BASIS Independent Bellevue

May is Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, which celebrates the cultures and contributions of those with roots in China, Hawaii, India, Japan, Guam, and many more countries and territories.

Among our many exciting activities was our Kung Fu Noodles event, where students got to make—and eat!—hand-pulled noodles while watching Kung Fu Panda. We also hosted various recess activities, including cherry blossom painting, sampling baked goods from a local Chinese bakery, and learning hula dancing from Ms. Angkham and our students in the Styles of Dance class. Bulletin boards around campus added to our students’ learning about AAPI achievements.

We encourage our community to continue in their appreciation of diversity all year long!

Grade 3 students recently visited the high school chemistry lab for an exciting demonstration on the properties of metals. Guided by Subject Expert Teacher Ms. Bryant, with help from grade 10 students Adham H., Timothy W., and David X., students explored how different metals produce different colored flames when burned. They also learned about lab and fire safety, and a few brave grade 3 students even burned magnesium strips themselves to witness the brilliant reaction firsthand.

Experiences like these give younger students an early glimpse into high school science while sparking curiosity and excitement for future STEM learning. Great job to both our grade 3 and grade 10 scientists!

We had a great time celebrating our students and their successes this school year! Students had the opportunity to enjoy boba tea, board games, ice cream, puzzles, and bingo, with multiple rounds of teacher-vs-student kickball to round out the week. Special thanks to our National Honor Society students for their leadership during multiple activities!
 
We are continuously impressed by our students each day at school. Their empathy, effort in learning, and dedication to supporting the community are truly admirable. Thank you for making our school such a positive and caring community. You are all greatly appreciated!

Pre-Calculus students in 8Ti recently designed a two-variable experiment that could be conducted in a normal classroom. “Apparently, for me, a normal classroom includes a Pinewood Derby ramp, so the ‘winning’ suggestion sought to measure the effect of adding heavier and heavier weights to a pinewood car,” said their SET, Mr. Norcross.
 
Students added increasing amounts of weight to a pinewood derby car and measured how far it traveled after leaving the ramp. After outgrowing the classroom space, they moved outside, adapting to rougher conditions and frequent crashes while continuing to collect accurate data. Back in the classroom, students graphed their results and explored regression models for further analysis — a great example of math in action!

This week, current and incoming parents came together at our Parent Mixer to build connections in anticipation of the upcoming school year. Families were welcomed by impressive performances from our Chamber Music group before heading into the gym for conversation bingo, keychain making, and writing notes of encouragement for students to see on the first day of school. It was wonderful to see parents quickly connecting and continuing to strengthen the Mountaineer community we value so much! We are excited to welcome so many new families next year and are grateful for the families who continue to help our community thrive.

1,800+ college acceptances. One incredible Class of 2026.

Across BASIS Independent Schools, students are heading to top universities in the U.S. and around the world, continuing a tradition of academic excellence and meaningful choice.

Explore the full results on our blog: https://hubs.li/Q04h8FDh0