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Student Spotlight

A Day in the Life: Grade 7

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Meet Aarohi!

Aarohi A. is a Grade 7 student at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley who approaches each day with curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning. She enjoys exploring new ideas, connecting with friends, and challenging herself academically. Today, we had the chance to shadow Aarohi and see what a typical school day looks like, from her first class to the last.

All BASIS Independent Schools follow the BASIS Curriculum, an internationally benchmarked program designed to challenge students while equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to excel academically, think critically, and succeed in high school, college, and beyond. Continuously refined by curriculum experts, it ensures students like Aarohi are supported in every subject and fully prepared for the academic challenges ahead.

Period 1 | 8:25 AM – 9:10 AM | French I A

Aarohi starts her day in French class, developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills while building cultural awareness. Students engage in conversations and practice grammar and vocabulary to communicate effectively in real-world situations. Aarohi enjoys the energy of morning classes and starting her day with something creative and interactive.

Period 2 | 9:15 AM – 10:10 AM | World History & Geography II + Homeroom / Announcements

History is Aarohi’s favorite subject, and it’s easy to see why. During World History & Geography II, she explores the histories of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania from 1450 to today. “I’ve enjoyed the National History Day project we just kicked off this week,” she shared. “We’ll be creating presentations based on this year’s theme, and I’m hopeful about the possibility of advancing to the competition.” The last 10 minutes of the period are dedicated to homeroom, where students catch up on announcements and connect with classmates.

Period 3 | 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM | Algebra & Geometry II

In Algebra & Geometry, Aarohi tackles equations and problem-solving exercises that build her mathematical reasoning. She enjoys collaborating with peers and exploring creative ways to solve challenging problems.

Period 4 | 11:05 AM – 11:50 AM | Lunch

Aarohi’s favorite part of the day is lunch. “It’s the perfect time to relax and connect with friends from different classes before the afternoon sessions begin,” she said. Her lunch breaks are never dull — she and her friends often play Truth or Dare or, on more adventurous days, “simulate the Hunger Games in a style similar to Dungeons and Dragons!”

Period 5 | 11:55 AM – 12:40 PM | English 7

In English class, Aarohi strengthens her reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. She explores poetry, novels, speeches, and other texts while analyzing literary devices and practicing advanced vocabulary. Outside of class, Aarohi enjoys writing poems and short stories — and one of her biggest goals is to publish her own book or an anthology someday.

Period 6 | 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | Elective MS: Computer Science II

In Computer Science, Aarohi develops her computational thinking through text-based programming projects. She learns about algorithms, web technologies, and game development while designing her own unique projects that encourage creativity and problem-solving. She’s also part of the school’s Robotics and Algorithm Problem Solving and Data Structures clubs, where she enjoys applying what she learns in class to real-world challenges.

Period 7 | 1:35 PM – 2:20 PM | Physics 7

In Physics, Aarohi explores motion, forces, energy, momentum, and waves. She applies math to real-world scenarios, conducts experiments, and learns how physical laws govern the world around her.

Period 8 | 2:25 PM – 3:10 PM | Biology 7

Aarohi ends her academic day in Biology, studying the diversity of life from cells to ecosystems. She investigates natural selection, classification of organisms, and interactions between living things and their environments. During class, a group of Aarohi and her classmates were working on a biology simulation game, which made learning the concepts interactive and fun.

Office Hours | 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

Teachers hold Office Hours throughout the week, providing flexible one-on-one or small-group support. During this time, students can ask questions, review challenging material, or dive deeper into subjects that interest them. This extra support helps students strengthen their understanding, build confidence, and stay on track with their learning.

In Middle School, students take three separate science classes: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. On the day we shadowed Aarohi, she had Biology and Physics, while Chemistry is scheduled on other days of the week. Health and PE & Sports are also held on select days throughout the week. Taking science as three distinct courses allows students to focus on each discipline in depth, make connections across concepts, and build a strong foundation for high school science.

