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Celebrating Gratitude – Our November Character Theme of the Month

November 21, 2024 by jessicagrear Leave a Comment

The PNW rainy season is upon us at BASIS Independent Bellevue, which means fall is officially in the air! The weather may be gloomy, but we are taking time this month to celebrate our Character Theme of the Month – Gratitude! The American Psychological Associate defines this phenomenon as a sense of happiness and thankfulness in response to a fortunate happenstance or a tangible gift. Some additional research describes gratitude as the willingness to expand our attention so that we perceive more of the goodness we are always receiving (Pratt, 2022)

Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you”; it is about appreciating the big and small moments that make life special. Studies show that practicing gratitude can improve our physical health, calm our nerves, strengthen our relationships and generate greater happiness in life (Pratt, 2022). This month, we are excited to create opportunities for students, staff, and families to embrace gratitude in meaningful ways.

On – Campus Gratitude

Mountaineer Mondays

Each Monday, during our Academic Enrichment periods, our students participate in Mountaineer Mondays. Mountaineer Monday is a time for students to start their week by reflecting on important topics and learning what it means to be a Mountaineer. This month, the focus of Mountaineer Mondays is Gratitude! Students will be engaging in grade–level activities such as writing a letter expressing gratitude for themselves and creating a tree filled with drawings of what they are grateful for.

Renewal Food Bank Food Drive

To express our gratitude to our local community, the staff and students at BASIS Independent Bellevue are holding a Food Drive for Renewal Food Bank. We are collecting nonperishable food and hygiene items to give back and help others. With the support of our School Counselor and Student Affairs team, our teachers will be having meaningful discussions with students about food insecurity and empathy during this month. Additionally, members of our National Junior Honor Society will have the opportunity to visit the Food Bank and volunteer while bringing in our school donations. We are so proud of our students for their dedication to showing compassion and care for others!

Cookies with the Counselor Notes

Every month, our School Counselor, Ms. Olivia, hosts a Cookies with the Counselor event during recess periods. This is an opportunity for students to come by and have a sweet treat with our Counselor while engaging in an activity aimed at developing Social-Emotional Wellness. This month, students will be writing cards of well wishes to accompany our donation to the Food Bank.

Staff notes

Our reflection on gratitude does not only come from our students. In the staff lounge this month, teachers have been writing down what they are grateful for on leaves and posting on the wall as a reminder to stop and reflect. Additionally, we will be hosting a Staff Potluck and providing an opportunity for the staff to gather during lunch while sharing a delicious meal.

Coffee and Cocoa

As a final show of gratitude to our campus, our Operations Team organized a “Coffee and Cocoa” event for both students and staff. A barista was sourced to come in and provide delicious, caffeinated beverages for our teachers, and yummy hot cocoa for students. It was the perfect event for the chilly fall weather!

What is our community grateful for?

We surveyed our staff to discover what our community members are grateful for this year, and to get to know them better. Check out their responses!

Ms. Grear, Director of Admissions – “I am so grateful to live in the beautiful PNW for most of the year, while having the opportunity to return home to Buffalo, NY and spend time with my loved ones for the holiday season.”

Ms. Chaffee, French Subject Expert Teacher – “I am so grateful for our students because they are energetic, motivated, and always on task. They give me new perspective when it comes to approaching culture and languages. I feel like I learn from them as much as they learn from me!”

Mr. Tyler, History Subject Expert Teacher – “Our Mandarin Expert Teacher, Ms. Pan is the best cook! She is always bringing food for the staff and I am grateful for that.”

Ms. Rakotz, Director of Academic Programs – “I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Mountaineer community. Throughout the hardships of the most recent big storm, our community came together to support one another by reaching out to each other, opening up our homes and making sure we were all safe and supported. The Mountaineer community feels like a true family that always supports each other. It is a privilege to be able to watch our students do the same.”

Mr. Pitak, Auxiliary Programs Coordinator – “I am thankful for my fiancé. We recently got engaged and we are looking forward to a bright future together.”

Ms. Campos, Front Desk Coordinator – “I am so thankful for my family. They are always there for me and support me in any way that they can. I saw them recently and we had a movie night, did puzzles and colored together. I feel grateful to have such a strong support system.”

