Raising the Barr Newsletter
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
News & Announcements
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NYSED Math Assessment & Important Updates/Reminders
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This is a busy time of year so I wanted to reach out with some updates and reminders.
UPDATES
Below is some information regarding administration of the Spring 2024 NYSED Math Assessments at A. MacArthur Barr Middle School. Grades 5 and 8 will be taking a computer-based assessment, so it is imperative they bring fully charged Chromebooks to school. Grades 6 and 7 will be taking a paper-based assessment.
Grade 5: Monday, May 6th and Tuesday, May 7th (Computer-based testing)
All 5th grade students must bring a fully charged Chromebook to school.
Grade 6: Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9th (Paper-based testing)
6th grade students will need to bring at least two (#2) sharpened pencils. In addition, students will use a standard four function calculator for Day 2 of the assessment.
Grade 7: Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9th (Paper-based testing)
7th grade students will need to bring at least two (#2) sharpened pencils. In addition, students will use a scientific calculator for Day 1 and Day 2 of the assessment.
Grade 8: Wednesday, May 8th and Thursday, May 9th (Computer-based testing)
All 8th grade students must bring a fully charged Chromebook to school.
We anticipate resuming our regular instruction schedule by approximately 9:45 AM.
Note: Grade 8 students enrolled in Algebra should come to school at their regular time (7:37 am) for Regents preparation and instruction.
As a reminder, no electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, are permitted in testing locations.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about the upcoming NYSED assessments.
REMINDERS
As the weather gets warmer, it is a good time for students, and their parents/guardians, to revisit the Dress Code, which can be found on pages 8 and 9 in the Academic Planner which was provided to each student in September.
Student athletes are expected to bring their equipment to school each morning, where it should be placed it in the locker room, before heading upstairs for homeroom. Parents who are dropping off equipment should do that after school, after 2:45, which is when our buses have safely left the bus loading area. Due to space and safety reasons, we cannot use the security vestibule to store athletic equipment dropped off during the day.
Looking ahead, please be sure to visit our school website, where we will post updates about the many events coming up these last few months of school. In addition, we encourage you to read our “Raising the Barr” newsletter, which you will find on our home page.
Sincerely,
Michelle O’Sullivan
Principal, A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
Estimados padres/tutores,
Esta es una época del año muy ocupada, así que quería enviarles algunas actualizaciones y recordatorios.
ACTUALIZACIONES
A continuación se muestra información sobre la administración de las evaluaciones de matemáticas del NYSED de primavera de 2024 en la escuela secundaria A. MacArthur Barr. Los grados 5 y 8 tomarán una evaluación por computadora, por lo que es imperativo que traigan Chromebooks completamente cargados a la escuela. Los grados 6 y 7 tomarán una evaluación en papel.
Grado 5: lunes 6 de mayo y martes 7 de mayo (exámenes por computadora)
Todos los estudiantes de quinto grado deben traer un Chromebook completamente cargado a la escuela.
Grado 6: miércoles 8 y jueves 9 de mayo (exámenes en papel)
Los estudiantes de sexto grado deberán traer al menos dos (#2) lápices afilados. Además, los estudiantes utilizarán una calculadora estándar de cuatro funciones para el día 2 de la evaluación.
Grado 7: miércoles 8 y jueves 9 de mayo (exámenes en papel)
Los estudiantes de séptimo grado deberán traer al menos dos (#2) lápices afilados. Además, los estudiantes utilizarán una calculadora científica para el día 1 y el día 2 de la evaluación.
Grado 8: miércoles 8 y jueves 9 de mayo (exámenes por computadora)
Todos los estudiantes de octavo grado deben traer un Chromebook completamente cargado a la escuela.
Anticipamos reanudar nuestro horario de instrucción regular aproximadamente a las 9:45 a.m.
Nota: Los estudiantes de octavo grado matriculados en Álgebra deben venir a la escuela a su horario habitual (7:37 am) para la preparación e instrucción de los Regents.
