Student Learning

Spring Visual Art Exhibit: Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Art, Robotics, and Music

March 31, 2025 by ezekielbracamonte Leave a Comment

At BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, innovation and exploration are at the heart of student learning, encouraging creativity across disciplines. This year, the Spring Visual Art Exhibit highlights an exciting collaboration between the Visual Arts, Music, and Robotics programs, showcasing how technology and artistic expression can intersect in meaningful ways.

The theme for this year’s exhibit, Carnival of the Animals, is inspired by the compositions of Saint-Saëns. Subject Expert Art Teachers Ms. Nichols and Ms. Shi selected the music first before assigning each grade level two pieces as inspiration for their artwork. This theme provided students with an opportunity to explore both the musical and visual aspects of the animals, blending their creativity with themes of nature and sound.

The new Robotics program, introduced this year by Subject Expert Engineering Teacher Ms. Bhatnagar, played a key role in this interdisciplinary effort. It is the first robotics program at any BASIS Independent campus in the Bay Area to be integrated into the curriculum rather than offered solely as an after-school program. Through this program, students in Grades 1-4 have been introduced to the fundamentals of robotics and computer science. Using the Finch Robot by BirdBrain Technologies, students developed computational thinking skills and applied coding concepts in tangible ways. With features such as a micro:bit, sensors, LEDs, motors, and a pen holder, the Finch Robot became an invaluable tool for incorporating robotics into various subjects, including art.

Once the exhibit theme was established, Grade 4 Engineering students collaborated with the Art department, using robots to create animal-themed artwork for the show. They first learned how the robots functioned, explored new coding environments, and applied mathematical concepts such as angles, shapes, and coordinates to program them. As a final challenge, they coded the robots to create circular patterns—an advanced function that required precise speed adjustments. Through this process, students reinforced their understanding of geometry and coding and discovered how technology can enhance creative expression.

Music was also an integral part of the learning experience. Students listened to the musical movements corresponding to the animals in their artwork. For example, students who worked on lions studied “The Royal March of the Lion” from Carnival of the Animals. They followed a listening map to identify which instruments were featured, answered questions about the composition, and learned about Saint-Saëns. These activities were woven into lesson plans across grade levels, allowing students to make deeper connections between music and visual storytelling. Subject Expert Music Teachers, Ms. Gao, Ms. Zhang, and Mr. Robbins, guided students through these exercises, enriching their artistic interpretations through sound.

Across all grades, students explored a diverse range of mediums and techniques to bring their artwork to life. These included making playdoh molds for plaster, wax resist techniques with watercolor, oil pastel drawings, negative space painting, metal tooling, and paper quilling. By experimenting with different materials, students were able to capture texture, movement, and emotion in their representations of the animals from Carnival of the Animals.

Throughout the exhibit, Carnival of the Animals will play on a continuous loop, enhancing the immersive experience and bringing the artwork to life. It is hoped that the musical backdrop enhances the experience, allowing viewers to engage more deeply with the pieces and develop a greater appreciation for the interdisciplinary connections between sound, art, and technology.

Reflecting on the experience leading up to the show, Ms. Nichols shared, “One of my favorite parts of being an art teacher is watching my students experience awe. Awe in not just great works of art, but also in the potential they see in their own creativity as their knowledge expands. The wonderful thing about the art showcase is that parents get to be part of that experience.”

We look forward to welcoming parents to the Spring Visual Art Exhibit on Friday, April 11, as we celebrate the creativity and dedication of our students. We encourage families to listen to Carnival of the Animals beforehand to extend the learning experience at home and gain a deeper appreciation for the inspiration behind the exhibit.

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.

Finding an Elementary School in NYC: The Checklist for Parents

March 6, 2025 by christineklayman Leave a Comment

Finding the right NYC private school is challenging, especially on the Upper West Side. With a myriad of options, it is no wonder parents seek guidance. To help you find the perfect Manhattan elementary school for your child, we have created a comprehensive checklist.

