School Community

A Tale of 27 Hours – Teachers Team Up for the Ragnar Challenge!

September 18, 2025 by jessicagrear Leave a Comment

A strength of BASIS Independent Bellevue is the enduring friendships formed between the staff. The success of our students and staff can be directly tied back to the time our teachers take to foster relationships with one another both during and after school. This past summer, four of our teachers took on the challenge of competing in Ragnar Rainer, a trail running relay race of epic proportions. An event that many of our colleagues were happy to support from afar but perplexed as to why a select few would subject themselves to such torture and pain.

So, whose idea was this anyway?

Well, it was Mr. Norcross’s of course. Mr. Norcross is the Algebra II and Pre-Calculus Subject Expert Teacher for our students and is known for his love of outdoor activities. In the fall of 2024, Mr. Norcross and a fellow teacher were talking about running races like the Barkley marathons and other running events they’ve done. They began to discuss Ragnar, and long-distance team running events. Suddenly, the teachers came up with the idea of forming their own team for the race this year in August. The race requires teams of eight to run 15 miles per runner. Each runner would be responsible for three loops, – three miles, five miles, and seven miles respectively. 120 (ish) miles in total…how hard could it be? Unfortunately, the race overlapped on one day with when teachers returned back to school to begin preparations for the next school year. However, it turns out if you have Head of School that values teamwork, community and staff morale, she’ll give you the day off to go and tackle the daunting event!

Unfortunately, one of the teammates wasn’t able to be there. The team of eight dwindled to a team of seven. So, the teachers were a person down and they had a choice to make. Skip those laps and they won’t get an overall time (and technically wouldn’t have ‘finished’ the race), or some of them would have to double up and complete the missing laps. Mr. Norcross, Mr. De Monnin, and a third team member stepped up to the challenge and each take on an extra loop. After a summer of training and preparing as best as they could, the day finally comes to see what they’re made of. The time had come to push their bodies, push their minds, and push their friendships to the limit. The following is a true story…

Ms. Perez-Vargas

It is Friday, August 22 at 10:35 AM.

I was lucky runner number 2, tackling arguably the most daunting run. Unaffectionately known as the yellow loop, five miles, with 2500 feet of elevation gain. I was the first person on the team to tackle this loop, so I began the run with no idea of what was to come. I just knew I had to make it to the top of the mountain as fast as possible.

I begin my run optimistic about holding a steady pace, but I was quickly humbled by the immediate 1000-foot elevation gain within the first mile. I quickly realized that my first loop was not the time to push myself to exhaustion and that running was not the effective method to tackle this loop. I adjust my approach and begin to maintain a steady hiking pace. All of a sudden, breathing becomes easier, and I am passing runners who have pushed themselves to full exhaustion.

I pass the aid station feeling good, and ready to finish the last one and a half miles. I thought I had been staring at the finish for a while now, but as I make my way up what feels like the 100th hill, I realize I still have a long way to go. I start to worry that I am hallucinating because I see many dots all the way up the trail in front of me. I glance at my watch; I have one mile left and another 1,000 ft still left to climb. Is that right?! Suddenly, I realize the dots aren’t dots, they are other racers. I take a sip of water and a deep breath and decide; this is where I need to push, just one more mile.

My early decision to slow down to a hiking pace was for this moment; now was not the time to change the game plan. Finish and finish strong. So that’s what I did. This first loop taught me a lot about the rest of the race. Slow, steady, and consistent was the key to success. One step at a time, and do not worry about things you cannot control.

Mr. Norcross

It is Friday, August 22 at 12:15 PM.

The sun is splitting a cloudless sky. Energy sapping heat soaks the still air at 6400ft. The steady cadence feels good, the views from the ridge are stunning. I don’t know it yet but I’m too optimistic. I’m trying to talk to the runner in front of me. No response. Headphones are in. I’ll squeeze past in the open. I have to shorten my stride and bump the cadence as I hop over rocks and roots at the trail side.

Soon the trail edges off the ridge to the northeast, starts to lose elevation, it’s steeper than I was expecting. There are tight turns and sharp drops. The surface is loose. Dust and rocks. My left quad starts to complain. I’m only two miles into seven.

The optimism starts to fade.

By 12:35 PM the gradient has eased off, the trail is wider and flatter. The surface is more secure, it winds its way through the trees down to Crystal Mountain Boulevard, the access road for the ski area. I’m dealing with a couple hot spots on my feet, my legs feel tight. I’m under fueled, dehydrated, over tired.

A couple of switch backs crawl past and I’m deposited onto a gravel road. There is an aid station, I choose not to stop. The road starts to climb. Is it going to be like this all the way to the finish? My heart rate is 190. I feel a tingle run down my spine, I’ve stopped sweating. Like there’s nothing left for my body to give. I still have 15 miles of trail and 6000ft of climbing in the next 18 hours. That prospect feels like a crushing weight on my shoulders. A sense of dread grows like a shadow in my mind. I need to leave something in the tank. I slow to a purposeful walk.

I hate walking.

The next two miles are a fever dream. My mind is everywhere and nowhere. My mouth is a cotton ball. I don’t have the sense to drink, fogged by a desire to keep pushing. I half jog and half claw my way along fresh cut single track, stumble past way markers in the over flow parking lot, drag myself past other runners. The final stretch to the finish lumbers into sight, a steady half mile climb to the transition zone.

I muster a shuffling jog up the road past the camp and into the corral. Runner number four is waiting.

We hit a solid high five and I pass him the timing chip. Then I bump into him as I walk off to the side, my head goes down, my vision is blurry, I find a row of folding chairs and I slump into one. So much for optimism. Its 1:15 PM.

Ms. Abele

It is Friday, August 22 at 4:56 PM.

“How do I not die on this mountain?”

That’s the question I asked myself since I committed to this project in June of 2024. I got roped into this via good old fashioned peer pressure (yes, this is the kind of peer pressure you really need to be worrying about). How could I say no? I didn’t want to look uncommitted. So I said yes and then came a summer of running, something completely uncharted for me. I have to note this because, having never run distance before, this was quite the undertaking.

Fast forward to August, the time is here and Mr. Norcross and Mr. De Monnin were packing up the 4Runner for a road trip of the millennium, powered by Timberland and Lainey Wilson. Excitement and adrenaline were high and we were singing loud as we pulled up to Crystal Mountain spreading the love to everyone around us, including some pretty menacing competitors.

We were ready. With a start time of 10:00 AM on Friday, the campsite was nothing but laughs and fun Thursday night (honorable mention to the murder mysteries detective Logicio couldn’t solve).

Ms. Perez-Vargas started us off on the five mile (yellow) loop at 10:00 AM sharp Friday morning. I was runner 8/8, so I ran last. My first leg was not until about 8 hours later. The five mile yellow loop. The pace killer. I had zero shame in power hiking that whole thing, power hiking being generous – about 2500’ in elevation gain up to almost 7,000 ft, you get the picture. Just try not dying on this mountain. A summer of training paid off for me, I was alive at the top for a gorgeous sunset over Mt. Rainier. It is Friday, August 22 at 6:26 PM.