Mr. Diambri, Associate Director of Admissions – “I am grateful for loving friends, good health, and a great place to work!”

Ms. Rieger, History Subject Expert Teacher – “I’m thankful for my coworker, Mr. Hui-Peterson. We share a room and he has been so supportive of me in my first year here. He always answers all my questions and helps in anyway that he can. It is great to have that support”

Mr. Hui-Peterson – “I am thankful for power and the internet! You don’t realize how much you take it for granted until you don’t have it anymore. The recent storm was hard on everyone and I’m so grateful we all got through it.”

Ms. PV, Math Subject Expert Teacher – “I am grateful that my extended family is coming to visit for the holiday season. We are going to have the usual holiday celebrations, but this year is extra special because I am hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law. I can’t wait to be an auntie!”

Gratitude teaches us to focus on the good in our lives, even during challenging times. By practicing gratitude, students learn resilience and empathy—essential skills for personal growth and success. At BASIS Independent Bellevue, we’re proud to nurture these qualities by modeling it in our own lives to help our students become thoughtful, compassionate individuals.

4 BASIS Independent McLean Students Honored as National Merit Semifinalists

September 27, 2024 by aixuanwang Leave a Comment

On September 11, 2024, officials from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists, and we are thrilled to celebrate four of our BASIS seniors who have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists:

Natasha A. ’24
Ian P. ’24
Vincenzo T. ’24
Gavin W. ’24

High school juniors entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), 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 2023 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.

“We are so incredibly proud of our hard-working students. This is an amazing accomplishment, and we wish them luck as the process continues to unfold. Congratulations again to our Semifinalists!” —Jason Shorbe, Head of School at BASIS Independent McLean.

First row (from left to right):
Vincenzo T. ’24
Natasha A. ’24
Gavin W. ’24
Ian P. ’24

Second row (from left to right):
Jason Shorbe (Head of School)
Matt Ramsby (College Counselor)

Please join us in congratulating our four BIM Semifinalists!

Head of School Address to Class of 2025

September 25, 2024 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

Each new school year starts full of excitement, and we make it a point to salute our seniors at BASIS Independent Brooklyn standing on the cusp of the next phase of their academic journey. Our Head of School address is one annual tradition to recognize and inspire our senior class. Earlier this month, Mr. Harmon dropped by Mr. Brauch’s college counseling session to welcome our Class of 2025 and help orient the year.

Below are selections from Mr. Harmon’s address:

You are the last class on this campus I had the honor to teach before moving into school administration. I remember working to make a Latin class engaging and relevant to you. It is bittersweet for me now to realize you are seniors about to leave our school. You will always be a special class to me, and you will always have a home here.

It is a great time to be a senior at our school. We just finished our 10^th school year, and our campus is established and strong. All our teachers and administrators are here to support you. We are all here to make your final year a success. I just ask for three things in return:

Be a leader on campus. Other students look up to you and will follow you.
Make decisions that benefit you and your families.
Set the tone for the years to come and finish the year strong.

Have fun. Enjoy your senior year. You have worked hard and we are so proud of you.

In senior year, our students take college-level seminar courses called Capstones. These are teacher-created, post-AP courses. While AP courses typically cover a breadth of content, Capstones allow students to explore a topic’s depth. Our teachers’ talents shine as they develop these college-level original courses tied to their academic passions. This year the Capstone classes at BASIS Independent Brooklyn are:

Chinese Literature & Culture
Differential Equations
Economics of Water Resources
French Cinema
Latin Composition
Monsters in the Mirror – Literature
Multivariable Calculus
Neuroscience
Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry
U.S. and Mid-Eastern History

In the third and final trimester of senior year, our seniors embark on their Senior Projects. The Senior Project is an independent, student-led culmination of our high school experience. After three years of academic preparation, our seniors are ready to spend the last trimester of their high school careers applying the skills and knowledge they have gained to develop a project that is insightful, academically rigorous, and professional in nature.

Once we know what questions our seniors will set out to answer with their Senior Projects, we will share with our community in the hopes of parents and guardians helping connect our Class of 2025 with leaders in the field who can provide perspective and expert commentary to benefit their research.

Class of 2025: We could not be prouder of you. We will be rooting for you this year and in all the years to come. GO BEARS!

