Our team at BASIS Independent Bellevue is committed to teaching valuable skills outside the classroom while providing our Mountaineers with exciting experiences. Activities such as competitive sports programs, scholastic competition teams, and artistic exploration clubs enrich the student experience and are a value-add to our culture.   

Within our school leadership, the Auxiliary Team exists to add enriching opportunities to students outside of the classroom. Our learning community believes that a balanced life of rigorous academic work along with rewarding extracurricular achievement helps our students become better prepared to excel amid life’s challenges. BASIS Independent Bellevue’s Auxiliary Team encourages students to engage with afterschool enrichment activities to expand their horizons. With over 30 offerings this year, Mountaineers can engage in academic, athletic, fine arts and recreational programs.  

As 72% of our Mountaineers participate in extracurricular activities, our team wants students to see the breadth of opportunities they have here at BASIS Independent Bellevue. At the onset of the school year, the auxiliary department begins their work by highlighting our community’s exciting clubs and activities by hosting the annual Enrichment Fair. This is an exciting time for students to connect with club leaders and members and talk about what each club has to offer. This year we were thrilled to have several food trucks at the event, a dunk tank, laser tag, and enjoyable treats for our school’s families. As our school grows, we want students to be aware of their options and how pursuing these experiences can help shape them into more versatile, well-rounded individuals. 

Sports has been one area where our community has seen the most growth in interest. The Auxiliary Team partners with our Athletic Director to ensure that students’ athletic needs are met. One of the six athletic programs we offer to students is our Soccer Team. Led by Coach Abele and Assistant Coach, Dr. Thies, the Soccer Team competes against other schools across the Puget Sound region. Our current roster of 18 students run the field together and strategize on the best ways to score goals against opponents and win games. Other athletic programs include archery, basketball, volleyball, track and field and our newest offering, tennis.  Our team believes that the values of teamwork and the enjoyment of athletic activities taught through our sports programs build important skills like respectfulness, effective communication, self-advocacy, collaboration, and resilience.

Our competitive academic programs are among the most popular offerings with students. Our award-winning Science Bowl National Champions are back in action this year, once again working hard to compete at the highest level against the nation’s brightest young minds. In June 2024, the team repeated their national championship title by winning the U.S. Department of Energy’s 34th National Science Bowl. Our Mountaineers are gearing up to make it a “threepeat” is the coming year’s competition. Math clubs are also a popular draw for our students. This year we have over 100 Mountaineers participating in our Math Competition Club, where teams compete with other schools to solve problems in test format.  

While STEM programs are highly attractive to our Mountaineers, we also provide a wealth of opportunities to explore their artistic talents through a variety of enrichment activities. For example, our History Sketch Club meets weekly to recreate different moments and figures from throughout the ages. This is an exciting way for students to not only practice fine-tuning their drawing skills but also to engage in the study of the past in a meaningful way. Music performance clubs are another prominent way in which Mountaineers delve into the arts outside of the BASIS Curriculum. For example, Drumline amplifies school spirit on our campus doing performances throughout the year. Chamber Music is another music program that is growing this year with the inclusion of our entry and advanced clubs. Designed to prepare students for state-level ensemble participation, we are proud to train our musicians in this special skill. From historical artistry to musical excellence, BASIS Independent Bellevue wants to give our students the opportunity to embrace creativity and passion.  

Beyond competitive sports and arts, BASIS has various clubs that span a range of interests and skills that are popular amongst our student body. In Engineering and Scratch, younger Mountaineers explore computer science fundamentals through hands-on projects, learning coding skills, and the basics of engineering. Our World Travel Club offers an immersive cultural experience by taking students on educational tours to different countries each year—in 2025, they will embark on journeys to Japan and Greece to get a first-hand glance into the rich history, traditions, and cuisine of these cultures. Additionally, the Chinese Cooking Club introduces students to the art of preparing traditional Chinese dishes, under the guidance of Ms. Pan, while teaching essential kitchen safety. These clubs exemplify how our broader school community comes together to nurture a variety of interests within our learning environment.   

We are always looking to offer programs that interest our students. If you or your child would like to add a program that is not included in our offerings, we encourage families to reach out and express interest. The Auxiliary Team would love to hear from you! You can reach them at: blv.auxiliaryprograms@basisindependent.com.