Meet School Leadership Archives | Page 3 of 3

Autumn days are here again! Hints of fall are starting to peek out from around the corner here in Brooklyn. I grew up in New Hampshire, and fall has always been my favorite time of year – cool breezes, apple picking, Halloween decorations, and auburn leaves all appearing once again.

The other special part of the fall is that school admissions events are in full swing. This means one thing for BASIS Independent Brooklyn – our Fall Open Houses! Fall Open Houses are considered the greatest way for your family to get to know our BASIS Independent Brooklyn community, making them some of the best events of our year.

Please join us in-person at one of our Open Houses on Saturday, October 19 (PreK-Grade 2) or Saturday, October 26 (Grades 3-12). Click here to register!

General Open House Structure:
For both Open Houses, doors will open at 9:40 AM, and the event will last approximately until 12:00 PM. We welcome you to register and attend even if you are not able to participate in the entire event. Students are encouraged to join us, as well.

Open Houses begin with an Introduction and an Open House Overview. They include a Parent Panel where you will be able to hear from current BASIS Independent Brooklyn families. Families will also be able to tour the campus while visiting classrooms.

Please review the details below for additional information regarding the structure of each Open House:

PREK–Grade 2: Saturday, October 19 at 10:00 AM

PreK & Kindergarten
Saturday, October 19
Learn about our Early Learning Program, where our youngest students grow. Hear from teachers, administrators, and parents about how BASIS Independent Brooklyn Lower School fosters curiosity, exploration, and creativity. Our passionate Subject Expert Teachers will show you what a day in the life looks like as they lead mini-lessons in their vibrant rooms.

Grades 1-2:
Saturday, October 19
Visit with our Learning Expert and Subject Expect Teachers to learn about our unique two-teacher model. From math and science to humanities, Mandarin, music and more, find out how we support students in developing study skills and spark a lifelong love of learning. Our Subject Expert Teachers will lead mini-lessons to help you get a feel for the engaging activities that take place in the classrooms. These sessions will also help you understand the transition to our Upper School campus in Grade 3.

Parent and Student Panel

Our Lower School Open House will conclude with a Q&A panel that consists of BASIS Independent Brooklyn parents and school leadership.

Activities and Refreshments

A Fun Zone will be hosted in one of our classrooms. You are welcome to bring your student(s) and have them play with our team and their peers while you explore our school. We will have light refreshments for the whole family at the Open House. After the Open House, we invite you to enjoy our Back to School Bash alongside our whole school community. There will be food trucks, face painting, a magician, games, and other treats!

GRADES 3-12: Saturday, October 26 at 10:00 AM

The Primary Program: Grades 3-5
Saturday, October 26
Visit with our Learning Expert and Subject Expect Teachers to learn about our unique two-teacher model (for grades 3 & 4). From math and science to humanities, Mandarin, music and more, find out how we support students in developing study skills and spark a lifelong love of learning. You will also have the chance to learn about how these bridge years encourage autonomy, creativity, and confidence to help prepare your student for Middle School.

The Middle School Program: Grades 6-8
Saturday, October 26
In the Middle School Program, we focus on developing the academic, executive functioning, and self-advocacy skills needed for success in the high school years. Hear from our Subject Expert Teachers about how they inspire excellence inside and outside of the classroom. Plus, learn about our many athletic and academic competition teams, clubs, international trips, and more.

The High School Program: Grades 9-12
Saturday, October 26
Educating tomorrow’s great innovators, pioneers, and leaders requires a well-rounded curriculum – one with breadth and depth across academic disciplines. Meet students, faculty, and administrators as you and your child learn about high school at BASIS Independent Brooklyn, including our unique Senior Year program.

Parent and Student Panel

Our Upper School Open House will conclude with a Q&A panel that consists of BASIS Independent Brooklyn parents, students, and school leadership.

Refreshments

We will have light refreshments for the whole family at the Open House. After the Open House, we invite you to stop by our Primary School Fall Harvest Festival alongside our Grades 3-5 students and families.