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 and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.

Fall 2025: What to Expect at Your Virtual Family Meeting

August 23, 2024 by michaelmertes Leave a Comment

At BASIS Independent Fremont, we seek applicants who have an interest in learning at an international level, a desire to make a contribution, a willingness to work hard, and an ambition to join a collaborative, supportive, and joyful community of peers and Subject Expert Teachers. Be ready to participate in a culture where academics are encouraged, learning is celebrated, and students have fun! In order to both ensure student success and manage the popularity of our program, admissions is a selective process.

What is the Family Meeting?
The Family Meeting is an essential part of the admissions process at BASIS Independent Fremont (BIF) and is part of our final admissions decision. This 30-minute meeting is the school’s opportunity to learn more about your child and your family’s interest in BIF.

While we are happy to answer questions about our program, the Family Meeting is not the best time to learn about our offerings. Prior to the Family Meeting, we strongly encourage families to visit our website and blog, attend an Admissions Event, or speak with a member of the Admissions Team.

When are the meetings held?
Family Meetings are held virtually Monday – Friday at various times throughout the day and can be booked through your application portal after you submit an application.

Who is required to attend the Family Meeting?
At least one parent or guardian is required to attend. Students applying for TK – Grade 1 are not required to attend. Students applying to Grade 2 – 9 are required to attend.

If your child is required to attend the Family Meeting and does not, you will be asked to reschedule.

What if we are applying for more than one student?
Only register for one Family Meeting, and bring both students, if required to attend, to the same meeting.

When does the meeting have to take place?
Those applying in Early Admissions must complete their Family Meeting by their Completion Deadline, Friday, November 8, 2024. Those applying to Regular Admissions must complete their Family Meeting by their Completion Deadline, Friday, February 14, 2025.

How do we register for a Family Meeting?
Once you have submitted your application, you will be prompted to schedule your Family Meeting.

If you’re not ready to choose a date and time, you can always log back in at a later date and choose one that is convenient. Please note: As we get closer to the Completion Deadline, there are fewer meeting times available. We would suggest scheduling one as soon as you are able. If you wait and are unable to schedule a Family Meeting for one of our offered times, your application will be incomplete, and you will not be considered for admission.

How long is the Family Meeting?
Family Meetings are generally 30 minutes long. Oftentimes, those hosting the Family Meeting will have back-to-back appointments and will be unable to go over the 30-minute mark.

Who will we be meeting with?
Our Family Meetings are hosted by members of the Admissions Team, members of our Administration, and even some of our Subject Expert Teachers! You never know who will be hosting, but you’ll always get to speak with a member of the BIF Family!

What questions will we be asked?
The meeting is our chance to get to know you and your child more in a one-on-one setting. We may ask you questions about why you’re interested in BIF, your child’s academic and non-academic interests, and even what they like to do with their free time.

We discourage any formal interview prep, as it tends to make students more nervous when we are just trying to get to know them. We want all students to feel comfortable and be themselves.

How will the Family Meeting be held?
You will receive a reminder email 24 hours before your meeting time with a Zoom link to your virtual meeting. When your meeting time arrives, please log in to your meeting via Zoom.

Can we ask questions at the end?
If there is time, yes! But always note who you are speaking to. Whoever hosts your meeting will always introduce themselves and let you know their role at the school. If their role is not in relation to your question, they will let you know, and encourage you to reach out to the Admissions Team for an answer.

We look forward to meeting you and your student(s) soon at your Virtual Family Meeting!

The Admissions Team is looking forward to connecting with you! If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions team by e-mail, or speak with an admissions representative at 510.775.5822.

2023-2024 Year in Review

August 14, 2024 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

Dear Families and Staff,

During the summer months, we reflect on the past school year as we reset our school for the year ahead. Today, we celebrate with our community many of the student accomplishments from the past year and pay tribute to our 2024 graduates. We are incredibly proud of our Bears.

Let us start with academics. Data from across our BASIS Independent Schools inform our practice, identify our areas for growth, and allow us to celebrate our successes knowledgeably. For these reasons, we can truly say we practice both the art and science of teaching. Without data, we would not understand our own goals, or we would just assume we were lucky when we met them!