As a top independent school in Manhattan, we offer a challenging and enriching curriculum led by expert educators.
Our approach to lower school education equally emphasizes social-emotional learning, including critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Our convenient UWS location provides a unique and supportive learning environment for families.

Review this checklist to see how BASIS Independent Manhattan checks all the boxes!

Teachers: Passion and Expertise

We believe in the power of expert-led instruction. Our students in grades 1-4 benefit from 50-minute classes in core subjects like math, science, English, and Social Studies/History, taught by passionate Subject Expert Teachers (SETs). These experts bring their deep knowledge to the classroom, igniting a love of learning. Complementing the SETs is our Learning Expert Teacher (LET), a dedicated educator who is the guiding force for students, providing personalized support and ensuring each child thrives. This unique model allows for both expert instruction and individualized attention, a hallmark of our world-acclaimed primary program.

An Advanced Curriculum with Essential Enrichment

Beyond the core subjects, our curriculum includes essential classes: engineering, Mandarin, visual arts, drama, and music, fostering well-rounded development. Our commitment to comprehensive liberal arts-focused education with STEM offerings ensures that students are challenged and engaged.

Social-Emotional Learning: Nurturing the Whole Child

We believe academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with social-emotional growth. Our PurposeFull People curriculum, powered by Character Strong, develops essential soft skills, executive functioning, and emotional regulation for students in PreK-Grade 5. Our dedicated Student Affairs team delivers these lessons, supports students, and guides parents throughout their child’s academic journey.

Active Learning and Play

We cater to the age and stage of children while providing them with what they need — physical activity and outdoor play. They have periods of study and focus, which are broken up by three 20-minute recesses during the school day. Our daily schedule also includes P.E., ensuring students have ample opportunities for play and movement. After-school clubs, ranging from soccer and tennis to arts and STEM, further promote active engagement.

Transparency and Community: A Different Approach

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, transparency and community are at our core. Unlike many NYC private schools, we do not engage in traditional fundraising. We believe in providing an exceptional education without the added pressure of constant requests. This empowers families to invest in our vibrant community in ways that are meaningful and aligned with their commitments, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

Get Parent Reviews

Nowadays, more and more families scour the internet for school recommendations to find the perfect fit. Sites like Niche.com use anonymous reviews and rankings to provide “the good, the bad, and the honest.”

Here are a few excerpts from recent BASIS Independent Manhattan reviews written by our current families:

“A great school which balances out an academic focus with play and creative time for the kids.”
“A hidden gem in NYC, that’s for sure.”
“A great choice for families seeking a rigorous academic program with amazing support.”
“Academics are second-to-none, teachers are caring and helpful, kids are challenged and happy.”
“I would recommend attending an info session. If it doesn’t seem right for your kid, you will know it. If it does, apply, you won’t regret it!”

Visit Our School

Experience BASIS Independent Manhattan firsthand. Meet our passionate teachers, interact with current students and parents, and learn more about our unique approach. Discover why we are among the best schools in Manhattan for grades PreK-5 and a leading choice for UWS families seeking exceptional education.

BASIS Independent Manhattan, a private school offering PreK through Grade 12, is based in Manhattan, New York. Students thrive alongside Subject Expert Teachers as they engage in a liberal arts program with STEM offerings.

A Day in the Life of a BASIS Independent Manhattan Kindergartener: Where Learning is Playful and Purposeful

January 30, 2025 by editor Leave a Comment

Picture a day filled with laughter, learning, and boundless curiosity. That is a typical day in the life of a kindergartener at BASIS Independent Manhattan. With our small class sizes, outstanding teacher-student ratio, and world-inspired curriculum, we believe in nurturing the whole child through joyful teaching, social-emotional learning, and support for students to achieve their highest potential.

Let us peek into a typical day and find out more about what it is like to be a BASIS Independent Manhattan kindergartner.