Beyond her academic life, Aarohi enjoys playing tennis and piano and takes pride in her leadership roles on campus. “This year, I’m proud of two particular accomplishments: speaking as a Student Ambassador at the Middle School Curriculum Night and being selected for this Student Spotlight,” she said. When asked what she loves most about being a BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Bobcat, she shared, “The amazing teachers and the supportive environment created by the staff.”

Looking ahead, Aarohi hopes to continue nurturing her creativity through writing and says her best advice for younger students is: “Study hard and do what you know you’re going to like and excel at!”

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. 

A Day in the Life: Uma V., Grade 6

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What does a typical day look like for a grade 6 student at BASIS Independent Fremont (BIF)? We followed Uma through her day to find out—and to hear how she navigated the transition from her previous private school to BIF’s rigorous academic environment.

Meet Uma

Uma joined BASIS Independent Fremont in grade 5 after moving from another private school in the area. Like many students who join in middle school, she had questions about what the transition would be like—and whether she’d find her place in a new academic community.

Today, Uma is thriving. Outside the classroom, she balances swimming (breaststroke is her specialty), soccer, piano, and will soon add fencing to her roster. She loves spending time outdoors and has built strong friendships across campus.

But the beginning of her journey looked different. “At first, I did not want to come to BIF. I didn’t want to leave my old school,” Uma remembers honestly. The first day felt overwhelming—until a classmate extended a hand. “This girl came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m Sunny. Do you want to sit with me at lunch tomorrow?’ I was just kind of keeping my head down the whole day, but then all of a sudden someone in my class just came up to me.”

That moment changed everything. “Actually, quickly, I really liked it. I met different people, some were from my old school, and I was able to make new friends.”

The academic adjustment took focus and effort. “Classes were obviously harder than in my old school. I struggled a little bit, but I got up to speed after about a month. My teachers were good, and they helped me, and there were Office Hours. Office Hours really help.” With the right support systems in place, Uma found her footing—and then some.

Her advice to families considering BIF? “It seems hard at first to change schools, but you know, BIF has a lot of really nice people. The teachers are kind, they’re supportive, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”

So what does a day in grade 6 actually look like? Let’s walk through Uma’s schedule—from Latin translation to physics experiments—and see how the combination of challenging coursework and strong support systems helps students like Uma succeed.

Period 1 (8:25–9:10 AM): Latin IB with Mr. Baldwin

Uma’s day begins with Latin, where students build vocabulary, grammar, and translation skills while exploring life in the Roman Empire. Through Latin texts and historical sources, they investigate how different people—citizens, immigrants, enslaved individuals, and women—lived and contributed to Roman society.

Today, students worked in their “Legions”—collaborative small groups—to answer comprehension questions before sharing insights with the class.

Academic Enrichment (9:15–9:25 AM)

This brief period gives students time to prepare for their day—finishing assignments, studying for tests, connecting with friends, or simply taking a mental break. Academic Enrichment is held outdoors in our Quad and is monitored by a combination of teachers and administrators, specifically our Student Affairs team, ensuring students have a safe and supportive environment to start their morning.

Period 2 (9:30–10:15 AM): PE & Sports 6 with Mr. Mosley

Physical education for grade 6 emphasizes communication, perseverance, and learning to respond constructively to both success and setbacks. Students explore the FITT principle and develop healthy habits that extend far beyond middle school. FITT stands for Frequency (how often), Intensity (how hard), Time (how long), and Type (what kind).

This week introduced flag football, with students learning gameplay fundamentals and building teamwork skills on the field.

Period 3 (10:20–11:05 AM): Pre-Algebra with Ms. Yaru

Pre-Algebra bridges arithmetic and higher-level mathematics, preparing students for Algebra I and Geometry. The curriculum covers essential concepts, including fractions, decimals, proportions, algebraic expressions, scientific notation, and real-world problem solving.

Today, students worked through algebraic equations—and Uma has discovered something unexpected. “My favorite class is Math. I never thought I’d say that, but Ms. Yaru makes it nice and easy. I like the way she teaches.”

*Grade 6 students take either Pre-Algebra or Algebra I and Geometry as their math course.

Period 4 (11:10–11:55 AM): Lunch

BIF offers a hot lunch service that caters from several local restaurants, providing multiple menu options from each. The restaurants rotate throughout the year, giving students variety in their daily choices.