Mr. De Monnin

It is Friday, August 22 at 11:21 PM.

The “easy” loop. The green loop. Just 2.8 miles. After surviving the yellow earlier and one brutal red loop already, I figured this was my victory lap. A short jog through the woods, stretch the legs, no problem.

Wrong.

In history, Napoleon underestimated the Russian winter and froze. I made the opposite mistake; I overdressed like I was about to invade Siberia. Within minutes I was cooking inside my layers like a Thanksgiving turkey. The sweat poured, the nausea hit, and suddenly this “easy” loop felt more like crossing the Alps with Hannibal’s elephants.

The climb at the start was no joke. “Easy” loop? More like ambush. My legs, already shredded from the earlier runs, protested every step, and I quickly realized I had underestimated the enemy. My headlamp showed me exactly three feet of trail at a time, just enough to remind me that the mountain was still there and still very much winning.

Somewhere in the middle, as I stumbled upward, I thought about doomed armies in history; Napoleon in Russia, the Persians at Marathon, even the British at Yorktown. Overconfidence and poor planning had undone them all, and here I was, the history teacher, making the same mistakes on a 2.8-mile loop.

By the halfway point, I was bargaining with myself like a desperate general. Just get to the top of this hill… okay, now just to that tree… okay, now just don’t pass out in front of other runners.

Finally, the trail leveled out and I started to descend. The cool air hit my face like a second wind, and for the first time all loop I thought, maybe I’ll actually survive this. Soon I spotted the faint glow of campfires and the transition tent through the trees, like the beacons of Gondor calling me home.

I stumbled in, handed off, and collapsed, drenched and exhausted. The “easy” loop had nearly broken me.

Lesson learned: never underestimate the so-called easy path. In history and in running, it’s often the “small” battles that test you the most.

It is Friday, August 22 at 11:51 PM…

Ragnar reminded us that growth rarely comes easy. It takes preparation, perseverance, and the willingness to stumble and then get back up again. Those 27 hours weren’t just about finishing a race; they were about proving what’s possible when people commit to a shared purpose. And while the official race results put us at 45th out of 159, the real victories came in the stories and the laughter. Like Ms. Abele winning Best Teammate for keeping spirits high on the late-night gondola ride, Mr. DeMonnin earning Most Nails Trail Runner after losing his lunch on the 2.8-mile loop and somehow still finding his legs, Ms. Perez-Vargas taking home Best Overall Enthusiasm and Energy for running like every loop was her first, and Mr. Norcross claiming Best Recovery after nearly perishing from heat and dehydration, only to bounce back and hammer the 5-miler twice in the middle of the night.

In many ways, this race was a mirror of what we do every day as educators. Some days are uphill climbs that test your endurance, others are “easy loops” that end up being harder than expected, and every now and then you just need a teammate to remind you that you’re not alone on the trail. What carried us through Ragnar was the same thing that carries us through the school year: resilience, trust, and a community that shows up for one another.

As educators, we bring these lessons back into our classrooms; not just teaching content, but showing students how to face challenges, support each other, and celebrate the wins, big and small. Our community of teachers makes the hard days lighter and the victories sweeter, and that’s a lesson worth running for.

2024-2025 Year-in-Review: BASIS Independent Brooklyn

August 31, 2025 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

Dear Families and Staff,

The summer months bring reflection that offers a vital pause—a time to transform our hindsight into foresight. Today, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our students in our annual reflection, and we honor or Class of 2025 graduates from BASIS Independent Brooklyn as they embark on their university journeys.

Academic excellence unites every corner of our school. We harness data from across our BASIS Independent Schools network not just to measure progress, but also to illuminate paths forward. This is how we master both the art and science of education—turning insight into inspiration and potential into achievement.

This past school year, nearly 70% of our students earned the AP Scholar designation (scoring a 3 or higher on at least three AP Exams). This impressive result is consistent with year-over-year scores, showcasing our program’s strength. Also, in high school, we celebrated our National Merit Scholarship Finalists, Maxwell H. and Gustavo P., and we proudly celebrated three Commended Scholars: James R., Maxim S., and Ryan T. ’25.

We cheered on Gustavo P. ’25 for being named a Presidential Scholarship candidate, joining a total of nine seniors named to the distinction across our network. At the end of the year, we were thrilled to learn that Maxim S. ’25 won the Fellows Scholarship for the best Senior Project across our network. The award is an honor in and of itself and comes with a $10,000 scholarship to college.

Let’s also take a moment to reflect on our seventh graduating senior class! More than 60% of students were offered seats at universities in the top 30-ranked national and international institutions. Today, we can share that our students will matriculate at the following universities and colleges (listed by U.S. News rankings for national universities, liberal arts colleges, and then international universities):

Stanford University (2), Duke University, Northwestern University, Cornell University (3), Washington University in St. Louis, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Southern California, New York University, University of California-Irvine, Boston University, Rutgers University, University of Maryland, Purdue University (2), Northeastern University, American University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Hamilton College, Haverford College, and McGill University (2).

*Our Class of 2025 posed with Mr. Harmon, Mr. Brauch, and Mr. Yoon during the start of school last year.*

Celebrating Accomplishments

Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, one thing remained the same—student accomplishments across all grades reaffirmed the vision to hold ourselves to the highest standards. Our educators took pride in providing structure and stability to support content mastery.

Our students excelled in their studies, and their accomplishments outside the classroom made us incredibly proud. An overview of 2024–2025 student accolades and significant developments follows.

Fine Arts

Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition: Eight of Mr. Opirhory’s Digital Photography students were honored in the 2025 awards. Students were recognized with the following regional awards: 3 Gold Keys, 3 Silver Keys, and 2 Honorable Mentions in photography.
Our Upper School Choir was invited to perform at Radio City Music Hall before the Christmas Spectacular once again!
Band student Nicole J. ’28 received an “Outstanding” ranking by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) for her solo flute audition, performing Sicilienne, Op. 78 by Gabriel Faure at Level 6, the highest degree of difficulty.
Choir student Katha A. ’30 received an “Outstanding” ranking by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) for her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Our Spring Musical, Shrek, was a rave hit. Upper School drama performances in elective classes were a wonderful celebration of creativity all year long.
Our entire Fine Arts team at the Lower and Upper School hosted wonderful festivals before Winter Break and at the end of the school year.

