Preparing and inspiring students to apply learning in a changing, complex, and interdependent world.

We hope you had a fantastic summer and are ready for another exciting year of learning and growth. To all the students, we hope you’re feeling refreshed and eager to dive into your classes, make new friends, and explore new interests. And to the staff, we know you’ve been working hard to prepare for the year ahead, and we are excited for the positive impact you’ll have on your students. Here’s to a great year filled with discovery, success, and fun!

Students start the year with hypothesizing what they think will happen to the temperature of vinegar when it reacts with baking soda, calcium chloride with water and baking soda with water. Once hypotheses are made, students perform the experiments, observe reactions and record data. Students graph their findings and identify if there are direct, indirect, cyclic or no relationships when analyzing data.

In this activity, students dissected owl pellets and reconstruct the skeletons of animals inside to discover what the owls have been eating. When you first see an owl pellet, you will probably think that it is feces, but this pellet has been regurgitated from the other end, the owl's beak. Owls are predators and usually swallow/eat their prey whole, or at least in large chunks complete with bones, fur, and feathers. Prey species can include rodents, insects, lizards, rabbits, bats, snakes & birds, to name a few. In the owl's stomach, the soft matter is digested, but the fur and bones are regurgitated back out through the mouth in a little package, or pellet. As you can see below, our students reconstructed the owls meal of choice.

8th grade students in Mr. Emanuel’s music class are writing and recording their own original songs. Using professional tools and software, students are learning how to express themselves in a way that is personally and musically meaningful.

In Mrs. Sanchez's Spanish class, students get into pairs and stand across from one another in two lines. Each student has a piece of paper with a question or phrase on it in Spanish. Example: Buenos dias- the other student responds to the phrase with either hola or buenos dias then the moves on to the next classmate to chat. One line of students moves down the line until everyone has ask/ responded to several questions. If the student doesn’t know how to respond. The other student helps him/her with the answer. By the end of the activity, the students have had several conversations in Spanish.

Our redesigned meaningful outdoor nature space for students is a vibrant, tranquil haven that fosters both learning and reflection. Here, students can explore the wonders of local ecosystems firsthand where the natural world becomes an interactive classroom, offering hands-on experiences with biodiversity and environmental stewardship. The Mindful Garden/courtyard space not only enhances scientific understanding but also provides a peaceful retreat for mental rejuvenation, encouraging creativity and deeper connection with the natural world. Such an environment nurtures curiosity, inspires learning, and promotes well-being, making it an invaluable resource for all students and staff.

A. MacArthur Barr's main office secretarial staff from left to right: Mrs. D'Adamo, Mrs. Rooney and Mrs. Rocco. Their ability to juggle various tasks while maintaining a friendly and professional demeanor is key to creating a positive work environment here at Barr. The main office can be contacted at 845-627-4040.

Mrs. Ng is our attendance leader here at A. MacArthur Barr Middle School and in our school she plays a crucial role in maintaining accurate records of student attendance. Please remember that students need to be in first period by 7:39 AM. If you need to contact the attendance office please call Mrs. Ng at 845-627-4420.

Our middle school guidance counselors and guidance staff play a crucial role in supporting students as they navigate a transitional period in their lives. Their responsibilities typically include academic support, emotional and social support, career exploration, personal development, crisis intervention, family engagement and coordinating with teachers and staff. Overall, middle school guidance counselors aim to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that helps students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. From left to right is Mrs. Kresback, the guidance office secretary, Mr. Arena, guidance counselor for students with last names starting with the letters A-L, and Mrs. Heim, guidance counselor for students with last names starting with the letter M-Z. The guidance office can be reached at 845-627-4050.

Our school nurse, Mrs. Conklin, plays a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of all students. She handles everything from treating minor injuries and illnesses to managing chronic conditions and providing first aid. The nurse's office can be reached at 845-627-4041.

From left to right is Mr. Koester, Mr. Nonnon and Officer Culianos. Mr. Koester and Mr. Nonnon are retired NYC police officers and now our dedicated full time security guards. Officer Culianos, a Clarkstown police officer, is A. MacArthur Barr's full time School Resource Officer and DARE instructor.

Our fifth grade back-to-school picnic was a fantastic blend of fun and community spirit! Families came together for an exciting scavenger hunt that encouraged mingling and teamwork, helping everyone get to know each other better. Funded by the PTA, a lively DJ spun great tunes and the atmosphere was filled with joy and energy. Kids and adults alike enjoyed a variety of fun events, making it a memorable day full of laughter and new connections as we kicked off the school year together. Thank you to the fifth grade teachers who came out and the PTA who provided refreshments and snacks for everyone. Please join the PTA below!

United, students and staff participated in a moment of silence, informational announcements, and classroom lessons in remembrance of the horrific events which occurred on 9/11/2001.