During lunch, Uma plays four-square with friends. The competitive game sometimes brings intense moments, but she’s developed perspective. “I think I’ve just gotten a little bit more mature since coming to BIF. I’ve learned how to deal with situations and just go on with it.”

Period 5 (12:00–12:45 PM): Middle School Art with Teacher Danae

Students in grade 6 select a fine arts elective. Uma’s is Art. In this elective, students develop 2-D and 3-D art-making skills through traditional and contemporary techniques. The course emphasizes individual expression, historical perspective, and art as communication, with projects inspired by both contemporary and historical artists.

Students are completing their Album Cover Portraits, creating transformative works based on reference photos of subjects meaningful to them. Uma’s portrait features her older sister.

Period 6 (12:50–1:35 PM): English 6 with Mr. Gailliard

English 6 develops lifelong communication skills through five core components: conventions, reading, writing, scholarship, and reasoning. Students strengthen their command of grammar and punctuation while building critical thinking abilities and foundational research skills that support learning across all disciplines.

Today’s focus was on identifying helping verbs—fundamental building blocks of effective writing.

Period 7 (1:40–2:25 PM): Physics 6 with Ms. Yaru

Physics introduces students to the language that describes the physical world around them. Through core topics including motion, forces, energy, and electricity, students learn to apply mathematics to physical relationships. Hands-on demonstrations and laboratory sessions help students investigate everyday physics—from how bicycles work to what happens inside a battery.

Today, students learned to calculate speed using the gradient of a distance-time graph, connecting mathematical concepts to physical motion.

Period 8 (2:30–3:15 PM): World History & Geography I with Ms. Sagal

This course traces global human history from the Paleolithic Era through the Renaissance, examining major events and civilizations across Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Students develop historical thinking skills—comparing civilizations, analyzing causes and effects, and constructing arguments from primary and secondary sources.

Today’s lesson explored the social and political characteristics of the Norte Chico civilization, one of the earliest complex societies in the Americas.

Office Hours (3:20–4:00 PM)

Teachers hold Office Hours throughout the week, for both students and parents, offering flexible one-on-one and small group support. Students use this time to ask clarifying questions, work through challenging material, or explore subjects more deeply. One day each week, grade 6 students enjoy unstructured outdoor time during this period.

While today is an outdoor day, Uma typically spends Office Hours with Ms. Yaru, working on math. “I did not want to do Office Hours at first, but this year, I’ve gone to all the math office hours, and it’s really helped me. I was not good at math before, but now I think I’m doing pretty well.”

After school, Uma heads to swim practice to work on her breaststroke technique, soccer training, or piano lessons. With fencing starting soon, she’s adding another dimension to her already active schedule—proof that rigorous academics and rich extracurricular experiences go hand in hand at BIF.

Learn more about our Middle School Program here.

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.

BASIS Independent Fremont Students Excel in National Merit Scholarship Program

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We are thrilled to announce that BASIS Independent Fremont has achieved outstanding results in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has recognized 29 of our talented Class of 2026 students — 13 as Semifinalists and 16 as Commended Scholars. This exceptional achievement means that nearly two-thirds (63%) of our 46-member senior class has earned recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, highlighting the academic excellence that characterizes our school community.

Our 13 Semifinalists will continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring:

Aarna K.
Aaron “Josh” P.
Ailsa W.
Akash S.
Alex L.
Annika H.
Jessie L.
Kai L.
Neev J.
Neha N.
Samuel Y.
Shreyas J.
Zixi N.

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

“I’m so inspired by our National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Scholars,” said Ms. Abodouma, Head of School at BASIS Independent Fremont. “Their achievement speaks to their hard work, curiosity, and love of learning. It also reflects the supportive and collaborative community we have built together at our school.”

Our Semifinalists now face an exciting next step in the scholarship process. To advance to Finalist status, each student will work with a school official to complete a comprehensive application that showcases their academic achievements, leadership experiences, and community involvement. This application includes submitting their complete academic transcript, writing a personal essay, and providing evidence of their continued academic excellence through standardized test scores. School officials will also provide endorsements highlighting each student’s character and potential.