A Schedule Built for Success

Our thoughtfully designed daily schedule ensures a balanced blend of academics, social-emotional learning, and physical activity.

8:00 a.m. Morning Meeting

The day begins with community time in Morning Meeting, where routines like discussing the date, weather, and daily schedule set the tone for learning. Then, kindergarteners dive into a focused math block. On any given day they could cover lessons like adding two numbers, subtracting zero, and subtracting a number from itself. They also use tactile activities to learn how to tell time, skip count, measure, or understand the value of coins.

What are Dojo points?

Our Early Learning Expert Teachers (LET) implement differentiation by splitting the class into two groups based on level to provide support and advancement. For example, those eager learners ready for a higher-level concept take on the “Top Ten” grade 1 level problems that prepare them for the next academic year. These activities not only reinforce learning but also motivate students with opportunities to earn Dojo points.

Recess (15 mins)

Now it is time to get outside and get moving! Students head to our spacious outdoor terrace where they have active playtime (developing essential gross motor skills), while also navigating social dynamics (learning the importance of cooperation, sharing, and conflict resolution). After expending the necessary energy, they are ready to return to academics.

9:25 AM – Mandarin and Essentials

Mandarin lessons come alive through singing, storytelling, and hands-on crafts, that immerse students in the vibrant Chinese culture. They actively engage both sides of their brains through visual and creative activities, helping them think critically and connect ideas across different subjects.

The arts are just as important as academics, and students benefit from a daily rotation of our Essentials classes, which include drama, music, visual arts, and engineering. Our unique two-teacher model allows students to dive deep into these subjects with our Subject Expert Teachers (SETs), who have specialized degrees in their respective fields.

10:25 AM – Literacy

Kindergarteners explore storytelling and start writing! A special “Writing Boot Camp” has our budding authors tackling missions to earn star badges. They brainstorm imaginative story ideas, plan narratives, create sentences, and identify nouns and verbs.

Students take on exciting writing adventures, crawl through obstacle courses, go on sentence-fixing hunts, and don ‘writer’s helmets’ for inspiration. By the end of an exhilarating week of boot camp, students have reviewed sentence writing fundamentals and can proudly craft a personal narrative’s beginnings.

11:30 AM – Lunch and Recess

Lunch is a time for social connections, whether students bring meals from home or enjoy healthy options from our partner, Butter Beans. Then, more outdoor play!

12:25 PM – Phonics & Centers

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, we use the Logic of English and Heggerty programs to help students master phonics, surpass reading benchmarks, and build confidence in reading, writing, and spelling. Each day, a “Heggerty Hero” leads a fun warm-up to practice phonemic awareness, with one standout student earning the coveted Hedgie the hedgehog as a reward.

1:30 PM – Physical Education

Having daily P.E. classes means more than just exercise. Here, coaches instill valuable life skills like teamwork, sportsmanship, and following instructions while fostering a love of movement and healthy habits.

Recess (15 mins)

Another chance to recharge with fresh air and free play!

2:30 PM – Civics, History & Science Foundation

These blocks cover everything from space, oceans, and continents, to world discovery and history. Lessons often follow student interests, keeping curiosity at the heart of learning.

One final period allows for activities or crafts. Each Friday, a parent/guardian surprises the class with a read-aloud session in a Mystery Reader series, fostering family involvement in the classroom and a love for reading!

Cross-Curricular Learning in Action

In one interdisciplinary project, kindergarten became ‘Detectives in Training’ seamlessly combining math and literacy to solve a mystery. Using the 5 Ws (Who, What, When, Where, Why), they analyzed clues, solved math challenges, and honed literacy skills like making inferences. This activity exemplifies how our curriculum fosters critical thinking and demonstrates the interconnectedness of different subjects.

Learning Through Play: A Holistic Approach

At BASIS Independent Manhattan, learning is joyful and engaging. Our curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning while nurturing the whole child. By blending advanced academics, social-emotional learning, and creative exploration, our kindergartners develop a strong foundation for future success.

