

February 24 - March 7

A. MacArthur Barr Mission Statement
Preparing and inspiring students to apply learning in a changing, complex, and interdependent world.
Curriculum & Instruction
Bohemian Rhapsody Coincidence
Bohemian Rhapsody, written and played by Queen, was one of the "name that tune" songs that Mr. Arvanites played at the beginning of announcements. After announcements, he left his office and unbeknownst to him, the Orchestra students were playing Bohemian Rhapsody in preparation for their upcoming Spring concert! See below:
Ms. Dougherty, Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. Peterson Can Always be Found Assisting Students in Their Room
Students work to strengthen vocabulary and reading skills using tools rooted in the Science of Reading.
Socratic Seminar Mini-Debate
Students in grade 7 ELA have a mini debate during a whole class Socratic Seminar on the short story, "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
As students analyze and critically discuss the story's themes, these brave students took center stage to debate the unresolved conflict of story. Using text evidence and peer support, the debate added to the energy and enthusiasm of the seminar.
Westward Movement
Students in 7th grade Social Studies classes began their unit on Westward Movement. Taking on the role of family members, they will read and analyze primary and secondary sources to gain a greater understanding of what Americans experienced on the Oregon Trail. Their findings will be displayed in a series of journal entries that focus on Manifest Destiny and the growth of our nation.
Extra Curriculars & Adventures at Barr
2nd Annual College and Career Day at A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
College and Career Day was an exciting event designed to inspire and guide students as they explore their future opportunities. It was a chance for students to engage with industry professionals and gain valuable insights into different career paths and academic programs.
Career Day Vision Boards
5th grade students create vision boards on career day after their presentations. A vision board is generally a collage of images and words representing your dreams and goals.
College and Career Door Contest Winners
1: Binghamton by Ms. Villafranco and Ms. Flanagan
2: Holy Cross by Ms. Dougherty
3: Mascot Match by Mr. Munroe
Student Council Spirit Events
Mrs. Taylor and the student council organize various school wide events such as spirit week and bowling night. Seen below:
The Wonder Girls Hit The Road with Dr. Feola
Rising Above Bakery was excited to collaborate with Wonder Girls to provide hands-on experience in a commercial kitchen. The girls made festive sugar cookies for Valentine's Day (Love Month). They were able to work alongside the bakers, mixing ingredients and using commercial equipment. They rolled out the dough, cut the cookies, and learned various decorating techniques. Each student got to take home two cookies to share with their loved ones at the end of their visit.
Boulders Reading Challenge
This year, our students will once again have the opportunity to participate in the Read for the New York Boulders Reading Challenge. This three-week program begins on Monday, March 3 and allows students to earn Boulders tickets and other prizes for reading outside of the school day.
The Boulders Reading Challenge concludes on March 23. Students should turn in their signed and completed reading logs to homeroom teachers no later than Wednesday, March 26.
Awards & Recognition
Congratulations to the Science Olympiad Team on Their Success
The A. MacArthur Barr Science Olympiad Team had their competition on Saturday March 1st and placed 3rd as a team! The individual event medals went to: (See picture and video below)
3rd place:
Paul Tompa & Jacob Chen for Air Trajectory
Timur Hamid, Spencer Vigilia & Jacob Chen for Codebusters
Paul Tompa, Jacob Chen & Timur Hamid for Experimental Design
Tommy Naudy & Jordan McKoy for Meteorology
Spencer Vigilia & Jacob Chen for Scrambler
2nd place:
Jacob Chen & Timur Hamid for Dynamic Planet
Garrett Ross & Paul Tompa for Potions & Poisons
Garrett Ross & Paul Tompa for Road Scholar
Tommy Naudy & Grace Guan for Write It, Do It
1st place:
Tommy Naudy & Jordan McKoy for Mission Possible
Fifth and Sixth Grade WordMasters Challenge Club Highlights and Achievements
The WordMasters Challenge is a national competition for students in grades 3-8 that encourages growth in vocabulary and verbal reasoning.
Fifth Grade Highlights:
Our 5th-grade participants have shown remarkable growth! Leading the pack is Alina Araujo, who achieved an outstanding score of 16 out of 20. Close behind, Robert Kahl and Vikneswar Venkatesan demonstrated exceptional skill, both scoring an impressive 15 out of 20. Ryan Scalise rounded out our top performers with a commendable 14 out of 20.
Sixth Grade Achievements:
The 6th-grade club has truly outdone themselves this time. Sonya Cantor and Eliana Pereira set the bar incredibly high, both scoring a near-perfect 19 out of 20! Lelani Ocampo showcased her prowess with a strong 14 out of 20, while Denisse Lema and Nicholas Pappalardi both secured solid scores of 12 out of 20. It's particularly gratifying to see how well they've built upon the foundation laid in last year's club.
In the words of Ms. Langer: These results are a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of our students. Their eagerness to tackle new challenges and push their boundaries is truly inspiring. As we look ahead, the students are already gearing up for future meets, ready to take on whatever comes their way.
The Importance of Organization
Zoe Henegan recognizes the importance of being organized and has created her own system, using color-coded Post-it notes to keep her notebook organized.
Officer Culianos is Everywhere
Officer Culianos is quick to join a class and make connections with all students as seen below in ELA and Art class.
Community Events & Outreach
Penguin Plunge - Nanuet Knights
The Nanuet Knights Penguin Plunge Team raised $925 to help local families offset the cost of astronomically high medical costs that are associated with caring for a seriously ill child. Students and faculty plunged into the icy Hudson to raise awareness for this great cause.
Girls Rock STEAM at Nanuet High School Registration Now Open
Don't miss this event - See flyer below for details!
Tri-State Engineering Expo
On Sunday, March 30, 2025, the Tri-State Engineering Expo will present the 20th annual Engineering EXPO, to educate regional high school and middle school students about engineering as a career. Last year we saw attendance over 2,000 students, 40 colleges, and 50 engineering or technology-based businesses and societies.
The details are as follows:
Location: White Plains High School
550 North Street
White Plains, NY 10605
Time: 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM