in Washington D.C. early that morning, our students wasted no time seeing the sights. First, was a biking tour of the National Mall. Students saw a few historical monuments, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court, and the White House.

After a quick break for lunch, their tour began again at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

To end the first day they gathered together for dinner, arcade games, and bowling!

Day 2

Students were up bright and early to hop on the DC Metro and head to the Capitol Building. Our group took a guided tour through the Capital as well as the Supreme Court.

After stopping for lunch they made their way to the National African American History Museum for the afternoon.

Later after dinner, they joined a night walking tour of some of the national memorials.

Day 3

On day three our students had another early morning. This time heading to the Arlington National Cemetery. They were able to take a private tour and view the grounds before heading on a bus to make their way to New York City.

After checking into a hotel and dropping off their luggage, students got to ride the subway to their last stop of the day – Hamilton the musical. They even got to meet some of the cast after!

Day 4

On Day 4 students got to sleep in a little bit and got a later start before hopping on the subway to their first stop of the day. Students toured the 9/11 Memorial Museum before heading out for their next walking tour.

While walking around Greenwich Village students got to try authentic NYC pizza, bagels, cupcakes, and more sweet treats.

After the Village, students continued their walking tour to Midtown Manhattan. Midtown is home to 30 Rock, Times Square, Trump Tower, Central Park, the Empire State Building, Broadway, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

After doing some shopping and touring Times Square, students got to stop for some famous New York cheesecake before ending the night.

Day 5

On their last full day in NYC, students started their morning by heading to Battery Park and boarding the ferry to Liberty Island. Students then took a guided tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

After lunch, it was time to visit the world-famous Central Park in style! Students took a biking tour of the park and learned about its history with the city and its residents.

To end the night, they made their way to the top of the Empire State Building.

Day 6

Before departing for the airport, students got to take one last walking tour around Lower Manhattan.

After their tour, they grabbed their luggage, headed to the airport, and started to make their way back home.

Airport

On the way back to San Jose, students reflected amongst themselves as well as with their chaperones on their journey. For many, this was their first trip without their family and their first trip to the East Coast. They all had both personal and shared experiences when visiting humbling places such as the Holocaust Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, and Ellis Island. One student commented, “History feels more real to me now because I’ve been here and stood where they stood.”

Memories of a lifetime were made and our students and chaperones, though tired and amazed at the sheer amount of steps they had completed in those six days, were happy to have gone on this adventure together.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community?

Student Spotlight: Senior Wins Davidson Fellowship for Research on CRISPR Viral Therapies

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BASIS Independent Silicon Valley student Indeever M., Class of 2023, has become the first person in the world to sequence the genome of the freshwater angelfish!

Indeever sequenced the genome of his pet angelfish Calvin after it died in March this past year. “Although my fish was dead, I wanted to preserve it forever,” he says. “So I decided to sequence the genome of the angelfish with the hopes that I could contribute that information to the scientific community, and so that the angelfish could one day be used as a model organism for biological research!”

You can view his sequence data on this public database and his research paper describing his work was published here.

Indeever has also been awarded a 2022 Davidson Fellowship for his research on CRISPR viral therapies. Recognized by Forbes as “one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarships,” the Fellows scholarship is one of “The 10 Biggest Scholarships in the World” by TheBestColleges.org and one of “7 Prestigious Undergrad Scholarships” in U.S. News & World Report.

You can view his research on CRISPR viral therapies here.

Congratulations Indeever!

We sat down with Indeever to learn more about his research and experience with these projects.

Congratulations on these amazing accomplishments! What made you start this CRISPR project?

With the ongoing pandemic, I wanted to conduct novel research to find a way to better protect immunocompromised people from viral infections. I was also incredibly excited to develop mastery over various wet bench techniques. That’s how this project took off in mid-2021.

Can you give a general description of your project?

With the COVID-19 pandemic having taken the world by storm, one reliable way to protect ourselves from a viral infection is by getting vaccinated. However, vaccines have limited efficacy in immunocompromised people as their bodies cannot mount a strong response to the vaccination and develop antibodies. A complement to vaccinations is necessary to thoroughly protect the immunocompromised from viral infections, and I turned to bacteria for a solution.