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Don’t miss this interactive experience! Click here to register for our Fall Open Houses. As you get ready for the fall season, we hope you choose to spend some of your time with us, getting to know our wonderful community.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

Warmly,
Ms. Thea LaCrosse
Director of Admissions | BASIS Independent Brooklyn
thea.lacrosse@basisindependent.com

As the Head of School for our Lower School campus, Ms. Rose Miller-Sims focuses on how to best support students and faculty to achieve at their highest level in a joyful environment. Ms. Miller-Sims first joined our faculty as a Learning Expert Teacher for the Primary School, because she wanted to be an integral part of a community with a strong culture of learning and curiosity. She loved the BASIS Independent approach to challenging students in ways that inspired autonomy and encouraged creativity.

From teacher to Student Affairs Director, Ms. Miller-Sims has proven to be a star within our network, finding new professional growth across Student Affairs during her nearly eight-year tenure at BASIS Independent Brooklyn Upper School.

Ms. Miller-Sims graduated magna cum laude from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was a modern language major studying both Italian and French. While an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Padua, Italy. Ms. Miller-Sims later attended the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University where she received a Master of Arts degree in foreign language education. Ms. Miller-Sims received a Master of Science degree in general and special education from Touro College.

“While it is always a difficult choice to leave the classroom, I was excited for the new challenges that moving into an administrative role provided. During my time as a teacher, I saw how crucial having an excellent, supportive admin team is to the success of a school, and I am excited to bring a fresh perspective from my roles in the classroom and years as a Director of Student Affairs to my role as Head of School.”

We asked Ms. Miller-Sims some questions to help our families get to know her better.

How have your years at our school—first as a teacher and then in the administration–helped inform your work as Head of School?

I think having a view into the inner workings of the school as both a teacher and as Director of Student Affairs has given me a unique perspective on the BASIS Independent Brooklyn community. In my role as HOS, it is very important that I try to see any challenges that arise through the eyes of all the constituents of the school- faculty, students, families, and staff- and find solutions that are best for our entire community. While we always want to uphold our academic mission, we also want to make time for connection to foster a sense of belonging and for fun so we all have memories of our time learning and growing together.

What are some of the initiatives you are excited to oversee on campus now or in the future?

The major initiative I am excited about this year is finding new ways for our students and faculty to connect to create a cohesive school community. We have been very focused on creating opportunities for faculty and staff to collaborate, bond, and have an amplified voice at school in the matters that affect them the most. Additionally, we have been crafting new events and fine-tuning existing events to increase student involvement and connection within their own grade and across our school community.

Do you have any goals for our school in the years to come?

One of the main goals I have for our school is to optimize our resources as we shift to being a PreK to Gr. 2 Lower School. As a team, we are looking at our schedules, spaces, and extracurricular offerings to see what we can add to our program as we grow. No spoilers (we will be excited to announce anything new once plans are finalized) but there are definitely some opportunities to make our school a dynamic environment that will pique student interest.

What motivated you to pursue a career in education?

I have always gravitated towards working with students younger than me, even when I was still a student myself. My first jobs were as a swim coach and camp counselor, then as an assistant teacher in college, so I got a taste for education from a young age. I have also witnessed first-hand the opportunities that education can provide students who are willing to embrace challenges and pursue academics at a high level.

I can think of no more rewarding experience than guiding and supporting students of all ages to become well-rounded citizens of the world. While I sometimes miss being in the classroom and working with students directly, I know that the work I do each day supports even more students, teachers, and families to have access to an excellent educational experience.

What are some of your interests outside of the classroom, so families can get to know you better?

In my time away from school I enjoy a variety of pursuits. I love learning and speaking different languages, traveling to new destinations near and far, and spending time with my family- especially my partner, Tom, and my dog, Charlie. We can often be found exploring Brooklyn on long walks together, hiking when we can escape the city, or at the climbing gym.

Thank you to Ms. Miller-Sims for nurturing a culture focused on inspiring our students each day.

Hello Autumn – Join Us For An Open House!

Leadership Spotlight: Head of School Rose Miller-Sims