This year more than 60% 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 Scholar winner Jack B. ’24, and 30% of our seniors were recognized as commended scholars.

Speaking of our seniors, let us take a moment to reflect on our sixth graduating class about to head off to the next stage of their educational journey! Approximately 60% of students were offered seats at universities in the top 25 ranked national and international institutions. Today we can share that our students will matriculate at:

University of Pennsylvania (2), Duke University (2), Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, Cornell University, University of Michigan, Georgetown University (2), Emory University, University of Southern California, NYU (2), Boston University, Northeastern (2), George Washington University, Barnard College (2), Colgate University, Haverford College, Skidmore College, Stevens Institute of Technology, Chapman University, and Cooper Union.

Our Class of 2024 posed on the roof during their senior year. Photo Credit: Danny Dolan at www.dannydolan.com

Celebrating Accomplishments

Throughout the 2023-2024 school year one thing remained the same— student accomplishments across all grades continued to reaffirm the vision behind all that we have built here in Brooklyn. Our educators took pride in providing structure and stability to support content mastery.

Our students continued to excel at their studies and outside the classroom, our students’ accomplishments made us incredibly proud. An overview of 2023–2024 student accolades and significant developments follows.

Fine Arts

Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition: Our students were recognized yet again with many honors this year. One National Gold Key in photography was awarded to Mateo K. ’25; Yuna S. ’24 received a National Silver Key for her work in Digital Art. Many other students were recognized with regional awards: 7 Gold Keys, 6 Silver Keys, and 9 honorable mentions in photography, digital art, painting, and drawing illustration.
Our Upper School Choir was invited to perform at Radio City Music Hall before the Christmas Spectacular once again! They won top honors at the Hershey Park Choral Festival as well!
High School Choir and Band were invited to play at Universal Studios as part of the Disney Music Series.
Our Spring Musical SpongeBob 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 hosted wonderful festivals before Winter Break and at the end of the school year.

National Scholastic Arts Gold Key winning photo by Mateo K. ’25

Humanities/Social Sciences

High School Debate Team won 1^st place in team and 1^st place speaker in the NYC Urban Debate League Championships.
Our Middle School Debate Club tied for 3rd place in the New York Debate League Championships.
The Grizzly Co-Editors-in-Chief founded our initial chapter of Quill and Scroll International Journalism honor society, initiating six student journalists.
Our Bears won 1^st place team in the very competitive K-5 U1200 division at the Primary Chess National Championships! Our K-5 U900 team came in 7^th place, and our team of two in K-3 U700 tied for 16^th place with just two students. This news came on the heels of winning big at the New York State Championship. There were many, many other chess accolades throughout the year.
On the National Latin Exam, Abraham G. ‘29 earned a gold medal, Indi S. ’29 a silver. One of our Grade 6 students Dylan C. was recognized by both the American Classical Association and National Junior Latin League for receiving a perfect score. Four students received gold medals, ten received silver medals in Grade 6 this year as well!
This year we launched our inaugural Quiz Bowl team under the leadership of Mr. Koppel. The team performed well in their first year and look forward to picking up steam in the fall!

Our Chess Team at Nationals. Photo credit: Ian West of ICN

Math/Science

Our MATHCOUNTS team came in 1^st Place in Brooklyn regionals and went on to compete at the New York State Championships. Special shout out to Michael S. ’28 who won top individual honors in Brooklyn. Coach Hughes was very proud of them.
The largest group of students ever sat for the MATH KANGAROO assessment for younger grades across both our campuses and comprised our largest group yet to receive accolades from the organization.
NOETIC Math accolades poured in with national winners across several grades across both of our campuses.
Our school won both 2^nd and 3^rd Place in New York State TEAMS competition. Thank you to Physics teacher and coach Josh Winter for continuing to grow the team.

Our Lower School Cubs proudly posing with their NOETIC math ribbons and medals.

