Many area students enjoyed a break from school over spring vacation, but BASIS Independent McLean (BIM) French students decided to take their break in Senegal, far from their classroom, but still deeply immersed in an enriching, educational experience of a lifetime. World travel is an optional opportunity for BIM students looking to take their education outside their textbooks and familiar settings. Senegal not only gave French students an immersive environment in the French language, but also provided them a new cultural and societal viewpoint of life outside of McLean, Va. For more information on the school, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

Katie Merritt, age 9 of Reston, Va and Gabriel Galdabini, age 7 of Arlington, Va. won LearningRx’s Brain Awareness Month’s March Madness Competition at its Reston and Vienna centers, respectively. The March Madness brain competition required all competitors to complete a circuit of five brain training activities as quickly as possible (with accuracy). Merritt held the winning time at LearningRx Reston at 2 minutes and 7 seconds, while Galdabini won with 4 minutes and 25 seconds LearningRx Vienna. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

Merrit and Galdabini received a basket full of brain training games and brain-healthy snacks, including: 5 Second Rule, Set, Spot It, Distraction and Apples to Apples, dark chocolate-covered blueberries and nut mix.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc.’s Northern Virginia Chapter conducted a Reading & Writing Symposium recently at BASIS Independent McLean in McLean, Va. facilitated by an Emmy-award winning journalist, distinguished authors, celebrated teachers and a gifted illustrator, to encourage pre-school through high school students to develop an appreciation for the art of writing and illustration through engaging, interactive activities. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.