*Scholastic Arts Gold Key Winning Photo “Old and New” by Henry B. ‘28*

Chess/Social Sciences/Languages

Our Bears won the 3rd-place team in the very competitive U1400 division at the Chess Super Nationals! Our K—Gr. 6 U100 team came in 9^th place, and Gr. 3 Milo S. went undefeated with 6 points to medal for second place in K—Gr. 3 Championships. There were many, many other chess accolades throughout the year.
Our Bears earned 6^th place in the 2025 All-Girls National Chess Championships in Chicago.
Our inaugural DECA Club headed to the NY State Competition in Rochester, making our school proud.
On the National Latin Exam, our students were decorated with honors: 6 students received Gold Summa Cum Laude, 9 students received Silver Maxima Cum Laude, 12 students received Magna Cum Laude, 13 students received Cum Laude recognition, and one Blue Certificate of Merit for the School.
Nearly all the students in Mr. Bedes’ High School French classes sat for and passed the French DELF (certification) A1, A2, or B1 exams through L’Alliance NY.
Mr. Bedes was proud to induct 16 members into our newly established French Honor Society.
In the Chinese Bridge Competition, Gr. 4 Scottie F. won 3^rd place in the Eastern Region. Two of our Gr. 3 students, Isabelle L. and Bathazar R., also received recognition!

*French Honor Society Induction Ceremony*

Math/Science

Our school won the New York State Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAMS) competition for High School. Thank you to Physics teacher and coach Josh Winter for continuing to grow the team.
Our High School Robotics team Ori-Gen went to the Super Qualifier round of the FIRST Robotics Challenge after winning the Inspire Award 3^rd place regionally. It was their first year of competition, and we look forward to another great year ahead.
Once again, a large group of students sat for the MATH KANGAROO assessment for younger grades across both our campuses and comprised one of the largest groups yet to receive accolades from the organization.
NOETIC Math accolades poured in with national winners across several grades across both of our campuses!

*Our High School Science Team won 1^st place in the New York State TEAMS competition!*

Sports

Our Varsity Boys and Middle School Girls Tennis teams won the inaugural CPSAL Tennis Championships!
Our Middle School Flag Football team won the CPSAL League Championships after an incredible season. Go Bears!!!
Our Gr. 4-5 Co-ed Soccer Team won the CONSAT Championships. We are proud of our young student-athletes!
Our Middle School Boys won the CPSAL Indoor Track Championship, and our Middle School Girls came in 3^rd! High School Student Talia L. took first place in the Varsity Girls 1 mile and 800m.
CPSAL Boys and Girls Cross Country Team: Our Bears had a great season, and the High School Boys team took home 2nd Place, High School Girls placed 3^rd overall, and Middle School Boys placed 3^rd overall.
Our High School Flag Football and High School Boys Soccer teams made it to the league semi-finals
CSAA Varsity and JV School Volleyball Team, as well as High School Flag Boys Flag Football, made it to the league playoffs.
Our Varsity Girls Soccer Team had its first season, winning 2^nd place in the CPSAL Spring Classic Tournament.

Community Involvement

This year, our high school team arranged a Fourth Annual Day of Service in the fall to bring our community together and make a difference locally with nonprofits around Red Hook.
Our National Honor and National Junior Honor Society students dedicated more than 2,000 hours to service projects this year!
Our Lower and Upper school community donated hundreds of coats, scarves, hats, and more to our local Coat Drive in the fall.
Our community created more than 200 Thanksgiving cards for Heights and Hills to deliver with their Thanksgiving meals to seniors.
Students in our High School Program conducted a Red Hook Clean Up before Earth Day. They picked up 169 pounds of trash around the neighborhood.

These awards and examples of community involvement are an amazing testament to the school and the power of the curriculum and teachers. Most importantly, they are an incredible representation of our creative, diverse, driven scholars. It is important to us that as a school we prioritize opportunity, finding opportunities for students to showcase their skills, define their interests, and pursue their passions.

Looking Ahead

Without community, academic success is temporary and limited. We have made significant growth as a community this year, and it is our priority to support and grow in the year ahead under the guiding principles of BEARS–Belonging, Excellence, Accountability, Respect, and Service. Cultivating mutual respect and trust is key for our school after eleven years in Brooklyn.

Teachers continue to express to us that they love this school because they are allowed to teach the subjects they know best, the way they know best. They are allowed to share their passion for their subjects with their students, and this builds engagement. We are excited to bring new faculty into the fold and continue supporting veteran teachers returning to our campus.

As we close our thoughts on the year, we want to salute our Class of 2025 for shaping our sense of community and traditions at our school. What we want to ask from our alumni and parents is to help provide professional advice and even connect our students after they graduate to internships and opportunities as part of our expanded mentorship program.

Overall, we want our students to look back, feel a great sense of pride in their school, and share in the school’s success that they helped create. We have much to celebrate, and we are in an exciting position after eleven years of educating students in Brooklyn. We truly look forward to the year ahead!

BASIS Independent Brooklyn is a PreK–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bears community? To join our interest list for the next school year, please click here.

Class of 2025: A Yellow Jacket Send-Off

August 28, 2025 by sarahpeterson Leave a Comment

What makes a BASIS Independent Fremont graduation special? It’s not just the academic achievements or college acceptances—though our Class of 2025 certainly excelled in both areas. It’s the authentic voice of our students and the unique community they’ve built together over the years.

When our forty-eight graduates walked across the stage at the Fremont Downtown Event Center on May 22, they carried with them years of shared experiences that can only happen at our close-knit Yellow Jacket campus. Now, several months later, as these graduates embark on their first semester at top universities nationwide, we’re reminded of what made their send-off so memorable.

A standout moment of our ceremony came from student speaker Soorya I., whose address was chosen by our faculty panel for its humor, honesty, and heart. His speech captured something essential about the BASIS Independent Fremont experience—and we wanted to share it with our community as a reminder of what makes our graduates so special.

Student Address by Soorya I., Class of 2025

For those of you that don’t know me, I’m Soorya I.: 5.0 GPA, varsity athlete, astronaut, devilishly handsome looks. For those of you that do know me: shhhhh.

I’m incredibly grateful to be up here, speaking to you all. We’ll remember today for the rest of our lives, and I have the privilege of framing that precious memory with this speech. You’ve made a very bold choice, letting me do this. It’s a bit like trusting Kevin Z. with cutlery, but… I promise I’ll wield my power responsibly. Maybe.

On paper, my job is to surface the good times—a collective walk down memory lane, congratulating our graduates, thanking our incredible teachers and staff (shoutout Dr. Araci!) — but Aashna already nailed that, and I’m not one to follow convention anyway.

Instead, I want to tell you about the time I tried leaving BIF.

Toward the end of freshman year, I began to feel restless at our little Fremont campus despite months of unrelenting connection, friendship, and support. I remember blasting reggaeton at lunch with Atharv and Arush almost every day, workshopping quirky bio presentations with Kristina and Olivia, playing Snake with James during Teacher Jasica’s work periods, but somehow, I’d convinced myself I was missing out on the real “high school experience”. I blame Disney movies.

In any case, I chose to take my future into my own hands. I applied to several awesome high schools in the area and even a boarding school down in Carmel, and luckily for me, admissions across the board meant I could have my pick. After giving it thought, I elected to attend Mission San Jose High School to really live that authentic television fairytale.

I only lasted two weeks without you guys.