Sports

Our Middle School Baseball team won the CSAA league championship after an incredible first season under Coach Starks. Go Bears!!!
Our Middle School Girls Volleyball Team won the CSAA Region 3 Championships!!! Coach Nalipinski was incredibly proud of her players, who participated in this middle school division for the first time.
CSAA Boys and Girls Track Team: Our Bears had a great season, and the High School team took home 3^rd Place in the CSAA Region 3 championship. Given this was their first season, we could not be prouder of them!
Our CSAA Boys Varsity Soccer team made the league playoffs and we were very proud of their determination and drive during the year.
CSAA Girls Volleyball made the playoffs after a tremendous fall season with Coach Nalipinski.
CSAA Co-ed JHS Flag Football team finished 2^nd place in the league! Team spirit could not be stronger, and we want to thank families for showing up consistently to cheer on our Bears.

Coach Starks and our middle school baseball team won 1st place in their league.

Community Involvement

This year our high school team arranged a Third Annual Day of Service in the fall to bring our community together and make a difference locally.
Our National Honor and National Junior Honor Society students dedicated more than 2,000 hours to service projects this year!
Back-to-School Textbook Exchange – Families donated nearly 3,300 textbooks and others bought used textbooks to benefit the Red Hook Art Project.
500 coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and blankets as well as 200 care packages were assembled to support Red Hook’s Redemption Church community.
Our Lower School Cubs created more than 100 toiletry kits around the holidays to share with families in Red Hook through Redemption Red Hook Church.
Our community created more than 100 Thanksgiving cards for Heights and Hills to deliver with their Thanksgiving meals to seniors.
Our Primary School assembled more than 300 bedtime bags for asylum-seeking families through Project Rousseau!
Our High School students formed a chapter of JASA at the school with 16 student members who collectively spent 200 hours spending time with nursing home residents and participating in projects to support them.

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. Cultivating mutual respect and trust is key for our school after ten 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 2024 for their leadership in shaping our sense of community and traditions at our school. We are grateful to them and want them to know they always have a place here. What we want to ask from our alumni and parents is help to provide professional advice and even connect our students after they graduate to internships and opportunities. This coming year we will be expanding our mentorship program, and we need the help of our community to open doors for our wonderful students.

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 ten years of educating students in Brooklyn. We truly look forward to the year ahead!

Sincerely,

Josh Harmon and Rose Miller-Sims

Lower School: Embracing Growth

May 21, 2024 by jogoldfarb Leave a Comment

Spring brings with it clear markers of growth of our students. Returning from Spring Break, we notice students springing up physically and reflect on the great progress seen in the school year. As Ms. Miller-Sims rounds out her first year as Head of School at BASIS Independent Brooklyn’s Lower School campus, she wanted to share some of her thoughts with our community.

“This time of year is really exciting because students do really physically grow a lot and that growth is really noticeable – whether they are sprouting out of their trousers, their scooters need to be adjusted,” commented Ms. Miller-Sims. “One parent actually shared that they grew out of their helmet. There’s lot of actual physical growth happening and hand-in-hand with that we tend to see a lot of social-emotional growth and academic growth, of course. It is a really exciting time of the year here.”

Embracing a Growth Mindset

Ms. Miller-Sims has spoken extensively about embracing a growth mindset. This focus stemmed from her years as a Learning Expert Teacher and then as a Dean and Director of Student Affairs. Having a growth mindset means that you are open to feedback and to being really reflective on what you need to change and grow as a person. We think of a fixed mindset as somebody who is very set in their ways and just doesn’t want to change what to do. They think that everything they are doing works the way it is.

“A growth mindset – especially with children – is very important,” said Ms. Miller-Sims. “It helps manage tendencies toward perfectionism. We want children to feel comfortable with that sense of failure in a safe way so they can acclimate to it and take in the feedback to grow and change rather than developing more of a fixed mindset thinking that they have to be perfect all the time.”

Pulling Through at Home
Ms. Miller-Sims suggests parents and guardians start to pull through embracing a growth mindset at home, too. Whenever families have the time to do so, really allow students to experience struggle whether it is really something they are physically trying to do for the first time, such as a student learning to tie their shoes for the first time. Of course, guide them, but let them do it themselves and experience what it feels like to not be able to do it and then reach that success when they finally can.

Supporting Growth in Our School

This time of year is also one for growth with our teachers. Ms. Miller-Sims starts first rounds of performance reviews with teacher observations in the first Trimester. “Now is the time I am starting the second round, and that will lead into exciting conversations about the next school year,” said Ms. Miller-Sims.

