Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We hope that your family had a relaxing and joyful summer break. As we embark on this new learning adventure together, we pledge to students and parents that this will be a highly engaging and memorable year for our Barley Sheaf students.
We had a busy summer at Barley Sheaf! Our staff have been attending professional development workshops, presenting at conferences, serving on curriculum committees, and reading professional literature to strengthen their teaching practice. We have also been preparing to open our first preschool section. Please join us in welcoming our new Preschool Penguins to our school community!
We look forward to partnering with you in your child's educational journey. Please be sure to read our monthly family newsletters throughout the year as they contain important information about school news, events, celebrations and more! Our annual Ice Cream Social on Friday, September 13 is a great way to meet many of our families and staff. We look forward to welcoming parents into classrooms on Thursday, September 19 for Back to School Night.
We are excited to open our doors for students on Thursday, September 5! We look forward to a fantastic year ahead and appreciate your continued support.
With great appreciation,
Amy Switkes, Principal
Kimberly Bostory, Vice Principal
Please enjoy our Welcome Back Video with helpful information for parents, as well as a special read aloud with Mrs. Switkes and Ms. Bostory for our students! Our partners at goHunterdon have also shared a video about bicycle and pedestrian safety!
At Barley Sheaf, we value consistent attendance. We encourage you to review the information linked below from Attendance Works to learn how daily attendance can positively impact your child's growth and success.
- Visitors must be signed in and wear a visitor badge in the building.
- Our school district uses the Raptor system for school visitors. Please have your license available when visiting school.
- Do not hold any doors for visitors.
- Only staff and students are permitted on school grounds during school hours.
- Monthly fire and security drills are conducted.
- We have a full time School Resource Officer, Officer John Carney.
- Use the crosswalks in the parking lot.
- Obey the 15 mph speed limit in our parking lot.
Buses and Vans
- Please ensure that your child knows his/her bus number. Each morning, buses and vans will park and unload our PreK‐4 students on the side of the building. Upon arrival, students will be greeted by staff members and enter the building through the designated entrances.
Parent Drop-off
- Students may be dropped off in front of the school from 8:30-8:50 a.m. along the front sidewalk. When driving your child to school, please enter by turning right into the first school driveway on Barley Sheaf Road. For safety reasons, cars may not make a left turn to enter school grounds during arrival and dismissal.
- Students should exit the car on the school side of the vehicle in order to ensure student safety. All students will walk along the front sidewalk and enter the school through the main entrance.
- Always remember to stay in line when dropping students off in front of the building. Cars may not drive into the back parking lot of the school after 8:25 a.m. If you plan to walk your child to the front door, you must park in the south visitor parking lot (in front of the playground patio) and cross at the crosswalk to the main entrance.
Walkers
- Walkers should enter the building through the main entrance. Staff will be on duty to monitor the crosswalks. Please review this letter for more information on student walkers.
Buses and Vans
- Students riding buses and vans will be called for dismissal to the gym. Please ensure that your child knows their bus number. Staff members will be available to assist students and ensure they locate and board the correct bus.
Walkers and Parent Pick-Up
- Parents/guardians may enter the driveway beginning at 3:15 p.m.
- Both walkers and students for parent pick up will be dismissed from the front entrance. When picking your child up from school, please enter by turning right into the first school driveway on Barley Sheaf Road. For safety reasons, cars may not make a left turn to enter school grounds during arrival and dismissal.
- Please display your family car tag and follow the directions given by staff on duty. Click here to request a family car tag. Children will be called to the front foyer as parents arrive, and staff will assist with loading students into your vehicle.
- Parents must stay in their cars at all times and remain in the car line unless directed to proceed by a staff member. Pick up will start at 3:25 p.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.
- If you wish to skip the line and walk up to get your child, you must park in the south visitor parking lot (in front of the playground patio) and cross at the crosswalk to the main entrance.
Preschool Pick-Up:
- All preschool students have an assigned bus. Parents are required to get on the bus to buckle in children in the morning. In the afternoon, the Preschool Teacher or Preschool Teacher Assistant will buckle students for the bus ride home.
- Preschool parents will join the regular car line if picking your child up from school. Preschool parents may also choose to park in the south visitor lot (in front of the playground patio) and cross at the crosswalk to the main entrance.
We are thrilled to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month at Barley Sheaf. We recognize and celebrate the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. We have a special display in our library and a read aloud with Mrs. Switkes and Ms. Bostory, Alma and How She Got Her Name, by Juana Martinez-Neal.
Families, please review this introduction letter from our School Counselors, Mrs. Collins and Ms. Coates. They also include helpful Back to School Tips to prepare your child for school!
Barley Sheaf is excited to welcome back our therapy dog, Stuart Little! Please review this informational letter with Stuart's credentials from Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. Stuart will visit with students in small groups, 1:1 settings, and in classrooms. If you wish to opt your child out of visits with Stuart Little, please complete this form.
Your child may qualify for no-cost meals through the Working-Class Families Anti-Hunger Act. You can complete your application here. Please note, you must complete a new application for every school year.