Here’s the truth: BASIS Independent Fremont is a tiny STEM institution with a student body of 351 sharing a 60,000 square foot complex with a church. We’ve got sixth graders running around the halls, freshmen doing calculus, an average SAT score in the 1500s, and a majority of the student body taking part in some honor society or university-level research.

But everyone says hi in the halls. People will stop whatever they’re doing to give you a hand. We love our teachers because they love their fields, and we love our admin because we can actually talk to them like they’re people. And everyone loves the Munchie Meal lunch runs at Jack in the Box. Jalapeño poppers form the kind of deep-fried friendships that last till you’re eighty (if you survive all the grease).

See, I think I’m a Yellow Jacket at heart. We’re super territorial, and we sting anyone that comes by… I’m kidding. We’re a strange, close-knit bunch characterized by burning curiosity and unending drive. How could I stay away? From Sachit’s depth of meteorological expertise to Justin’s, well, everything, each of us has our place in this community. I don’t think there’s a single thing that’s conventional about us, and it took losing my footing for a moment to understand the beauty in that.

Let it hit you like it’s hitting me now. We’re done. We grew up together, and now we’re adults, now we’re diving into the world, scattered. Jobs, home ownership, marriage, children, midlife crises in a candy blue Corvette… real life is just a tomorrow away.

And yet, as much as things are about to change, one thing won’t: the clichéd American high school experience will never apply to me, or any of you. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Now, for the final time, from the very bottom of my heart — thank you to our teachers, staff, families and loved ones, my dog Tony, and our weird, lovable graduating class of 2025.

Thank you to Soorya and our entire Class of 2025 for bringing such joy and authenticity to our Yellow Jacket community! As they now set out on their college journeys, we continue to cheer them on in this exciting new chapter.

Want to see where our graduates are headed? Click here to explore the outstanding college admissions achieved by our Class of 2025.

BASIS Independent Fremont 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 BASIS Independent Fremont community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Unlocking Potential: A Glimpse into Extracurricular Life at BASIS Independent Manhattan

August 12, 2025 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we believe that the best education is enhanced by extracurricular activities. Beyond the classroom, our extensive array of clubs, activities, and athletics plays a crucial role in fostering well-rounded individuals. Through exploring their passions, our students develop new skills and cultivate leadership in a supportive environment. As a PreK-Grade 12 private school in NYC, with our Lower School serving PreK-Grade 5 on the Upper West Side and our Upper School serving grades 6-12 in Chelsea, we offer diverse opportunities tailored to every age and interest.

two prek students participate in gardening club outside by pouring water on a tray of dirt

Read on to learn more about our exciting after-school activities, clubs, and sports, designed to enhance the academic journey and build a stronger sense of self. For an in-depth look at our full program offerings, please visit our dedicated pages for Clubs & Activities and Sports & Athletics.

Lower School Extracurriculars:

Cultivating Early Passions (PreK-Grade 5)

four lower school boy students stand in basketball poses wearing their wildcat jerseys

On the Upper West Side, our Lower School students choose from a selection of after-school programming to pursue their interests in sports, art, music, science, technology, and more! We continuously expand our offerings, aiming to inspire broad participation among our young Wildcats.

Some of our super-popular clubs that return year-after-year include:

Basketball
Cheer-Gymnastics
Chess
Drama (Putting on a fully staged musical production)
Piano
Soccer
Speech & Debate
Tech & Lighting (for the Drama Club’s musical)
Tennis

engineering and robotics club building lego robots

girl students make cheer gymnastics pyramid with pompoms

We also have the best teachers, who are not only expert educators and passionate about the subjects they teach, but they also run after-school programs. These teacher-led clubs are some of our most popular! While building strong teacher-student relationships, participants have unique opportunities for exploration in:

Drama
Clay World
Comic Book Writing
Fashion & Photography
Figure Drawing
Gardening
Pokémon
Set & Costume Design (for the Drama Club’s musical)

The primary goal behind our Lower School’s extracurricular design is to foster curiosity, skill-building, creativity, and exposure to new areas beyond the classroom. We also actively curate our programs to meet the majority of requests from our families, based on our annual surveys.

students as the sharks hold a pose perform drama club musical finding nemo

the three student leads of finding nemo sing the finale

Success & Highlights:

Last year, we saw 82% of our PreK–K students and 76% of our grade 1–5 students engage in these enriching programs, a testament to their appeal and impact. A notable success we are particularly proud of is the Lower School Drama Club, which consistently sells out its shows and fosters cross-club collaboration. We are also proud of our popular Tennis and Piano clubs, which always have a full roster of students.

bar chart showing participation percentages for lower school students

woman with violin in front of a table of musical materials at the extracurricular fair

Upper School Extracurriculars & Sports

Deepening Engagement (Grades 6–12 )

At our Chelsea campus, the Upper School Extracurriculars provide unparalleled opportunities for students to develop a stronger sense of self through a multitude of after-school activities. Approximately 47% of all Upper School students are actively involved in an extracurricular activity, reflecting a strong culture of student engagement beyond the classroom.

two middle school boys playing basketball and running with an opposing player encroaching and a referee in the background

Popular and returning clubs include:

Drama (Putting on a fully staged musical production)
Dungeons & Dragons
Engineering & Robotics
Journalism (Wildcat Weekly News)
Math Support & Competition Prep
Money Smart
Ping Pong
Speech & Debate

This year marks a dynamic period of growth for our Upper School extracurricular landscape, with the launch of a new journalism club, led by one of our beloved English teachers. We are also excited about the continued momentum of our new high school speech and debate program.

a female student gives two thumbs up after testing the bearing weight her bridge could hold in engineering club. she built it with popsicle sticks and stacked six metal weights on top

Success & Highlights:

One of our most exciting success stories comes from our debate team, which began as a middle school club and won the championship two years in a row. Building on that momentum, the team has now transitioned into an Upper School club, expanding its scope and ambition. This year, they are preparing to travel to prestigious institutions such as Columbia.

three middle school students hold up their championship trophies at the ESU USA speech and debate tournament in new york city

Competitive Athletics:

Building Teamwork and Discipline

Our middle and high school student-athletes participate in a robust lineup of competitive sports. This year’s offerings include High School Boys Soccer, High School Girls Volleyball, Middle School Girls Volleyball, and Middle School Basketball.

Philosophy:

Our growing competitive athletics program centers on developing the whole student through sport. We aim to foster:

- sportsmanship,
- teamwork, and
a competitive spirit that pushes students to strive for excellence while embracing both victory and defeat as opportunities for growth.

the middle school girls vollebyall team poses with their championship trophy, holding up the number one with their fingers, and biting their medals like olympians

Program Expansion:

Our athletics/sports offerings are experiencing exciting growth, particularly in volleyball and soccer.

After the middle school volleyball team secured a championship win last fall, enthusiasm for the sport has continued to build, leading to the launch of a brand-new high school volleyball team this fall.
- Additionally, our high school soccer program is kicking off its inaugural season this year by joining a new competitive league.

