BASIS Chandler - Information for School, October 26

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BASIS Chandler Bobcats

BASIS Chandler

10/26/2012

Table of Contents

On the Up-and-Up with Mr. Smith

Stepping Stones to College

Co-Ed Soccer Meeting

Basis Chandler Food Drive

Galapagos Islands Price Update

BASIS Theatre Company

Spirit Week

Fall Fest

Meet Mr. Smith

Join Boosters Club

Enroll online at our website:

BOOSTERS WEBSITE

BASIS Chandler Calendar

Greetings BASIS Chandler Parents,

Happy October! As we approach the end of trimester 1, the Upper School staff is reminded that hard work and dedication does indeed pay off. We at BASIS Chandler realize that the expectations for students is high, and our homework load is large. However, we firmly believe that homework not only builds student knowledge, it also assists students in developing self-discipline, self-direction, and effective study skills. As parents, you can help your son or daughter continue to be successful by assisting them in a variety of ways.

Schedule a time for homework and provide a distraction free environment
Allow them time to complete homework on their own
Communicate with teachers using the CJ, email, or personal conferences
Help them learn to prioritize assignments and support organizational skills
Promote student responsibility by gradually withdrawing from participation in organization and homework

(For more information see page 27 of the BASIS Handbook)

As always, we thank you for choosing BASIS Chandler and we will continue to provide the highest level of education possible.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Terrell

Head of School

On the Up-and-Up with Mr. Smith:

Moments that Matter

BASIS, across all our campuses, does an outstanding job publicizing success. And rightfully so. It's hard to argue with an organization that's ranked consistently in the top five, nationwide, thanks to dazzling Advanced Placement exam scores.

Here at BASIS Chandler, in the first year of operation, our Upper School students obliterated the national and state averages on 2011 AP exams in U.S. Government, World History, and Psychology.

And the future looks bright, thanks to the hard work of our Lower School students and teachers who ranked first in the state on an array of last year's state AIMS exams.

What BASIS does not publicize though, are the successes that cannot be computed into a GPA. And as the Upper School teachers close their grade books today for the first trimester, I want to share three success stories that won't show up on any report cards next Friday.

I'm walking by a classroom Monday afternoon when a junior (11^th grader) stops me to say hello. She proceeds to share how she earned an 80% on her most recent AP Biology quiz. After we exchanged a moment of enthusiastic cheers, she further informed me that the key to this turn-around is her participation in the Peer Tutoring Science Network.

BASIS curriculum puts a heavy emphasis on science beginning at the sophomore level. 10^th graders are required to take one AP science and one honors science. Because the science teachers and I saw many students struggle with the AP/Honors double-dip, we called a meeting three weeks ago to address how to improve the situation.

The meeting spawned our Upper School Science Peer Tutoring Network. Each teacher recommended students with not only strong marks, but who demonstrate leadership qualities. I then asked those tutors to work with a student or two from class - once a week - to help improve study habits, cover content, and prepare for assessments.

I'm excited about the program because it's building a culture amongst the Upper School students. They're learning teamwork skills that will help them now plus in college and beyond.

And, based on the smile I saw in the hallway on that 11^th grader, I know we're making a difference.

I'm sitting in our office, working on an email, when I get a knock on the door from a freshman (9^th grader) I taught last year. I meet with this freshman once a week to strategize and work towards making improvements in his class as part of our Student Support program.

This 9^th grader, unfortunately, was failing AP Government at the mid-trimester point. Yet, to his credit, he stuck with it, scheduled appointments with his teacher - Mr. Hirsch - and most importantly, maintained a positive outlook.

When I raised my head from the email to see the face attached to the knock, I was expecting nothing less than good news from the student. Grinning ear-to-ear, he came to inform me he worked his grade all the way up from an F to a C+. We laughed, shared some congratulatory praise, and then exchanged a formal handshake before he ran off to another tutoring session. The self-confidence he earned by working to raise his grade in AP U.S. Government weighs more than any GPA.

I make an effort every day to walk through the cafeteria during the 9-11^th grade lunch period. Making my rounds earlier this week, I was heading back to our offices when I heard a 10^th grader - who had been struggling through her Honors Chemistry class -- call out my name. She asked me to come by her lunch table. As I approached, her smile and excitement mounted with each step.

"Mr. Smith, Mr. Smith! I earned a 100 on my Chem [Honors Chemistry] lab!"

Without hesitation, I extended my hand, upwards, to the student in anticipation of receiving a much-deserved high-five. What I was not expecting was the sting from the high-five to last through the next class period.

These are the moments that convince me BASIS Chandler's mission is working. These are the moments that demonstrate how BASIS culture is growing. These are the moments that make me appreciate the impact our teachers have on your sons and daughters. These are the moments that remind me of why I love this job.

Stepping Stones to College

BASIS Chandler is fully committed to ensuring that all graduating students attend four year colleges or universities. We have already begun the long process of working with your sons and daughters to prepare them for the road ahead. We know that it is vital to keep you, the parents, actively involved in this process, so we have arranged a series of presentations designed to help you understand the many stepping stones that you and your child will have to cross on the way to a successful college admission.

Mr. Matt Goetzfried, an admissions representative from Grand Canyon University, has generously volunteered to spend some time with you over the course of the next several months to help explain the college admissions process and answer all of your questions. We have arranged for several presentations which are listed below. These presentations are free and are open to everyone, regardless of whether you are considering attending Grand Canyon University or not. There will be sandwiches and soft drinks served compliments of Grand Canyon University.

Class: College Myths Exposed

Date/Time: November 8, 2012, 6:00-7:00 pm