The journey ahead is competitive but promising. Most Semifinalists successfully advance to become Finalists, with notifications coming in February. From there, scholarship recipients will be selected based on their demonstrated academic ability, leadership potential, and readiness for challenging college coursework.

This achievement represents years of hard work, intellectual curiosity, and academic dedication from our students. We celebrate not only these 29 recognized scholars but the entire Class of 2026, whose collective commitment to learning creates the vibrant academic environment that makes such success possible. Congratulations to all our Yellow Jackets on this outstanding accomplishment!

Curious about the National Merit results across our network of BASIS Independent Schools? Click here to learn more.

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.

BASIS Independent McLean Seniors Honored as National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Scholars

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On September 10, 2025, officials from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists, and we are thrilled to celebrate nine of our seniors named as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, and fifteen nominated as Commended Scholars:  

Semifinalists

Grace A., Avi F., James F., Andrew H., Hera L-Y, Neya R., Ben R., Edward S., and Christopher S.

Commended Scholars

Alina A., Sarah B., Anvika C., Joel C., Sophia J., Yalini K., Hongming (Alan) M., Zhenqing (Rebecca) P., Adithya P., Geonwoo (Carson) S., Ethan (Shayan) S., Pranav S., Aarya V., Anvika V., Enxiang (Gabe) Z.

High school juniors entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as the initial screening of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants from about 21,000 high schools across the country. 

While they have outperformed the majority of over 1.3 million high school juniors who entered the Program by taking the 2024 PSAT test, these academically talented seniors’ quest is not over. To become a Finalist, they must also submit a detailed scholarship application showcasing their outstanding academic record, participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. They will be competing for over 6,000 scholarships worth more than $26 million, which will be awarded next spring. 

“With 24 of our 39 seniors recognized as semifinalists or commended scholars, we celebrate not just their academic accomplishments, but the integrity and spirit they bring to our BIM community.” –Kate Reynolds, Head of School

Nine Semifinalists | From left to right: Ms. Reynolds (HOS), Christopher S., Andrew H., James F., Edward S., Avi F., Ben R., Grace A., Hera L-Y, Neya R.

Please join us in congratulating our nine BIM Semifinalists and fifteen Commended Scholars!

BASIS Independent McLean is an Age 2–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Red-Tailed Hawks community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

More than a Photo Op: BASIS Independent McLean Students Meet with Former Indian Ambassador

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This August, BIM senior Aarya Vaghela and junior Rishik Pulli had the privilege of meeting Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Foreign Secretary and Indian Ambassador to the United States and current member of the upper house in Parliament, at a reception hosted by the Indian American Business Impact Group.

Rishik says that Mr. Shringla MP spoke eloquently about US-India relations and expressed optimism about reaching trade agreements. Afterwards, Rishik and Aarya were able to get a photo with Mr. Shringla, MP.

But this wasn’t just a photo op! Some quick thinking gave Aarya and Rishik the opportunity to have a lengthy conversation with the former ambassador. When the venue ran out of food, Aarya suggested heading to a nearby restaurant. He and Rishik not only ended up in the same car as Mr. Shringla MP, but they also sat next to the former ambassador in the restaurant.

Your typical teenager might be tongue-tied in such a situation, but Aarya and Rishik are BIM students! They discussed the state of health care in India and, in particular, efforts to integrate digital technology, before the conversation turned to the non-profit Aarya and Rishik are involved with: Jaipur Foot. Jaipur Foot uses digital printing to quickly produce below-the-knee prosthetics, which they have provided for free to nearly a million people worldwide. Aarya and Rishik are helping to coordinate and publicize Jaipur Foot’s upcoming camp in Trinidad and Tobago, and Mr. Shringla MP agreed to be there. 