Cultivating Well-Rounded Wildcats

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, our extracurricular and athletic programs are integral to our mission of educating students to the highest international standards. They are designed to complement our rigorous academic curriculum, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and a sense of community. We encourage both prospective and current families to explore these incredible opportunities.

Project Week Trips 2025: China

August 8, 2025 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

During the final week of the school year, BASIS Independent Brooklyn students have time set aside for Project Days, a period when they have a unique platform for collaborative, multidisciplinary projects and engaging activities or trips without the stress of exams or assessments. Students select their project of interest and then are grouped with dedicated teachers who guide and facilitate their learning throughout the week. This year, we hosted three international trips for Middle School and two for High School during Project Week, and today, we wanted to showcase the Middle School China trip led by Ms. Collins and Ms. Ye.

Ms. Collins is our International Student Program Coordinator, who opens our school up to the world as much as we go out into it. Ms. Ye is a Subject Expert Teacher in our Mandarin Department.

Below, please enjoy the trip recap from our wonderful chaperones. The trip to China represented the culmination of grade 6 and 7 World History classes for our student explorers. It brought to life many of the lessons they had learned in Middle School.

Beijing: The Capital of History and Culture

Beijing was our first stop, and it truly lived up to its reputation as a city rich in history and culture. We began with a visit to Tiananmen Square, the largest public square in the world, and the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The grandeur and historical significance of these sites were truly awe-inspiring. We also visited the Temple of Heaven, where ancient emperors prayed for good harvests, and participated in a tai chi exercise session, which was a unique and enriching experience.

One of the highlights of our time in Beijing was a visit to the Great Wall of China. Standing on the Great Wall was an unforgettable experience, and the view was breathtaking. We also visited the Ming Tombs, where we explored the mausoleums of the Ming emperors. Our visit to the Beijing Zoo to see the pandas was another highlight, and the pandas were absolutely adorable. The Hutong tour, where we visited a local family, offered a glimpse into the traditional Beijing lifestyle.

Xi’an: The Cradle of Chinese Civilization

Our next destination was Xi’an, a city steeped in history and culture. We visited the Ancient City Wall, where we had the opportunity to walk along the wall and take in the views of the city. The Greater Wild Goose Pagoda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was another highlight.

Stopping by the Terracotta Warriors Museum

The Terracotta Warriors Museum was the highlight of our time in Xi’an. The sheer scale and historical significance of the Terracotta Army were truly astounding. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see these ancient artifacts up close. The Tang Dynasty singing and dancing show was a delightful cultural experience that showcased the rich traditions of the region.

Shanghai: The Modern Metropolis

Our final stop was Shanghai, a modern metropolis with a rich history. We began with a visit to the Yu Yuan Garden, a classical Chinese garden with beautiful pavilions and ponds. The Jade Buddha Temple, a famous Buddhist temple, was another highlight. We also visited a silk factory, where we learned about the production process and had the opportunity to purchase silk products.

The Bund, Shanghai’s iconic waterfront area, offered stunning views of the city’s skyline. We also explored Tian Zi Fang, a trendy cultural district filled with art galleries, cafes, and boutiques. The Huangpu River cruise in the evening was the perfect way to end our trip, providing a breathtaking view of the city’s illuminated skyline.

Throughout our journey, we were particularly impressed by the students’ maturity and their enthusiasm for learning about Chinese culture. Their curiosity and respect for the places we visited made the trip even more meaningful.

Ms. Ye and Ms. Collins enjoyed exploring China’s rich culture and history with their students!

A Dynamic Dean of Students – Introducing Kate M. Cales

August 4, 2025 by mallorykilbreath Leave a Comment

Student support can make or break an individualized educational experience. At BASIS Independent Bothell, ongoing student support is a critical part of our academic program. Deans regularly monitor student performance and proactively identify those who need support or are making exceptional strides. Deans play a very specific role in developing and orchestrating a plan for students who need additional support above what is offered in the classroom. They meet with the student and assess, then they employ strategies such as extra teacher hours, peer tutoring, executive functioning, and organizational support.

Our dean of students, Kate M. Cales, has a Bachelor of Arts in both Spanish and Political Science from Texas State University and holds a Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Texas. Ms. Cales joins BASIS Independent as the Dean of Students after over 16 years in classroom teaching and school mentorship positions. She cannot wait to help shape a culture that balances high standards with a sense of fun.

We had an opportunity to talk with Ms. Cales about herself and about the importance of having impactful student services at an independent school.

Ms. Cales, why did you choose to join the BASIS Independent Bothell leadership team?

As a lover of language and people, I chose BASIS Independent because its strong academic framework balances high rigor with plenty of space for creativity, creating the best environment for learning.

As the “Dean of Students”, what do you really do?

This is a loaded question! I’ll simplify it the best I can.

Behavior support — All students are expected to show respect, but getting along with everyone every day is tough. I support teachers by working with students who have made poor choices or who are having a bad day.

Social emotional learning curriculum expert — Research shows that “SEL develops skills that help us be successful in all parts of our lives—like communicating effectively, setting goals, staying motivated, and making decisions that benefit ourselves and others. With these skills, we can build healthy relationships, succeed in schools and workplaces, and contribute to our communities (CASEL-5).” I will help teachers and students incorporate social emotional learning into our everyday selves.

Academic support — A huge part of the student affairs team’s job overall is working with students on their learning goals, study techniques, organization, motivation, and overall identity as a scholar. I will meet with students who are not meeting their learning goals in different classes, to lend support and add to their scholar toolbox.

Ms. Cales on carpet with a group of students

What is your educational background?

My work in education has taken me all over the world. At the start of my career, I was a lead teacher in a Spanish language classroom for 3–5-year-olds with special needs. This position spurred my pursuit of a M.Ed., in Early Childhood Special Education, which I completed in 2012 shortly before beginning a Kindergarten teaching position at a first-class independent school in Shanghai, China.

In addition to a generalist certification and a SPED certification, I have a bilingual teaching endorsement. I also have experience leading IEP meetings, setting and implementing goals, in Spanish. I love all language acquisition and am passionate about a linguistically diverse and culturally sensitive community for learning, believing that it makes for a rich international learning experience.

What things have you learned in your career that you are planning on bringing over to BASIS Independent Bothell?

Working in public schools, private schools and international schools, I am familiar with many learning frameworks including the Reggio-Emilia approach, and PYP, which have inspired much of my classroom work over my career. I have many interests in early literacy development, and I have served as a mentor teacher for the School Literacy and Culture courses I took through Rice University in Houston. Supporting kids with access to rich language experiences (in any language) fosters their play skills which aids in their self-regulation, language acquisition, problem solving and sense of self.

What have your roles as a mentor included?

In my time in the classroom, I have coached and mentored student teachers, paraprofessional staff and other colleagues. I’ve presented research-based information on play and early childhood literacy at the NWAIS conference 2023. In each school placement, I have regularly served on committees for employee welfare, accreditation and facilities. In 15 years in education I have recruited volunteers, planned events and assemblies, assisted in onboarding and have led my peers. I love contributing to a thriving school and look forward to serving in a leadership capacity at BASIS.

