The first year of BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan marks the beginning of a strong and vibrant school community that will continue to grow for years to come. From the early days of navigating a new space to the joyful milestones of learning and connection, the founding team laid the foundations for a culture rooted in purpose, collaboration, and care. Much like our students, who quickly grew from wide-eyed newcomers into confident “Rabbits,” the school found its rhythm and spirit. This inaugural year challenged and inspired in equal measure, showing us the power of a shared mission and the lasting impact of early childhood education done well. Below, our founding faculty reflect on what it meant to build this program from the ground up—and what they will carry forward from this incredible first year.
Tara McKenna
Founding Head of School
WOW, it’s the end of our inaugural year at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan!
As the founding head of BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan, I am profoundly grateful and proud of my team. From the outset, we set ambitious goals for ourselves, and as the year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable journey we have undertaken with immense team spirit.
This year, we assembled a diverse and talented team of early years educators hailing from various corners of the globe. Each member has confronted numerous challenges and celebrated triumphs that come with launching a new campus. Our ability to remain resilient, cultivate a positive mindset, and foster a united community has truly been our strength. I am firm in my belief that teaching is a vocation. Throughout this past year, we have seen our faculty’s unwavering drive, deep dedication, and passionate commitment to enhancing our students’ learning experiences and overall well-being. The vibrant new kindergarten, after the renovation, has not just changed physically, it has blossomed into a lively campus of activity, filled with a supportive and nurturing culture for all.
As we prepare to say farewell to our inaugural year, we celebrate our first graduating class, whose journey has been nothing short of unique, marked by profound learning and personal growth. With great excitement, we look forward to expanding our classes next year and welcoming new educators to our ever-growing team.
We have certainly accomplished a great deal, yet our horizon is full of possibilities, and there is so much more we aspire to achieve. The future is bright, and we are eager to continue this incredible journey…. Hop hop to the top… go go Rabbits!
Harriet Gordon
Subject Expert Teacher ECE Teacher
Our first year at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. As part of the inaugural team, I have had the unique opportunity to help shape the school’s culture whilst growing exponentially as an educator. There have been learning curves—adjusting to BASIS International & Bilingual Schools systems and the demands of a new campus—but the experience has been overwhelmingly positive.
What made this year so special was the BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan team, a group of the kindest and most supportive people I’ve ever worked with. Their friendliness and willingness to help created a warm and collaborative environment, which has kept me uplifted and motivated throughout the year. Despite the hard work, seeing the progress we’ve made—both in our students and as a school—has been deeply fulfilling. I’m proud of what we have accomplished and excited for the future of this beautiful campus!
Jennifer McDonald
Subject Expert Teacher ECE Teacher
Being part of the founding team at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan has been a truly special experience. While the year brought challenges, we faced them with positivity, teamwork, and a strong sense of purpose. It’s been an honor to help establish the inaugural Toddler program at BASIS International & Bilingual Schools, working with our youngest learners in a nurturing, play-based environment rooted in curiosity and care. I’ve felt proud to lay these early foundations alongside such a supportive, inspiring team. Our Toddler team has celebrated joyful moments, supported each other through every day, and built something we’re proud of. I’m incredibly grateful to have shared this first year with such inspiring educators, and I look forward to seeing our BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan community continue to grow in the future.
Kailey Dominguez
Art Teacher
The first year at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan has been a whirlwind of a year. On day one, it was evident that both students and teachers alike were feeling anxious and unfamiliar with the new space and faces. Fast forward to October, and the students who once held onto their parents during drop-off now excitedly rushed to welcome their homeroom teachers. Routines began to establish themselves, and classrooms slowly started to come alive with the children’s colorful creations and the narratives of their learning experiences. By the year’s end, we celebrated numerous wonderful and successful events, built lasting relationships with our students and families, and became a stronger, more resilient community.
This pivotal year has emphasized that exceptional early childhood education is not about achieving perfection but rather about fostering meaningful interactions, engaging in imaginative explorations, and making everyday discoveries. Through our hard work and efforts, we’ve established a strong foundation in our first year, and I’m incredibly proud of all we have achieved here as a team at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan!
Jessica (Jessi) Neff
SET Chair, ELL Coordinator
This whirlwind of a year—my first year in China and as part of the founding team at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan—was a journey of adjusting, adapting, shaping, and creating, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. It’s been a pleasure to witness the growth in our students. They’ve been forming friendships, overcoming language barriers, and creating connections with their teachers from different cultures.
The community on campus and around Shenzhen has been welcoming and supportive. Being here has not only kept me passionate about my involvement in Early Years, it has given me access to indoor and outdoor fitness events, from a 10K educational charity run to Spartan and DEKA competitions.
Nicolas Fish
Music Teacher/ Early Childhood Education
This founding year at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan has been truly special. It was a time of building not only a school but a culture and community. Like the children we teach, our school is in its early years. Where the foundations for lifelong growth and success are laid. All the things we accomplished in this first year will affect all the generations to come at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan. This founding year was about understanding who we are together. It was about learning, growing, and connecting with one another. Through all these meaningful interactions between the children, teachers, and families, we established our culture at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan. It has been a genuine joy to participate in this process from the very beginning. As we look ahead, I am excited to see how we will continue to grow and make a long-lasting impact on our students and families.
Conclusion
The first year at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan has been a meaningful start, marked by growth, connection, and care. Together, our school community has built a strong foundation. As we reflect on the challenges and successes of this inaugural year, we’re proud of the progress made and grateful for the people who made it possible. We look forward to continuing this journey and welcoming more students, families, and passionate educators in the years to come.
Watch the recording of our live webinar about teaching at BASIS Bilingual Kindergarten Nanshan on our YouTube channel.
For more information about teaching abroad with BASIS International Schools, visit our careers website.