That’s what we call taking a photo op and seizing the opportunity. For more on Jaipur Foot, or to donate online, go to https://www.jaipurfoot.org

BASIS Independent McLean is an Age 2–Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Red-Tailed Hawks community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Celebrating a Record-Breaking Year for Academic Excellence

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We are thrilled to celebrate a truly outstanding year of academic achievement at BASIS Independent Manhattan, as our students have once again surpassed expectations on their Advanced Placement (AP) exams and earned significant recognition from the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

This year’s results are a testament to our students’ dedication and our teachers’ commitment to fostering a culture of excellence. We are incredibly proud to announce that 69% of our AP test-taking students received AP Scholar Awards, a remarkable achievement that demonstrates consistent growth since our first AP exam administration.

By the Numbers: Our Students Continue to Excel

The achievements of our students speak for themselves:

  • 35 students have earned AP Scholar Awards across various categories.
  • 4 juniors have received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT.
  • Our students’ average AP score was an impressive 4.28 out of 5, significantly higher than the overall average for the rest of the country and abroad, which was 3.12.
graphic showing average ap score and number of ap scholars

A Track Record of Growth and Success

Our commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the steady growth of our AP Scholar recognition year after year. The number of students receiving these prestigious awards has consistently grown since our first AP exam administration.

  • 2022-2023: 47% of test-takers were recognized as AP Scholars
  • 2023-2024: 51% of test-takers were recognized
  • 2024-2025: 69% of test-takers were recognized

“The year-over-year increase in how many of our students are honored as AP Scholars is a fantastic representation of the BASIS Independent Manhattan program and the teachers who deliver our curriculum,” said Ms. Cyndriel Meimban, Director of Academic Programs. “Hard work, dedication, and intellectual curiosity have enabled them to excel at the highest levels of academic achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their outstanding accomplishments on the AP Exams.”

This upward trend is a clear indicator of our students’ rising potential and the strength of our rigorous academic program.

Recognizing Our Scholars

We would like to celebrate every one of our students who worked tirelessly to achieve these results. Their hard work and determination are truly inspiring.

National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students

  • Maxfield S.
  • Sean F.
  • Symir T.
  • Zixi Y.
national merit scholarship commended students
AP ScholarAP Scholar with HonorAP Scholar with Distinction
Daniel C. (Gr. 10)Joshua Ag. (Gr. 10)Finn B. (Gr. 10)
Anderson C. (Gr. 10)Aidan B. (Gr. 10)Stella C. (Gr. 11)
Isabella D. (Gr. 10)Yujia (Zoe) G. (Gr. 10)Charles D. (Gr. 11)
Or H-U. (Gr. 10)Saira K. (Gr. 10)Sean F. (Gr. 11)
Julia N. (Gr. 11)Lucia M. (Gr. 10)Eli F. (Gr. 11)
Evan N. (Gr. 10)Apostolos R. (Gr. 10)Felix H. (Gr. 10)
Julien N. (Gr. 10)Charles S. (Gr. 10)Kaylee H. (Gr. 10)
Uliana T. (Gr. 10)Andrew S. (Gr. 11)Arry J. (Gr. 12) + AP Capstone Diploma
Lola O. (Gr. 11)
Marcus P. (Gr. 12) + AP Capstone Diploma
Maximilian R-J. (Gr. 11)
Dashiell S. (Gr. 11)
Maxfield S. (Gr. 11)
Alex S. (Gr. 10)
Joshua (J.J.) S. (Gr. 10)
Symir T. (Gr. 11)
Amelie W. (Gr. 10)
Zixi Y. (Gr. 11)
Isabella (Izzy) Z. (Gr. 10)

Congratulations once more to these bright minds and the supportive teachers and families who have helped them along the way. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their continued success!

Interested in learning more about our program? We invite you to visit our school at an upcoming Fall Open House on October 25 (PreK–5) and October 26 (Gr. 6–12) or contact our Admissions team to see if BASIS Independent Manhattan is the right fit for you.

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. 

Class of 2025: A Yellow Jacket Send-Off

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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.

Alexander D. ’31 Brings Back Gold from the International History Olympiad

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In July of this summer, Grade 7 student Alexander D. ’31 took part in the International History Olympiad in Paris, France, where he won a gold medal in the Hextathlon team event, finished 7th in the History Bee, and came in 19th overall individually! He was also selected to carry the Virginia flag during the opening ceremony.

The Olympiad took place at the École Jeannine Manuel, a high school not far from the Eiffel Tower. It featured 432 contestants from all over the world, competing in a mix of individual tests and buzzer events similar to Quiz Bowl. It was a friendly competition, with contestants exchanging pins and chatting before matches. “We liked to talk about politics,” Alexander says, “but the adults kept telling us not to.”

This is Alexander’s second Olympiad, after competing in last year’s International Geography Olympiad in Vienna, Austria. He reached Paris by coming in second at regionals and making the quarterfinals of the national competition in Orlando. Alexander says he first became interested in history during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he spent a lot of time watching documentaries. He thought Grade 4 history was fun, and in Grade 5, he joined the Quiz Bowl team at BASIS Independent McLean and specialized in history. One of the parent coaches suggested he try out for the international competition.

His time in Europe was not all about competing. Alexander took advantage of the chance to visit historical sites: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Black Forest in Germany, and the castles of “Mad” King Ludwig II in Bavaria. A special highlight was seeing Albert Einstein’s PhD thesis paper in Zurich. He also loved the food, saying, “I enjoyed eating at French restaurants, especially the duck confit and steak frites. I also tried my mom’s escargot, which didn’t taste as bad as I thought it would.”

Congratulations to Alexander from everyone here at BIM!

2025 Senior Projects: From Research to Real-World Impact

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Our 2025 seniors are gone but not forgotten, and our college counseling department has already had several meetings with our 2026 seniors, who are gearing up for their final year at BIM.

One of the most exciting and rewarding parts of that final year is the Senior Project, which gives students a chance to build on all they have learned at BIM by doing in-depth research into a topic of their choosing. In the first two trimesters, seniors work with faculty advisors to propose and start their projects. In the third trimester, students further their research through an internship under the guidance of an on-site mentor. The final result is a culmination of all that students have learned and an invaluable preparation for what is to come next.

Last year, eight of our students completed Senior Projects and earned high honors diplomas. Their internships ranged from work at companies like Mitre and Glycosa, to research with a professor at Villanova University, to a position with the Aspiring Scholars Direct Research Program in California. 

They came together on May 22 to present their research to the BIM community at the Senior Showcase. They did some amazing work! There were so many highlights, some of which included:

We are incredibly proud of all our seniors have achieved, and we look forward to seeing the amazing work of next year’s senior class!

——— The End of Blog ———

The Alumni Voice: Sean P., Class of 2021

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Sean P. graduated from BASIS Independent McLean in 2021. He recently graduated from Brown University. In early July, he sat down for an interview with Dr. Hight, our Student Advancement Manager, to discuss his experience at Brown, his time at BASIS Independent McLean, and what’s next for him.

Dr. Hight: You recently graduated from Brown University. Congratulations! What was your favorite thing about college?

Sean: Oh my God… Nothing in high school could have really prepared me for what college is like. It’s so great. Like when they say it’s the best four years of her life, I really do think it is if you make the most of it. Over the past four years, being able to connect with various faculty through research or academics, and being able to meet so many different people from different backgrounds, whether that be through club sports or through clubs or even, meeting someone through another friend at an event. That was so much fun, just building your network and seeing what all these amazing people are pursuing and being able to celebrate their highs and all of that.

Dr. Hight: What did you like about Brown in particular?

Sean: I think the open curriculum suited me really well. Even though my undergrad major was very, very STEM-based, I was able to pursue so many of the other classes and disciplines that I was interested in just because we had no requirements. So I explored psychology very thoroughly. I explored architecture. I explored some history. That was really rewarding. And I got to meet people from other colleges because Brown is near Boston, and so we do like a lot of networking events with other schools in Boston, Harvard in particular. And there are the big games where Brown and Harvard go against each other.  It was just so, so much fun.

Dr. Hight: How was the transition from high school, academically?

Sean: I will say, and I’ve told this to other BIM faculty, that the BIM curriculum prepares you very well for the rigor that is to come in college. I was really nervous entering my first college class as a freshman, not knowing what to expect, but then I end up realizing that the workload and what was expected of me was pretty similar to what I already experienced in high school and so a lot of the adjusting in college was more social and being away from home rather than an academic adjustment.