What are you most excited about in the next year?

Schools are vibrant, living things, and I’m excited to help nurture that spirit at BASIS Independent Bothell.

What inspires you or excites you about working in education?

Watching students grow will always be exciting. In the early literacy years, I love seeing children go from piecing together bits of language to reading fluently — and then again when they shift from learning to read to reading to learn.

Learn more about our school by visiting our website or signing up for an upcoming information session,

Beyond the Classroom: BASIS Independent Manhattan’s Project Week in NYC

July 21, 2025 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we believe that education extends beyond advanced academics. Our commitment to fostering well-rounded, engaged, and globally-minded individuals is exemplified through unique and impactful initiatives like Project Week, which range from domestic and international trips to immersive experiences at school and around NYC.

What is Project Week?

A BASIS Curriculum Schools tradition, this fun week of learning takes place the last week of school. Students have the opportunity to engage in an exciting and new activity, working together with faculty members from various grade levels. Teachers also have the opportunity to show off their skills and interests outside of their normal classroom expertise. The goal of the projects is to challenge students to be cooperative learners and function as a team to work towards an end product.

This year’s Upper School Project Week for students in grades 6–11, led by our Dean of Students, Ms. Friederike Williams, focused on the vital theme of community service, where their collective work would make a tangible difference across four of New York City’s iconic islands.

“Project Week is a cornerstone of our curriculum,” says Ms. Williams. “It’s where our students actively apply their learning in real-world contexts and have an opportunity to collaborate across grade levels toward a mutual goal.”

After a successful week of hands-on activities, we are pleased to share the details of how these students connected with their city, transformed some of nature’s spaces, and had fun while exploring the beauty and significance of our local environment.

Making a Difference, One Island at a Time

Roosevelt Island: Cultivating Green Spaces & Community

Our Wildcats kicked off the week by partnering with the non-profit organization iDig2Learn at Coler Hospital. They painted benches, prepared arboretum plaques, and revitalized gardens by removing invasive species and planting new flowers. Beyond the physical transformation, students gained a powerful understanding of how local organizations like iDig2Learn empower communities and the lasting impact of nurturing urban green spaces.

Manhattan: Local Stewardship in Chelsea

Back in our own neighborhood, students felt as a sense of ownership and pride by cleaning up litter in the local area of Chelsea. Their dedication quickly caught the attention of local residents, who offered words of encouragement and appreciation, underscoring the students’ emerging role as active and responsible citizens within their own community. This hands-on service was balanced with opportunities for connection and recreation in nearby parks, reinforcing the vital link between community service and enjoying one’s community.

Governors Island: Unearthing History & Protecting Nature

Even under typical New York skies, our students enthusiastically explored Governors Island, unlocking layers of the city’s rich past. With energy and curiosity, they began with an insightful historical tour of significant landmarks like Fort Jay and Castle Williams. In the afternoon, students engaged in environmental stewardship by collecting litter and then enjoyed some well-deserved free time, showcasing their camaraderie and teamwork through spontaneous games and exploration. A visit to the Urban Farm, guided by Earth Matter experts, provided practical insights into composting and its crucial role in fostering sustainable environmental practices.

Coney Island: Ocean Conservation & Coastal Cleanup

Our students enjoyed more than just a day at the beach! A highlight was the unique opportunity to meet with a curator from the New York Aquarium, learning about the importance of ocean conservation and the impact of pollution on our local beaches. This engaging presentation reinforced their understanding of critical environmental issues.

Following the talk, they participated in a brief beach cleanup and then enjoyed classic Coney Island activities, from volleyball to simply enjoying the ocean breeze. This final day perfectly blended environmental awareness, community engagement, and the joy of shared experiences.

The Transformative Impact of Project Week

Project Week at BASIS Independent Manhattan is more than just a series of activities; it’s an embodiment of our commitment to providing a transformative educational experience. It’s about fostering critical thinking, promoting collaboration, and nurturing a deep sense of civic responsibility in our students from PreK through grade 12. By actively engaging with their community, our students learn valuable lessons about empathy, leadership, and the power of making a positive impact.

Does an education that extends beyond traditional academics, fostering real-world impact and deep community connection, resonate with your family’s vision? We invite you to explore how BASIS Independent Manhattan‘s unique curriculum empowers students to become thoughtful, knowledgeable, and engaged citizens, ready to make a positive difference in the world.

Fall 2026: Top 10 Questions Asked Every Admissions Season

July 17, 2025 by biancaocampo Leave a Comment

Every admissions season, we field hundreds of questions about the admissions process, our program, the transition, student life, electives, extracurriculars, and so much more!

While we are happy to speak to every one of our families, we notice the same questions being asked consistently.

Keep reading below to learn more about the top ten questions asked every admissions season.

#1 – How many students will be admitted in each grade?

Our most commonly asked question! Seat capacity changes from year to year depending on the reenrollment of our current families and our graduating class. We also have the ability to shift how many sections of classes we offer based on the total enrollment of the school. As this is an ever-changing number, we aren’t able to determine seat capacity until around February, after the reenrollment deadline of our current families, which is why we make the majority of our admissions offers Regular Admissions in March. So, though we cannot provide you specifics of exactly how many seats are available “this year” and in “this grade,” we encourage you to apply as we will have available seats in all grades every year.

If you are interested in a BASIS Independent Silicon Valley education, apply!

#2 – What is the difference between Early Admissions and Regular Admissions?

We offer two application cycles during our core season. Early Admissions will require families to complete their application, receive an admissions decision, and accept their seat earlier. Regular Admissions will have all the same requirements but at a later date.

For current families with siblings or families whose first choice is BISV, we encourage them to apply in Early Admissions. For families who are looking at other schools or are unable to commit early, we encourage them to apply in Regular Admissions.

#3 – How do you help students transition into the program?

From their very first day, all new students are placed on an academic support plan. At the start of the new school year, your student meets with his or her dean once a week to ensure a smooth transition. Sometimes this is an individual meeting, and sometimes it is all new students together. Teachers provide office hours throughout the school week for students and parents and are available to talk through concerns or questions. Depending on the grade, we offer a Peer Tutoring program run by our Student Affairs Department, which operates after school and is there to help expand their networks and become comfortable asking for help. We also offer Summer School along with JumpStart Packets before the start of the school year.

We enroll new students every year. For students to achieve the results that they do in our program, they must have the necessary support along their academic journey, from both the school and at home. While we encourage families to join our program sooner rather than later, students can still join in later grades and be incredibly successful.

#4 – Can a student successfully transition from a public school to your program?

Every year, we have students join us from multiple public schools. Any motivated student can excel in our program. We have a strong support network to ensure a student has the toolkit to succeed. In the beginning, there is always some adjustment for students from both public and private schools. Workloads may be higher than the average in the beginning, as students adjust to the structure and practices of our day-to-day program and classroom experience. However, we see time and again that students adjust and learn how to utilize their resources to thrive in their school life.