In my current work, I hypothesized that the bacterial CRISPR-Ca9 system, which protects bacteria from viral infections, could be repurposed to function as an intracellular defense mechanism for human cells. After genetically engineering human cells to express Cas9, I introduced viral DNA into the cells and found that the Cas9 enzyme significantly reduced the expression of the viral DNA, effectively protecting the cell from infection.

Where were you able to complete this project?

I conducted my self-directed research at BioCurious, a local community biology lab in Santa Clara.

Sounds amazing! What gave you the confidence to do all that on your own?

I joined BISV in Grade 6, and my favorite subject has always been biology. Thanks to BISV’s rigorous curriculum, I greatly enjoyed all the STEM exposure I had in biology, chemistry, and physics.

In Grade 11, I made sure to take the Biotechnology elective with Dr. Allendoefer. She helped me a lot outside of class. Her class and her willingness to always discuss my ideas are what really ignited my interest in CRISPR technology.

How did you get involved with the Davidson Fellowship?

I heard about the fellowship from a family friend. The Davidson Institute looks for significant projects that are meaningful and have the potential to make a positive contribution to society. I submitted a research paper that was reviewed by a panel of experts. By the way, they accept non-stem projects as well. My submission was 34 pages long! They judged the research work on the following criteria – Scientific rigor, societal impact, and also the applicant’s understanding of the specific domain.

What advice would you give to future students who are interested in pursuing a project outside of school?

Keep learning about the world you live in, identify challenges that afflict people, and try to develop solutions through your research. Make sure to talk to the talented teachers at BISV and learn from their wisdom and experiences. Find what you’re interested in and pursue it. Don’t be afraid of what other people think or even what the results will be.

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings.

Student Spotlight: Junior Selected for World Science Scholars Program

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The World Science Scholars (WSS) program, an initiative of the World Science Festival, has announced its newest and largest class, with 55 young Scholars from 13 countries. These exceptionally talented mathematical minds will have an unparalleled opportunity to apply their abilities to unexplored disciplines.

Led by world-renowned experts, Scholars examine the ways that advanced mathematics skills can be applied to solve complex challenges in a wide range of multidisciplinary fields.

One of our very own BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Bobcats, Maggie Peng, Class of 2024, has been selected as a World Science Scholar.

Congratulations Maggie!

Maggie will begin a year-long journey of learning and discovery with WSS faculty, including Nobel and Breakthrough Prize winners, best-selling authors, and experts working at the cutting edge of their fields.

They will take advanced, self-paced courses with interactive demonstrations, exercises, discussions, and video lectures. They will collaborate on projects, attend virtual lab tours, and have the unique opportunity to interact directly with these unmatched experts and teaching fellows through riveting lectures and live virtual discussions. Maggie will also join a vibrant and supportive online community that encourages discussion, debate, and collaboration among the students, enabling them to forge lifelong connections with their peers.

We sat down with Maggie to ask her a few questions about her experience.

Congratulations on this amazing achievement! What made you want to apply?

I found WSS after watching a few of Dr. Brian Greene’s publicly available lectures and getting interested in his research. World Science Scholars not only covered what he teaches but also incorporates lectures from other university professors. I applied because I wanted to broaden my horizons and learn about more advanced topics that are not covered at the high school level.

What was the application process like for you?

The process of applying was relatively simple: there are three forms to fill out; one for you, one for a parent, and one for a teacher. It focuses a lot on your interests and achievements in mathematics. I would encourage any of my peers who are interested in applying to go for it!

What are you most excited about?

When I first heard about WSS, I was mainly interested in the range of STEM subjects they covered. Right now I’m just excited to keep taking more courses and learning! There are many STEM subfields out there that I’ve yet to become acquainted with and I’m excited about the exposure this program will give me.

What would you tell other students interested in applying?

I would tell them that there is a good amount of time required to keep up with the coursework. It’s not overbearing in my schedule, but I do spend a lot of time studying. If you are a dedicated student with strong organizational skills it’s the perfect program for you.

Congratulations again Maggie, we are so proud of you!

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings.