High School

10 BASIS Independent Fremont Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 14, 2023 by ekugler

These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semiﬁnalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

Although, National Merit Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and at our school they represent one out of four of our seniors this year which is an incredible achievement!

“As the first graduating senior class, it is exciting to have our students nationally recognized for all of their efforts in being exemplary scholars and future leaders. This nomination is one of many indicators of their strength and potential to succeed in all that they do. I am incredibly proud of our students. Congratulations Yellow Jackets!” said Francine Davis, Head of School at BASIS Independent Fremont.

The honored students at BASIS Independent Fremont are:

Christopher C.

Heeya D.

Shirley F.

Revant K.

Yifei L.

Alicia P.

Aidan P.

Anjali P.

Ruoqing W.

Alan X.

From over 16,000 Semiﬁnalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notiﬁed of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. The scholarship winners of 2024 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 375,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

On behalf of all BASIS Independent Schools, we are so proud of you—and of all of our students—for your continual academic achievements both big and small. Please join us in congratulating our incredible Yellow Jackets!

BASIS Independent Fremont is a grades TK-12 private school based in Fremont, California, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum.

22 BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 14, 2023 by ekugler

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, ofﬁcials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the Semiﬁnalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program – including 22 BASIS Independent Silicon Valley students. Alongside our 22 Semifinalists, we proudly celebrated 40 Commended Scholars, totaling over 70% of the class receiving recognition. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.

“I continue to be amazed by our student body every year. This external validation of our students, and their hard work and determination, is always an exciting way to start off the school year with our upcoming Senior Class. Congratulations to our Bobcats!” said Sara Kolb, Head of School at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley.

The honored students at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley are:

Akshaya A. Ajan

Paras Goel

Alina Huang

Robert Ji

Shreyas Kapavarapu

Saanchi Kapoor

Nivedita P. Kripalani

Ethan Y. Liu

Shreyas M. Nanjanagud

Alyssa E. Naoumov

Maggie J. Peng

Max Polosky

Maya Sriram

Anoushka A. Tamhane (not pictured)

Caitlyn N. Tom

Brandon M. Tsai

Shivaani Venkatachalam

Achyuth K. Vivek

Ellie Xi

Paulina Xu

Ivan Y. Zhang

Meryl Zhang

On behalf of all BASIS Independent Schools, we are so proud of you – and of all of our students – for your continual academic achievements both big and small. Please join us in congratulating our incredible Bobcats!

Term Project Trip 2023: Tanzania

August 24, 2023 by ekugler

During the final week of the academic year, BASIS Independent Silicon Valley celebrates Term Project Week, an enriching experience for students across all grade levels. This week provides a unique platform for collaborative, multidisciplinary projects, and engaging activities or trips. Students are grouped with dedicated teachers who guide and facilitate their learning throughout the week.

Each year, we offer a diverse range of project options, continually seeking to expand our offerings based on the interests and input of both our faculty and students. These projects challenge our students to be cooperative learners and to function as a team. On this specific trip, students were also able to earn community service hours towards their various clubs and volunteer programs. This Term Project Trip was to Tanzania, where students traveled through the Serengeti to Zanzibar!

Day 1: Students and their chaperone departed from SFO to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Upon arrival at the airport in Kilimanjaro, students met with their designated program leaders and drove to the Danish Center in Arusha, Tanzania. Over the first five days of the trip, students engaged in service work within the local villages and used this center as their main hub.

Day 3 – Day 5: Each morning, students partnered with Sura Village members to build the medical testing lab facility for the village clinic. They roughly dedicated 2-3 hours of service work in the morning, followed by lunches with the local community. In the afternoon, they resumed their efforts for a few more hours. Their tasks included mixing cement, shoveling sand, and gathering rocks to build the foundation of the building. Beyond their service hours, students engaged in cultural and fun activities such as milking cows and cooking traditional food alongside village members.

The village commissioner expressed that the clinic’s construction will leave a lasting impact for generations. Upon its completion, he plans to display our school’s name on the building, showcasing our student’s dedicated efforts.

Day 6: Having completed their service work at the Sura Village Clinic, students departed from the Danish Center and made their way to Tarangire National Park for a safari adventure. Led by tour guides, they learned about the ecosystems and conservation efforts of the species that populate the area. Tarangire is known for its dense elephant population, providing a unique opportunity to witness them up close. The day concluded at a camping resort overlooking the Rift Valley in Migombani, Tarangire, where students settled in for the night.

Day 7 & 8: Students went on an expedition to Serengeti National Park, one of Tanzania’s most renowned and protected areas. Guided by their tour leaders, they ventured into vast savannahs by safari car in search of wildlife that inhabits the world-famous national park. Students observed a variety of animals including elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, and zebras during their exploration. They set up tents and slept in sleeping bags at the national park campsites.

Day 9 & 10: The group headed to Ngorongoro Crater where they settled into a new campsite. Ngorongoro Crater is a smaller area than the Serengeti and is known as Tanzania’s richest game park. Throughout their time there, our students learned about animal behavior, conservation, tribal customs, and wildlife-human interaction from their safari guides.

Day 11: Students took a flight to Zanzibar, famously known as the “Island of Spice.” They explored the local spice farms, learned the historical significance of the spice trade, and gained insight into Zanzibar’s evolution into the renowned Isle of Spice.

Day 12: Students visited Stone Town, a historic area that was once a trading hub. They took a walking tour through its winding alleys and streets. Later they enjoyed snorkeling along Stone Town’s beaches and explored Prison Island. On Prison Island, the group visited a giant tortoise sanctuary and learned about the endangered species.

Day 13: The students participated in a dhow sailing activity, setting off from the beachside of Zanzibar in classic wooden sailboats. Their destination was the Menai Bay Conservation Area, known for its dolphins, coral reefs, and diverse marine life. When they arrived, they snorkeled in the clear blue water of the Indian Ocean and had a seafood buffet on Kwale Island Beach. Following their adventure, they sailed back to Zanzibar for their final night of the trip.

Day 14: The group made their way to the airport in Zanzibar and headed home on a long flight back to SFO.

Term Project Trip 2023: Ireland/UK

July 25, 2023 by ekugler

Each year, we offer a diverse range of project options, continually seeking to expand our offerings based on the interests and input of both our faculty and students. This Term Project Trip was to Ireland and the UK and consisted of 61 students and 10 chaperones.

Day 1: The first day of the trip was dedicated to travel.

Students and chaperones at SFO for their AM flight to Dublin, Ireland

Students and chaperones at SFO for their PM flight to Dublin, Ireland

Day 2: Upon arrival at the airport, the morning group was greeted by their assigned tour guide, who would be one of two tour guides accompanying and guiding our students throughout the duration of the trip.

Having arrived in Dublin, Ireland ahead of the afternoon group, they took advantage of their early arrival and explored Bunratty Castle. It was a great opportunity for them to immerse themselves in the rich history and cultural heritage of the region while awaiting the arrival of the afternoon group.

Shortly after the morning group’s excursion to Bunratty Castle, the afternoon flight group landed at the airport and was welcomed by their dedicated tour guide. Both groups began to make their way to meet each other at their first hotel in Killarney, Ireland. They had their first dinner together as a group and called it a night.

Day 3: Our students went on an exciting adventure to Killarney National Park, where they rode on a horse and carriage through the park. The journey took them through lush greenery and landscapes, ending at Ross Castle on the lake.

Following the exploration of Ross Castle, our students then headed to West Ireland along the scenic route of The Ring of Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is known for its rolling green hills, rugged Atlantic seascapes, and quaint Irish villages. Along the way, they had the privilege of visiting Kerry Bog Village, where they traveled back to 18th-century Ireland and witnessed traditional thatched cottages and rural life from a bygone era.

They ended their excursion around the Ring of Kerry at Kissime Sheep Farm, where they witnessed an authentic sheepdog and sheering demonstration. Our students really enjoyed observing the skilled sheepdog commander’s whistle calls and the obedience displayed by the sheepdog as it herded sheep down the hill.

Day 4: Students ventured to Blarney Castle, where they explored its gardens and participated in the tradition of kissing the Blarney Stone. Following their time at the castle, they proceeded on a short walk to Blarney Woollen Mills, renowned as the largest Irish store in the world. Here, they went shopping for authentic Irish goods such as wool caps, chocolates, and flutes.

Day 5: During their time in Dublin, students went on a guided bus tour led by a local Irish expert. As they drove through the historic streets of Dublin, they learned about the Georgian Squares, witnessed the hustle and bustle of O’Connell Street, and walked Phoenix Park. A highlight of the tour was their visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, an architectural gem steeped in religious and historical significance.

They then went to EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin. The immersive experience featured the history of the Irish people, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs, and enduring resilience throughout the ages.

For their last stop of the day, students went to The Irish Dance Party. Dancers dressed in traditional Irish attire and played Irish-made instruments. Some of our students even had the chance to learn some traditional Irish footwork.

Day 6: The group departed from Dublin to Holyhead by ferry boat. After a couple of hours of travel, they arrived in Wales. Their first destination was Conwy Castle, where they walked across ancient walls and explored the guard towers of this historic fortress.

Day 7: The group began their day with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. They first explored Anne Hathaway’s cottage, followed by the Shakespeare Centre and Birthplace. Afterward, they split into smaller chaperone groups to further explore the city, with some visiting the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried and others exploring local markets and eateries.

Continuing their exploration, the group stopped in the city of Oxford on their way to London. Our students had time to explore the campus of Oxford University, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and the Oxford City Centre.

Day 8: On their first day in London, they began with a guided walking tour. During the tour, they visited notable landmarks including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey.

Following the tour, the group split up into four mini excursions: The Harry Potter London Experience, The London Dungeon, The London Tower, and Hyde Park.

Later in the day, a portion of the group attended a captivating performance by Eddie Izzard, while the remaining members went shopping at the M&M and Lego stores nearby.

Day 9: On their last full day of the trip, the group traveled to the Tate Museum as their first stop. They then walked along the River Thames to the famous Borough Market in South London to have lunch. After lunch, they proceeded to the Globe Theater to watch a performance of “The Comedy of Errors.”

Following the performance at the Globe Theater, they explored the British Museum, where they viewed famous artifacts firsthand, including the iconic Rosetta Stone.

To conclude their trip, the group enjoyed their final dinner together at a Japanese fusion cuisine restaurant in London.

Day 10: Both groups departed from London and traveled back to San Francisco. It was a great trip that our students will remember forever!

Some students arriving at SFO from London to greet their parents

2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

June 2, 2023 by msnyder

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

May 4, 2023 by msnyder

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

April 27, 2023 by msnyder

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

February 25, 2023 by ekugler

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

Large group of students wearing black and sitting on a stage

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.

Two young students in track suits with medals around their necks

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.

Teacher in a blue sweatshirt with an award winning student

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

Adult in a suit presenting karate student with medals

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

February 17, 2023 by msnyder

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:

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.

February 7, 2023 by msnyder

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?