What Our Parents Are Saying

When our daughter came to BASIS Independent Manhattan, she did not know English. She is now in her second year here and she has learned to speak English very well. We have been so impressed to see her master the alphabet and begin reading.
Ekaterina M.
We feel that the STEM approach BASIS Independent Schools takes at such an early stage has given our little one a slight edge/a head start as he begins elementary school!
Ameya B.
Since joining the Early Learning Program, I’ve noticed significant growth in my child’s academic and social skills.
Tiffany J.
When our daughter came to BASIS Independent Manhattan, she did not know English. She is now in her second year here and she has learned to speak English very well. We have been so impressed to see her master the alphabet and begin reading.
Ekaterina M.
We feel that the STEM approach BASIS Independent Schools takes at such an early stage has given our little one a slight edge/a head start as he begins elementary school!
Ameya B.
Since joining the Early Learning Program, I’ve noticed significant growth in my child’s academic and social skills.
Tiffany J.
When our daughter came to BASIS Independent Manhattan, she did not know English. She is now in her second year here and she has learned to speak English very well. We have been so impressed to see her master the alphabet and begin reading.
Ekaterina M.

These are just a few examples of the positive impact our Early Learning Program has on our young learners. We are proud to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can thrive.

This school year, we are thrilled to have added 12 teachers to our growing community. One such new addition, Ms. Garza, stands out amongst her peers for her enthusiasm and impressive professional background. She joins us as a Humanities Subject Expert Teacher for grades 2 and 3 and works with our Learning Expert Teachers to help students develop their literacy skills to their highest potential.

Ms. Garza attended the University of Texas at Brownsville where she received a partial scholarship to play golf! She now has over ten years of experience in education and has taught Kindergarten all the way through grade 5. She recently moved from Texas to Washington state in July 2024 and joined our team this summer. Since then, she has demonstrated exceptional competency in the classroom and is a supportive presence for our primary students. We sat down with Ms. Garza for an interview to highlight her experience and get her perspective on being a BASIS Independent Bellevue educator.

Professional Background and Experience

Tell us a bit about your journey in education? What inspired you to become a teacher?

“I began my career as a teacher’s assistant for grades 3 – 5. I did this for two years before being hired as a full-time 2^nd grade teacher. I remained in that role for another two years before I moved on to teaching Kindergarten. I was a Kindergarten teacher for three years. During my role as a Kindergarten teacher, I was asked to observe and help manage a cohort of my peers to provide them with meaningful feedback about their instruction. It was through this that I was later asked to apply to be the Assistant Principal for the school!

I was fortunate enough to be offered the position and then worked as the Assistant Principal for the subsequent three years. I loved my time in the administrative role because it allowed me to get a behind the scenes look at how a school runs, but ultimately, I missed being in the classroom and seeing students grow day by day. I love to see that “Aha!” look from students and I missed out on that as the Assistant Principal. That feeling led me to begin looking for teaching positions again, which brought me to BASIS Independent Bellevue. I feel like I have really come full circle because it was my second-grade teacher that helped me fall in love with learning and now, I’m back in the classroom as a second-grade teacher myself!”

What’s been the most rewarding thing from your journey so far?

“In 2018 – 2029 I was named Teacher of the Year at my school, which was a huge honor for me. I was a member of the founding cohort of educators as the school opened and worked to help improve and grow the school community. It was great to see those efforts recognized”

How do you continue to grow as an educator?

“I really love feedback, and I thrive off being observed by my mentors. Of course, I still get a little jittery when admin comes in my room for an observation, but I truly do feel like it has been the most valuable tool in helping me grow as an educator. It is one of the things I love about BASIS Independent Bellevue. There are so many built in observations from mentors that all want to push you to be better.”

Impact

What do you hope your students take away from their time in your class?