School administration, faculty, and staff are always present to participate in supporting and guiding students, as well as helping develop good work and study habits and time management skills.

#5 – How much homework should students expect in middle school and high school?

This depends on the student, their core classes, electives, after-school activities, and even what time of year it is, especially in high school. Grade 5 students will typically see 45 minutes to an hour of homework every night, but that will depend on the day and the student. Grade 6 students will have one to one and a half hours of homework. Grade 7 students will have one to two hours of homework. Grade 8 students, as they prepare for our high school program, could have two to three hours of homework each night, but that once again depends on the student and their schedule. Our Student Affairs Team assists in monitoring homework, but since each student, their work ethic, and their schedules can vary, it is hard to say an exact time for each grade.

#6 – With such high academics, do students even have time for clubs and sports?

Absolutely! Over 80% of our student body participates in at least one extracurricular activity at our school every year. But our answer to this is, “it always depends on the student.” We have Upper School students taking two to three AP courses and participating in one to two clubs or more, but we also have Lower School students that take their required coursework and only have time to participate in one club.

Students are given the tools to learn and practice organization, time management, and work and study habits, but no two students are alike. It is more important to us that our students learn to take on only what they can handle, challenge themselves when appropriate, and learn when and if they need to turn their focus elsewhere. Many students may play a sport or participate in a club on campus but also engage in an activity outside of school, such as ballet or martial arts. Our students learn to manage their time while exploring and enjoying their extracurricular interests and passions.

#7 – What is your teacher hiring process?

We believe academic degrees or experience in the disciplines taught and passion for that subject are the most important tools for inspiring deep content understanding in students. Our selective hiring process screens for candidates who are committed to sharing their expertise and helping students become the best versions of themselves. All final candidates are invited to conduct a Teacher Demo, where Heads of School assemble classes of our students. Candidates are given the opportunity to teach a lesson, challenge students, show their subject expertise, as well as show their ability to communicate high-level subject matter to young students. Our students take these sessions seriously; they know their feedback weighs heavily in our hiring decisions. Some new faculty members have been teaching for years in college preparatory or university settings. Others are leaving a research lab or corporate job to leap into a new career and share their experience and applied knowledge with BASIS Independent students.

#8 – What is your student-to-teacher ratio in the classroom?

TK and Kindergarten will have around 20 students to two teachers per classroom. Grades 1 – 4 will have around 25 students per class with a Learning Expert Teacher (LET) that stays with them throughout the day and an individual Subject Expert Teacher (SET) that joins their class for each subject. Grade 5 and above will also have around 25 students but will have an individual Subject Expert Teacher for each subject.

#9 – How do you teach soft skills, such as confidence, self-control, and self-awareness?

At BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, we believe in a strong partnership with our parent community to help our students develop their soft skills. To that end, our Student Affairs Department hosts a variety of student-centered and parent-centered workshops aimed at providing families with the necessary tools for success. From cyber-awareness seminars to the student-centered Wellness Week to organizational lessons, our Student Affairs Department is consistently finding new ways to support the development of our students.

Additionally, students will take Health starting in Grade 7, where they will explore themes of self-advocacy, peer dynamics, as well as other Social/Emotional Learning topics. Students are a part of a learning community, one that gives the opportunity for young adults to better themselves, take risks, have achievements, have failures, learn lessons, etc. Through the natural course of a school day, students are partaking in that community and are not only learning these life skills and respecting themselves but also others.

Whether it be their behavior in the hallways, participating in class discussions, or connecting with friends during lunchtime or after school, students are learning these lessons through their relationships with their teachers and fellow students. It’s a daily journey and one that sometimes requires students to be reminded of the community they are a part of, the respect they require, and the respect we require them to show other people. This is where their relationships with their teachers, fellow students, and Student Affairs Department really come into play.

#10 – How does the school work with families in helping push their students to achieve more?

It’s all about striking the right balance, which is different for every student, even students in the same household. At home, we encourage parents and students to have an open and honest dialogue about how they are doing, handling stress, what new passions and interests they want to pursue, how they want to challenge themselves, and even what they need to cut back on.

We love to highlight our students’ skills of self-advocacy. This is why we believe that having “too much on your plate” is just as valuable a lesson as having a fully optimized schedule. At BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, we believe that a thorough and well-rounded education is one that embraces failure as part of the process. Through failure, students are able to engage in critical skills, such as self-analyzation and flexible thinking. Finding the balance in your personal life, social life, responsibilities, school, work, etc. is a journey that our students will take for their entire life. We believe it is critical to encourage their enthusiastic exploration of these areas through their education.

We don’t see failure as a negative but rather as an opportunity to learn a different lesson than the one you intended. At school, we help students feel supported and encouraged to pursue something, whether it be starting a club, taking two electives, or planning a Senior Project. If they succeed, we are celebrating with them. However, far more is learned in those times when a student realizes they pushed themselves too hard, stretched themselves too thin, and did not accomplish what they initially intended to. Especially in those times, in partnership with their home, we are there to help them learn those important lessons and come back better than before.

Class of 2025: Graduation Reflections

July 10, 2025 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

On June 18th, family, faculty, and students of BASIS Independent Brooklyn gathered together at the Palm House in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to celebrate the accomplishments of our Class of 2025. Our twenty-four graduates are now poised to continue their academic careers in top colleges and universities across the country.

During the ceremony, Valedictorian Maxim S. expertly captured their time together as a class and inspired his fellow graduates to look ahead to all that is in store for them. We wanted to share his speech with our community since his words reflected the joy and honor at the heart of the celebration.

Address by Class of 2025 Valedictorian Maxim S.

Hello everyone, and thank you all for coming to celebrate this long-awaited achievement. It is an honor to stand on this stage as valedictorian—an honor I couldn’t have achieved without the unwavering support of my teachers, administrators, and, of course, my family.

Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt—thank you for not only giving me the opportunities to succeed, but for being there through all my highs and lows. And a special thank you to my brother as well—although he’s not here today, I truly cannot imagine how dull life would have been without your company, snarky humor, and competitiveness.

For most of us, today marks the long-awaited moment of liberation. The words AP, College Board, and Advisory are finally behind us. No more watching AP Classroom videos at 2x speed, hiding from Advisory teachers in the Senior Lounge, or complaining to our teachers about unnecessary post-AP assignments. I’ll admit, I certainly felt that sense of freedom at Senior Send-Off—more excited about what’s to come than nostalgic for what had passed.

But over the course of this last trimester—with more free time and fewer deadlines—I’ve had space to reflect and genuinely appreciate what BASIS [Independent Brooklyn] as given us.

Like many of you, I joined this school in its early days. When my family moved to the United States in the middle of my 2nd-grade year, I was nervous. I didn’t know how I’d fit in, or whether my differences would set me apart. But BASIS [Independent Brooklyn] did something remarkable—it welcomed me with open arms. It embraced the things that made me unique and gave me the space to grow into who I am today.