Next year a really exciting change coming down the pike is having all of PreK to Gr. 2 classes together at our Lower School campus. “It has been really exciting to look at ways to continue supporting our students, review applications of new students who will be joining our community, and think of what families need from us to be a supportive environment that bonds together to create a cohesive community.”

Bobcat Bytes: Isha T., Grade 12

May 16, 2024 by zachfarrell Leave a Comment

This blog series aims to offer a glimpse into the student life of our Student Ambassadors. The BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Student Ambassadors play an important role by representing BISV throughout the academic year in many ways. From cherished memories, to conquering challenges, from time management to immersing themselves in clubs and activities.

Meet Isha T., Grade 12, class of 2024. Prior to attending BISV, Isha attended a private school. Since joining our school in Grade 5, she has been a fantastic member of our school community. Isha’s favorite soccer clubs are FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. She says, “I went to both home stadiums when I visited Spain for my 18th birthday!”

Isha loves to travel with her family and has been to several other countries as well. She is also a valuable member of our dynamic Bollywood Dance Team at BISV, where she embraces her heritage and nurtures her love for dance. One standout memory for her last year was attending the Taylor Swift Eras Tour with her best friend!

What have been some of your most memorable moments or experiences at BISV and why?

One of my favorite experiences at BISV was being selected to be a Student Ambassador! As a Student Ambassador, I got the wonderful opportunity to welcome prospective students to BISV and show them around our campus. I also got to speak to prospective students and parents during Open Houses and Information Sessions. I answered any questions that they had and shared all of my amazing experiences at BISV, including the joy I got from representing my school. I’m proud to say that I have been a Student Ambassador for all 7 years that I’ve been at BISV and have truly enjoyed being able to show families how warm and welcoming our community is.

This year we have over 90 clubs at BISV! What are the benefits of participating in our extracurriculars?

Everyone has a variety of interests, whether it be the arts, academics, or sports. One of the things I appreciate most about BISV is how they celebrate students’ individuality by offering a wide variety of clubs. With such a varied group of club topics, it really feels like there’s something for everyone. Participating in clubs and organizations at BISV not only allows you to pursue your passions, but also allows you to form close bonds with club members who have the same interests as you.

How do you manage your time and balance academic, extracurricular activities, and free-time?

One of the most effective ways that has helped me balance my academics, extracurricular activities, and personal commitments was using my Communication Journal, or CJ. I would write down all of my school reminders and events that I had outside of school in order to keep track of everything. Just like I used my CJ to help me manage my time and balance my academics, extracurriculars, and personal commitments, it also came in handy for staying organized. Writing things down in my CJ allowed everything to be in one place, so it became easy for me to keep track of assignments and deadlines.

What are some ideas you had about BISV that you found out to be true or false once you joined the school?

Since BISV is such an academically rigorous school full of high-achievers, I thought I would be surrounded by a competitive environment where I would feel insecure and less accomplished than my peers. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Everyone in BISV is so humble about their accomplishments and best of all, everyone here supports and lifts each other up. The students here are not afraid to ask for help or admit their weaknesses, creating a safe space for everyone to share their thoughts and feelings.

Finally, what advice would you give for incoming students to make the most of their year?

One piece of advice I would give to prospective students is that even though the curriculum at BISV is rigorous, just continue to work hard and seek the help of your friends, parents, and teachers. Also, make sure you use your CJ! It helps a lot when you have several upcoming assignments, tests, and events.

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.

BASIS Independent McLean Class of 2024 College Acceptances

April 10, 2024 by weitoker Leave a Comment

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! The list below shows this year’s class’ power and inspiring nature. While additional acceptances are still possible from waitlists, 100% of our seniors have secured a spot at a Top-70 Nationally ranked institution of higher education. Our graduates will pursue majors in Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Science, Engineering, Neuroscience, Political Science, Physics, and Journalism.

Earlier this school year, Niche.com named BIM the #1 Best College Prep Private High School in the Washington, DC area. Our 24 seniors proved worthy of that ranking as they were accepted to 60 colleges and universities in the US and Canada. The Class of 2024 began their college application process during their College Counseling Boot Camp last May, and the acceptance list below marks the culmination of 12 months of hard work and application dedication. It has been quite a year, and we are excited for what the future brings for the Class of 2024.