“First and foremost, I want to be a role model for my students. I want to demonstrate a love of reading in my own life and hope that translates to their lives. But of course, I also want to impart valuable skills like reading comprehension and writing. I hope they learn applicable skills for the real world while having fun doing it!”

How do you build strong relationships with your students and their families?

“I think it is very important to get to know your students on a personal level. I make sure to take time during our Morning Meetings to ask about their hobbies and interests outside of school. I want them to know I care about them beyond the classroom.

To extend those relationships with my students’ families, I make sure I have regular communication with them. I love to send home positive notes regularly, so the parents don’t just hear from me when their child needs improvement. This is why our Communication Journal is a helpful tool because it allows me to send home regular feedback that I know parents will see. Most importantly, I try to keep the lines of communication open with families so they know we are working in partnership to support the best outcomes for their child.”

If you could give one piece of advice to students joining our school, what would it be?

“I believe if I had a program like our phonics program, Logic of English, when I was younger, I would have fallen in love with reading much sooner. It is important to know that this program may be difficult at first and will take effort to get used to it. We really do challenge our students and expect a lot from them academically, but it’s so rewarding to see them thrive when they master these concepts. I want students to not get discouraged if things don’t immediately make sense to them because we are all here to help them on their journey.”

Teaching Philosophy

What is your teaching philosophy and how do you implement it in the classroom?

“I make sure I have regular collaboration time with my Learning Expert Teachers because it’s important that we are on the same page when we conduct our coteaching lessons. We always focus on making our lessons engaging and fun so it doesn’t feel like we are just reading from a script. We want our students to be up and using the classroom space, so we often utilize things like stations and centers. I love to see students genuinely excited to learn.”

How do you create an inclusive and engaging learning environment for all students?

“Because of our coteaching model, we can utilize small groups in our classrooms very frequently. We often have two or three groups of students working at a time and this allows those students to have closer connections with the teachers and gives them the confidence to be able to share more within the safety of a small group. It allows us the flexibility to differentiate and meet the needs of students more carefully.

I also observe the different personalities and learning styles of my students in the classroom and try to meet those needs. For example, sometimes we have students that are very bright and sometimes take the opportunity to shout out answers and or be a little bit chatty during class time. For those students, I might assign them a teacher helper task so that they can be empowered to use their outgoing personality for leadership in the classroom.”

Can you share how your experience with BASIS Independent Bellevue has been so far?

“My experience with BASIS Independent Bellevue has been nothing but positive. Our students are so driven and bright and they’re always a joy to work with. But what I really appreciate the most has been the culture of support and positivity that is created by the Administration. Our Head of School and Student Affairs Department are always pushing us to be better educators, and they provide so many resources to help us get there. They truly want to see us grow, and this positive support is unlike any other school I have worked at.”

Personal Life

What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not teaching?

“I love to watch my friends do karaoke – but not do it myself, ha! I also really like activities that get me out and moving. Paddleboarding is a hobby of mine that has grown since I moved to Washington because there are so many beautiful spots for it! I also enjoy traveling when I can. My favorite place I have traveled recently was Costa Rica, because I love to be by the beach”

What’s one personal goal you hope to achieve in the next year?

“I picked up running as a hobby and usually participate in a 5k or 10k every month. My goal for this next year is to successfully complete my first half marathon!”

What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you?

“I love playing golf! It was something I got into during my junior year of high school because it brought me close to my dad. I used to drive the golf cart around for him while he played until he finally convinced me to give it a try. I ended up being pretty good and was able to use it to get a partial scholarship to college!”

A Warm Welcome!

Ms. Garza has shown her dedication to building literacy and reading skills with our primary students. She goes above and beyond to make her classes engaging and fun, inspiring our students to think critically about the world around them and to become participants, not just spectators. Her energy and enthusiasm for her lessons nurtures a love of learning in each of them and it is clear that students feel supported and cared for in her classroom. We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Garza to our faculty this year and we look forward to her continued contributions to our Mountaineer community!