Dr. Hight: Is there anything about your experience at BIM that you found particularly helpful when you got to college?

Sean: You know, it’s crazy to say this, but the CJ that we had. I think people found that really dumb in high school when I was there, but it’s crazy how organized you have to be in college. You are on your own. There’s no one telling you like what to do, when to do it. You’re getting thrown all these assignments and midterm dates and final dates that are all different by class, and you’re the one responsible for getting those done on time. Also, I think that the capstone classes that we get to take as seniors were really helpful for college. APs are great, and the content tested on the AP exams is very similar to what you’re going to get into a college introduction class, but those capstone classes were more reflective of the classes that I had in college. I think the assignments that I had in my capstone classes, whether that be writing a paper or in a science class presenting a poster, those are things that you would find in college as well. So having those assignments and having done them already in high school really helped prepare me for college.

Dr. Hight: If you had one piece of advice for BIM high school students before they go to college, what would it be?

Sean: I think the most important thing academically, socially, and even clubs as well, is just to be open-minded. Don’t lock yourself in a box and say I’m gonna go down this route or pursue this major. I didn’t really go into college thinking that I wanted to pursue psychology, and then I took a psychology class my freshman year and ended up taking five different psychology classes by the time I graduated, even though I wasn’t a psych major. With clubs, too, when you go to the activities fair, it’s really easy to kind of go to the clubs for things you’ve done before, but trying clubs you might not have your eye on in the beginning, learning what they’re about, going to the first meeting: it’s a great way to meet new people and to just try new things. And that’s the best part about college, I think: discovering a new subject you like or finding new people and becoming friends with them out of a shared new hobby.

Dr. Hight: Let’s take a walk down memory lane. When you think about your time at BASIS Independent McLean, what do you think of? Do you have any particular memories connected to the school?

Sean: I was at BIM when it was still relatively a new school, and so we were kind of adjusting and learning and going through that with everyone in my grade that was just such a memorable experience. I think the class size being small was really helpful. I think my class was like thirty or forty kids, and because it was so small, we kind of all went through it together. It kind of baffles me when I talk with my college friends and they say they’re no longer close with anyone from high school. For me, that’s the opposite case. I still talk every day to some kids from high school, and when I come back home, we study together, we work together, we do things together, and so it’s really that tight knit community that is fostered at BIM and makes me nostalgic about it.

Dr. Hight: Let’s look forward a bit. What are you up to next?

Sean: I’m going to London to get my master’s in public health at Imperial College London, so I’ll be in the heart of the city.

Dr. Hight: That sounds amazing! Why London?

Sean: When it came to schools that I could have chosen for my master’s, I applied to schools abroad, and the reason being was as a pre-med student, it’s really hard to study abroad during your time in undergrad. I ultimately decided to pursue my master’s abroad so I can grow my knowledge of the world and experience different cultures.

Dr. Hight: You’ll be in London, do you have a favorite Premier League team?

Sean: I’m a huge Arsenal fan.

Dr. Hight: Nice. I’m a Fulham fan… But back to you: what comes after the master’s degree? Do you have a vision for where you see yourself in ten years?

Sean: Ultimately, I want to practice medicine.With my master’s, I want to learn the skills that go into pursuing a successful clinical research study, like learning how to deal with public health studies and how to deal with them on a population-based level. I’m hoping that I learn about how other countries tackle health, how the US could also learn from that, and hopefully I have a global perspective on health that I can bring to my experience as a doctor. I plan to go to medical school in the US. In ten years, I’ll probably be in my residency, practicing whatever specialty I choose. Hopefully, I’ll already be designing my own clinical research studies so that by the time I become a physician, I can just kind of roll it out and can somehow contribute to science, because that’s the ultimate goal for me.

Dr. Hight: That sound amazing, Sean. Thank you so much for your time. It was great catching up with you. Good luck in London and keep us posted!

The Alumni Voice is a blog series that explores the post-high school experience for our BIM graduates. We believe that a lasting partnership with our alumni is integral to the continued success and growth of our community. Stay tuned for our next blog of the series, coming up soon!