In-State Highlights:

UVA accepted over 50% of our Virginia applicants, William Mary accepted 75%, and Virginia Tech accepted an unprecedented 90% of our applicants.

National Highlights:

46% of our seniors were accepted to a Top 25 National University:

Brown University, Cornell University, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rice University, Stanford University, University of California (Berkeley), University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Washington University in St. Louis, Yale University

Please join us in congratulating our Class of 2024 Red-Tailed Hawks!

Arizona State University
Binghamton University
Boston University
Brown University
Case Western Reserve University
Clemson University
Cornell University
Drexel University
Duke University
Emory University
George Mason University
George Washington University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
Ithaca College
James Madison University
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola Marymount University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mount St Mary’s University
Northeastern University
Oxford College of Emory University
Penn State University
Purdue University
Queen’s University
Rice University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Stanford University
The Ohio State University
University of Arizona
University of California (Berkeley)
University of California (Davis)
University of California (Irvine)
University of California (San Diego)
University of California (Santa Barbara)
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Delaware
University of Florida
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Iowa
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Vassar College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Tech
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Student Perspectives: Speeches from Our Fall Open House

March 11, 2024 by jogoldfarb

Many of the questions fielded by our admissions team revolve around the student experience offered at our Upper School in Red Hook. Who better to help convey that than some of our current students? That is why we added a Student Panel this fall to our annual Open House, and our student ambassadors agreed to let us share their speeches with families who were not able to attend the event. Below you can hear from a senior in our High School Program named Samantha, a Gr. 8 student named Hudson, and a Gr. 5 student named Sarah.

Samantha G. Class of 2024

Hi, everyone! My name is Samantha, and I’m a current senior at BASIS Independent Brooklyn. I have been at BASIS since 3rd grade when the school first opened, so, as the school celebrates its 10th anniversary, I also celebrate 10 years here myself, during which BASIS has set me up for success both academically and socially.

At BASIS, I am investing my time into my future. From a young age, BASIS has students like myself taking advanced classes, introducing us to concepts most kids our age don’t have access to until much later on. In 5th grade, I was already taking Algebra 1, and by my freshman year of high school, I was in AP Calculus. While it can sometimes feel overwhelming when pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone with such advanced material, the strong student-teacher connection BASIS fosters helps students succeed in this rigorous environment. In my last year here, as I mentally prepare to graduate and leave for college, I feel as though I not only possess an understanding of the Industrial Revolution, derivatives, and the inner workings of my cells but also important life-long skills of managing my workload and approaching challenging situations with grace and excitement for intellectual stimulation.

Photo from a recent High School Leadership Forum

As I take advantage of my academics, I also have opportunities to explore and delve into my passions in my extracurriculars. As President of the Leadership Club (our form of student government in the high school), I have learned how to respond effectively to student needs, organize social events, promote sustainability, and emphasize a culture of service, encouraging the high school to give back to our larger community in Red Hook. Additionally, I regularly participate in volunteer work through the National Honors Society, and I am co-editor in chief of our student new site The Grizzly where I collaborate with my peers to create a space for expression of student voice, even extending this endeavor to write for a local newspaper. Outside of the school building, I have taken initiative through an internship with my local State Assemblyman where I conducted a research project on prioritizing mental health resources in NYC public schools. This past summer, I participated in a program at Cambridge University in England that helped guide me toward my desired college major. BASIS has given me a strong platform through which I learned to take these types of initiatives and push myself outside my comfort zone, challenging myself to grow as a student and as a human being.

And yet with all of this, surprisingly, I do still have a social life! Outside of academics and extracurriculars, I maintain a good balance – remaining committed to my education but also prioritizing my mental health and being a teenager. I am a huge music-lover, and I absolutely love going to concerts. Even considering the rigorous academics at BASIS, I am still able to make time to see my favorite artists live (even when my parents tell me they don’t think it is realistic.) Last weekend, I went to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Concert Film in the city with my sister who is a sophomore, and three weeks ago, I traveled to Maryland with some of my friends to attend a music festival, returning to school the next day with slightly less energy than normal but ready to approach another week of learning.

Ultimately, at BASIS, students like myself have gained access to strong academic rigor offered by the core curriculum and development of crucial life-long skills as we balance school work with a wide range of afterschool programming and fun activities, hopefully with a Taylor Swift concert thrown in there somewhere!

