October 16, 2025
What does a typical day look like for a grade 6 student at BASIS Independent Schools? We followed Uma, a student at BASIS Independent Fremont, through her day to find out—and to hear how she navigated the transition from her previous private school to BASIS Independent Schools’ 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 BASIS Independent Fremont (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 BASIS Independent Schools? “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 at BASIS Independent Fremont is held outdoors in their Quad and is monitored by a combination of teachers and administrators, specifically their 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
BASIS Independent Schools looks for local hot lunch providers that can offer a variety of meal options for special dietary needs, including vegetarian and nut-free.
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 BASIS Independent Schools.
BASIS Independent Dublin is a Grades 6 – 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the BASIS Independent Dublin community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.