This small community—quirky, intense, tight-knit—has encouraged us to be ourselves. Class presentations and projects gave us the creative liberty to explore our topics of interest deeper. And because our class was so small, we had no choice but to listen to each other—to hear perspectives we might have tuned out in a more traditional high school. That closeness made us not just classmates, but collaborators, confidants, and, in many cases, lifelong friends.

We felt this school was small enough to create the changes we wanted—and so we did. We argued our case for better grades after tests we thought were unfair, started clubs where we saw gaps in the extracurricular catalog, and pitched in to support both the BASIS [Independent] and Red Hook communities. Sure, some of our efforts didn’t succeed—like the infamous Puerto Rico trip—but every attempt taught us how to advocate for ourselves, speak up, and shape the environment around us.

Through these four years, there were obviously moments when I wasn’t always the most prideful about our school. I sometimes compared our experience to the more “traditional” high schools we see in movies, and wondered what we were missing. But now, I see just how special our journey has been. We weren’t just students here. We were contributors to something still being built, persevering through academic rigor to help leave a mark on the expanding BASIS [Independent Brooklyn] community. And because of that, we didn’t just grow—we helped shape the school that shaped us.

So to the Class of 2025: As we turn the page and begin the next chapter, let’s not forget the laughter, the lessons, and the late nights that brought us to this stage. Let’s carry forward the values BASIS [Independent Brooklyn] has instilled in us—the courage to be ourselves, the willingness to listen, and the strength to grow. So let’s not wait for the world to change—let us be the ones who change it.

Congratulations, Class of 2025. And in the words of Fabrizio Romano: Here we go!

Thank you to Maxim and our entire Class of 2025 for leaving their mark on our school community! We will be cheering you on these next few months during the transition to college.

Leading with Purpose: Meet the Director of Student Affairs at BASIS Independent Bothell

June 25, 2025 by chriszefferys Leave a Comment

Ms. Andrea Sheffield joins the founding staff of BASIS Independent Bothell as the Director of Student Affairs after more than a decade with BASIS Curriculum Schools in Arizona. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Family and Human Development and a Master’s in Psychology in Education. At BASIS Curriculum Schools, she taught public speaking, led clubs, advised the National Honor Society chapter, and served as a Dean, Director of Student Affairs, Director of Academic Programs, and Assistant Head of School.

Ms. Sheffield the Director of Student Affairs (DSA) for BASIS Independent Bothell

“I have served a BASIS Curriculum School in almost every leadership capacity,” shared Ms. Sheffield. “I founded our Firebird Library; taught the American Sign Language club; advised our National Honor Society; ran a Raqs Sharqi Term Project; and designed a curriculum for a grade 7 public speaking class and taught that for a year.”

Working directly with students is what Ms. Sheffield loves best. She is excited to return to the Director of Student Affairs role and join the Orca community.

We had an opportunity to connect with Ms. Sheffield and introduce her to our BASIS Independent Bothell community.

Ms. Sheffield, it is terrific to have you on the founding administrative team. Tell us about yourself!

I am a military brat and the second oldest of four children. My sister and I are administrators, and my brothers are both artists. In my spare time I love to read, craft, scrapbook, and dance. I have been dancing for almost 20 years, and I was in a professional dance troupe in Phoenix, AZ. I am also learning to cook! I now have four dinners I can reliably make (and, surprise to me, they are good!) and I am building a recipe book so that I can continue adding to my skills.

You have worked in schools before, what has been your favorite day in your school career?

It is hard to pick one favorite day out of 15 years. I think I love graduations the most. Going from grade 5 to grade 6, going from grade 8 into high school, and going from high school to college, each step feels so big. The students work hard every single day, and they can’t always imagine a future where they make it, so when it happens, it is magical. They realize that even when it is hard, they are so capable of getting where they want to be.

From your lens in Student Affairs, how are students able to thrive in a challenging academic program?

The biggest piece to understand is that learning should be approached like any other discipline—whether it be a sport or fine art. Learning is a skill and you have to practice at it. The BASIS Curriculum can only be successfully navigated if you embrace the belief that you can always learn more and improve—by adopting a growth mindset. Student support is about a toolset, through student-teacher office hours, parent support, and more. To succeed, students need to be ready for the full cumulative knowledge aspect of the curriculum; being smart is something you build and if you put in the work, and use the tools available, students get better at navigating their learning experience. In our program, students will learn how to take notes, build organizational skills and work habits, key tools that support their success and help them discover their potential. Our students are capable, and with the right support and effort, they can thrive. Learning is a fun thing that anyone can do, and you just need to put your mind to it!

What are the three things that are important to you with student support?

Primarily, it is working with students and parents to build trust and community. The core themes are fairness, consistency, and an open partnership. First, when students know that you will treat them fairly, they are more likely to engage positively and persevere through challenges. Second, having consistency creates reliable boundaries and builds relationships. Third, having an open and collaborative partnership to ensure students and teachers are comfortable to meet with me, ask questions, have conversations, and just take a break as needed.

Tell us, what is the primary focus of a Director of Student Affairs (DSA)?

I like to say the DSA is the calmest person in the room. They have the big umbrella and big picture of the social, emotional and academic well-being of all students. As DSA I work with my team and school leadership on how we define the toolset and strategies for students and teachers to support students, with the goal of helping students build strong connections and relationships. Additionally, my role is to help teachers work with our spiraling curriculum and partner with parents to help them get through the big picture. Through these activities, this is how we build culture. It is also important to maintain a healthy balanced approach to academics and social life, and my team I work with students to help them manage both effectively.

How are students supported throughout the school year?

Putting routines into place is essential to creating a culture of support. What has worked is Academic Enrichment or ‘AE’ as we call it. This is intended to be quiet study time. Student hours are another way we support students. Each teacher offers two hours a week for student-teacher office hours. Through the school year, my team and I will begin to identify students who may need more support either through organization or behavior, that may impact their success academically. It is important to me to get them through the process, which includes developing academic support plans as needed. The Student Affairs team will identify methods for students to be successful and have a partnership with parents, too.

What excites you about this new school and role?

I am looking forward to working alongside a passionate team of faculty, administrators, and families who are committed to bringing our program to life for students who are eager to participate in this new campus community. The team is energetic and looking forward to building a wonderful school. What also excites me is that our program offers a great curriculum. It teaches students something about themselves and prepares them to take on challenges as they get older. In their academic experience, they will learn failure and how to get past that failure, and how to represent themselves and stand out, and lead. I am excited to know the new students, learn names, and their parents. It is a new beginning with many opportunities!

What are you most excited about, moving to the Seattle metropolitan area?

Listening to the rain, growing plants in the Pacific Northwest climate instead of the desert from which I traveled, and exploring all the unique coffee shops.

BASIS Independent Bothell is a K-12 private school in Bothell, Washington. Join our interest list for updates on upcoming admissions events, application details, program information, and more.