Hudson S. – Grade 8

Hi, I’m Hudson, and I’ve been at BASIS Brooklyn for 9 years now. At BASIS, I couldn’t have asked for a better school experience, because of the personalized lessons making it feel more engaging. This allows students to develop bonds with teachers making a more positive class environment. What I love about BASIS is that you have time after school where you get to go to the teachers and ask questions about upcoming assessments or near-due assignments. In addition to this, students have a large selection of sports and extracurriculars to sign up for. Personally, I found interest in cross country, because I usually don’t run and I thought it was something I could improve on, and now it’s my newfound passion, especially since I had a recent competition. I also love to plan and coordinate things, that’s why in 6th and 7th grade I did a chemistry competition, where a group of students and I had to think like chemists and make a video off of our research. I also decided to participate in a group called the National Junior Honor Society, where each student has a goal of 20 service hours to help out their school and neighborhood community. Everything I talked about are all things I love about Basis and I hope that you can join and have a school experience as great as mine.

Photo of our Cross Country Team at a recent meet.

Sarah G. – Grade 5

Hello my name is Sarah, and I am ten years old. This is my 7th year BASIS Independent Brooklyn. Throughout my time at BASIS, I have made so many friendships and taken so many unique classes ranging from drama to Mandarin to Engineering to Classics to Latin. I’ve also participated in countless activities like the art festival where all of the students display their art in the building or field day where gym teachers put together a fun obstacle course outside. I love all my classes, but history has always been my favorite subject. One of the reasons I enjoy history is because my 4th grade history teacher Mr. Sperrazza taught me that by learning about the past we can have a better understanding of the present and prepare for the future. There are many reasons why basis is an amazing school but what’s helped me the most is the fact that they give us the tools and resources to cope with anything we may encounter. I hope that every student will be able to experience the joy of having teachers who have so much passion for learning.

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An Exclusive Look at our Campus Renderings

December 21, 2023 by ekugler

With the rising demand for a Kindergarten—Grade 12 liberal arts curriculum with advanced STEM offerings in the Pacific Northwest we are pleased to reveal our latest expansion will be nestled in the Canyon Park neighborhood in Bothell, WA. BASIS Independent Bothell will provide families a supportive learning environment for an even greater number of young learners.

As we eagerly prepare for our anticipated opening in fall of 2025, it is with great excitement we offer an exclusive glimpse into the student experience at BASIS Independent Bothell with the unveiling of our stunning campus renderings!

The intentionally and thoughtfully designed spaces of our newest campus will allow students to enjoy endless opportunities to connect studies with the real world, discover new talents and skills, and build lasting bonds of friendship and camaraderie. In reviewing our campus renderings, please take note of our unique spaces including state-of-the-art science labs, dynamic visual and performance art spaces, dining spaces, a fully equipped gymnasium and competition field for competitive sports, outdoor play facilities, and more!

The advanced, global BASIS Curriculum includes a spiraling liberal arts with advanced STEM offerings. While our primary students participate in a weekly engineering class, our campus will be equipped with dedicated state-of-the-art laboratories for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, designed for grades 6—12 students. This spiraling curriculum prepares students from day one to compete and excel on the international stage.

231208-BASIS Bothell-Lab with Disclaimer

We recognize the significance of nurturing well-rounded students with diverse interests, including but not limited to interscholastic and sports activities. The Gymnasium and Competition Field will provide students with a dedicated space not only for Physical Education, but also for student-athletes to refine their skills, foster healthy competition, and develop leadership qualities, both on and off the court. We expect to host competitive sports such as basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, and more!

While our athletic and outdoor play facilities allow students to move their bodies and burn energy, our commons areas provide a safe environment for students to read a book, work on their studies, and collaborate with their peers.

231208-BASIS Bothell-Common A with Disclaimer (1)

Like the competition field on the north side of the campus, this area on the south side of the campus will be transformed into a play area for our Kindergarten to Grade 5 students. It’s a very large area that contains three main zones with active spaces in between as well as a track that can be utilized for Movement and PE classes and recess fun.

BASIS Independent Bothell, a Kindergarten–Grade 12 private school, opening fall 2025.