Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
We are six months into our first year together, and it has been a fantastic year so far! Your children have been working feverishly, the 6th and 7th graders have finished their pre-comps, and preparations are underway for the AIMS and AP exams. We have a packed schedule for the spring in terms of academics, performances, and social activities.
Working as the School Director has been a terrific experience! I have enjoyed my interactions with BASIS students and their families, and have been able to observe the rapid growth and transformation of our kids. Despite the occasional challenges, our students' transition to BASIS has been smooth; we are pleased with the results.
After the announcement of Mr. Houser's departure, several students approached me wondering who might be the next School Director. They begged and cajoled, but I could not disclose the answer. Nonetheless, most of them guessed correctly. I am happy to report that Bonnie Chatterjee, who was--until today--the assistant to the Head of Operations, will step into the role of School Director.
To give you some background, Ms. Chatterjee joined BASIS two years ago after enrolling her child at BASIS Peoria during their inaugural year. She took a position as Late Bird Coordinator at Peoria and then, last year, she made the transition to BASIS Phoenix with Mr. Houser, Mrs. DeLisa, and me. She is a graduate of Kolkata University and Arizona Christian University. Before moving to Arizona, Ms. Chatterjee taught for over ten years and then worked in educational administration in India. Since moving to Phoenix, she has worked for several non-profit organizations. She is committed to the BASIS vision of helping students excel and become internationally competitive. She is firm, fair, and has wonderfully high expectations of our students. Please join me in welcoming her to her new position!
And if you have stopped by the front office recently, you may have noticed two new staff members, Jelena Stankovic and Astin Phillips. These individuals will manage the front office so that Mirjana Danilovic can focus on her new position as assistant to the Head of Operations.
As we continue to grow as a school and community, we remain committed to high academic expectations and a personal approach to education. As I begin my work as Head of School at BASIS Phoenix, I want to remind you that in order to be true to our reputation as one of the most rigorous public school systems in the nation, we must continue to attract, retain, and reward the best teachers. To do this, we need your support to supplement the public funds we receive. Many of you have given generously already, but in the coming weeks, you will hear again about our Annual Teacher Fund; I ask that you consider contributing to support our teachers. We must together ensure that our students have the very best teachers, who challenge them to think critically, who nurture their academic curiosity, and who instill in them a love of learning.
Thank you for your continued support. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Petra Pajtás
Head of School
