

April 15-26

A. MacArthur Barr Mission Statement
Preparing and inspiring students to apply learning in a changing, complex and interdependent world.
Curriculum & Instruction
Read-Aloud Play
In ELA, students perform a read-aloud play named "The Rule Breaker," by Elise Broach. The play is about the amazing story of Althea Gibson, a star tennis player who fought an unfair world to make her dream come true.
Moving Up
8th grade students walk to the high school to meet their future guidance counselors and principals.
Collaboration
Media Center
Mrs. DeVita, our librarian and media specialist at Barr MS, articulates interesting facts about Mae C. Jemison, the first African American female to travel into space and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Albert Einstein.
One District/One Community
Students in 5th grade present their Save Our Water presentations to third grade students. Each 5th grader was partnered with a 3rd grader and after each 5th grader shared their presentation, the 3rd grade students had the opportunity to ask questions, discuss, write, or sketch what they learned on a bookmark.
Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics - (STEM)
Mr. Cotto and Officer Culianos perform an inertia experiment in front of the class.
Van de Graaff Generator
Students experiment with the Van de Graaff generator in Mrs. Wagner's Earth Science class. As well as making your hair stand on end, these machines were used to accelerate particles through millions of volts.
Abolitionist Movement Discussion
Students in Mrs. LoSardo's Global Studies class discuss the abolitionist movement and the role it played leading into the civil war.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs have be proven to reduce stress and foster a supportive environment more conducive to learning. In addition therapy dogs can boost attentiveness in class, help instill a sense of responsibility in students, increase social interaction and help to improve the moods of the students.
"Hula Huts"
Students in Physical Education play a game called "Hula Hut", where students try and throw balls into basketball hoops, goals, or at cones to earn a Hula Hoop. On each respective team, a student needs to stay inside of a "Hula Hut" at all times. Whichever team builds three "Huts" first, wins.
Milkweed Habitats
In Mrs. Taylor's class, students make milkweed habitats where they can make observations for the remainder of the year.
Mr. Garrison's Video and Production Class
Nanuet News - Friday, April 19 - Episode #21:
Nanuet News - Friday, April 26th - Episode #22:
Behind The Scenes
In Mr. Garrison's Video Production course, a production crew prepares for an interview with Mr. Arvanites.
Learning the Ukulele
The ukulele, also called a uke, is a member of the lute family of instruments of Portuguese origin and popularized in Hawaii.
Extra Curriculars & Adventures at Barr
Dr. Brady Reading To Students At A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
A veteran educator for over 35 years, Dr. Brady has served as Superintendent of Schools in several districts, including Westchester County's Dobbs Ferry, Hunterdon Central Regional High School and the South Hunterdon Regional High School in New Jersey. During her tenure in Dobbs Ferry, Dr. Brady successfully led the accreditation process for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) for grades 6-10 to connect with the District’s IB Diploma Program. A recipient of the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center Pioneer Award in 2012 for Technology Innovation, Dr. Brady was selected as a presenter at the New York State School Boards Association Conference in 2012, the National School Boards Association Conference in 2014 and the BrightBytes Technology Symposium in 2013.
Social Emotional Learning Day
For April's SEL Activity, grade 7 students created personal priority jars. The idea being that when you fill your time (your jar) up with your priorities first, you find you will still have time for extra curriculars, hobbies, and just some fun or relaxation.
Barr Has Talent
Students in grades 5 through 8 show off their talent on stage during their respective lunch periods.
Bulletin Boards
Students create themes and decorate bulletin boards with upcoming and pertinent information.
Homeroom Ambassador Presentations
Homeroom ambassadors discuss pertinent information relating to their respective homeroom classes.
Awards & Recognition
WordMasters Club
The students in the WordMasters club, advised by Ms. Langer, immerse themselves in enriching vocabulary activities and hone their skills in analogies regularly. The fifth graders consistently delivered outstanding performances throughout the year and the hard work and dedication of the sixth graders truly paid off with top spots, accolades, and awards in all categories.
5th Grade WordMasters
6th Grade WordMasters
String Fling and Jazz Fest
Talented student-musicians from grades 5 through 12 perform in the annual String Fling orchestra concert and Jazz Fest concert held at the high school.
Shout Out To The Career Day 2024 Organizers
During a faculty meeting after school, the organizing staff of Career Day explain what is to be expected on May 1st, when presenters from all career fields will present to our students.
New York Boulders Reading Challenge
This spring, A. MacArthur Barr Middle School had over 50 students in grades 5 – 8 participate in the Read for the New York Boulders Reading Challenge. Students recorded the number of minutes they spent reading outside of the school day over a three-week period to earn Boulders game tickets and other prizes. The students who read at least 1,300 minutes over the course of the 3 weeks earn the title of "Home Run Readers". Please see the picture and list of students who earned the title of "Home Run Readers" below: (Photo - Courtesy of Jonathan Clark)