Bellevue is set to have a new private school that will begin class in 2022.
The BASIS Independent Bellevue school will begin by offering enrollment to roughly 100 students in grades 3 through 7 but plans to eventually become a school for about 450 students in grade 5 through 12, according to the head of the new school, Elizabeth Thies.
Thies said one of the learning strategies that makes BASIS Independent Bellevue unique, is by utilizing a two-teacher model in classrooms and laboratories. She said every class will have a teacher who is a general learning expert. This teacher will follow the class as they go to lessons with specialized teachers who are considered an expert in the subject they are teaching.
Thies says this technique allows for a “dynamic” learning environment in which the general learning expert teacher can help students they are familiar with by adjusting lessons in collaboration with the subject expert in order to accommodate the learning styles of students in respective classes.
The subject expert teachers are going to be hired based on their real-life experience and background with the subject they will teach, according to Thies.`She said it is important for teachers to be passionate about what they are teaching so as to inspire interest and passion among students.
Thies said she expects to hire about 20-25 subject expert teachers per grade.
The building is not yet constructed, but Thies said classrooms will be able to offer flexibility in their learning environment and lab spaces will be brand new and unique.
The building will also have a gym and a field centered in the middle of campus. The school will offer a handful of recreational sports, which Thies said will help build the community around the school outside of just the classroom.
Thies said BASIS Independent Bellevue will be a college prep school with the goal of 100 percent college acceptance rate among its students, with a focus on getting students into the “right” college for them.
Those interested in applying for enrollment can visit their website here: bellevue.basisindependent.com.