Como recordatorio, no se permiten dispositivos electrónicos, incluidos teléfonos celulares y relojes inteligentes, en los lugares de prueba.
No dude en contactarnos si tiene preguntas sobre las próximas evaluaciones del NYSED.
RECORDATORIOS
A medida que el clima se vuelve más cálido, es un buen momento para que los estudiantes y sus padres/tutores revisen el Código de vestimenta, que se puede encontrar en las páginas 8 y 9 del Planificador académico que se entregó a cada estudiante en septiembre.
Se espera que los estudiantes atletas traigan su equipo a la escuela cada mañana, donde deben colocarlo en el vestuario, antes de subir al salón principal. Los padres que dejen el equipo deben hacerlo después de la escuela, después de las 2:45, que es cuando nuestros autobuses han abandonado de manera segura el área de carga de autobuses. Por razones de espacio y seguridad, no podemos usar el vestíbulo de seguridad para guardar el equipo deportivo que se deja durante el día.
De cara al futuro, asegúrese de visitar el sitio web de nuestra escuela, donde publicaremos actualizaciones sobre los muchos eventos que se avecinan en estos últimos meses de clases. Además, le recomendamos que lea nuestro boletín informativo "Raising the Barr", que encontrará en nuestra página de inicio.
Atentamente,
Michelle O'Sullivan
Director, Escuela Secundaria A. MacArthur Barr
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
Internet Safety Presentation For Parents
May 15, 2024
7:00 - 8:30 PM (Zoom)
KEYNOTE SPEAKER THOMAS ROIDL
See Link & Flyer Below for Registration Info
Hosted by PNW BOCES
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
Message from Dr. Brady regarding 2024 State Testing
March 25, 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science Tests will be administered to students over the next several months. These tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction. This year New York is requiring some grade levels to take the test on computers. Because of the computer based testing, grade levels will test on different days. You will find testing date information below by grade level.
New York State is required by federal law to administer mathematics and ELA (English Language Arts) assessments to every public school student in grades 3-8. School districts, including Nanuet UFSD, have been negatively affected when students did not participate in the NYS Grades 3-8 ELA, Mathematics and Science Assessments. If 95% of students do not take the New York State assessments for Nanuet UFSD, the district risks being sanctioned or labeled a school in need of improvement. If a student refuses to participate in the assessments, it is coded as a refusal and reported in this manner to New York State.
New York State has worked to improve the assessments over the past several years. This includes no time limit, more questions written by classroom teachers, and improved reports for parents. You can read about all of these improvements on the New York State Department of Education website.
The tests are designed to provide a snapshot of your student’s abilities. There is not one test that can accurately reflect your child’s potential or current level. The data generated from these assessments assists in identifying areas of growth and success for each individual student. A student that refuses to participate in the state assessments will be missing a data point used when scheduling students for courses needed for support or enrichment, such as academic support and honors courses.
Please feel free to speak with your child’s teacher about any questions or concerns you may have.
If your student is refusing to take the state assessment, please let the school know by Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Lisa Brady, Ed.D.
Superintendent
25 de marzo de 2024
Queridos padres y guardianes,
Los exámenes de artes del lenguaje inglés (ELA), matemáticas y ciencias del estado de Nueva York para los grados 3 a 8 se administrarán a los estudiantes durante los próximos meses. Estas pruebas están diseñadas para medir qué tan bien los estudiantes dominan los estándares de aprendizaje que guían la instrucción en el aula. Este año, Nueva York exige que algunos niveles de grado tomen el examen en computadoras. Debido a las pruebas basadas en computadora, los niveles de grado se evaluarán en días diferentes. Encontrará información sobre la fecha de los exámenes a continuación por nivel de grado.
La ley federal exige que el estado de Nueva York administre evaluaciones de matemáticas y ELA (artes del lenguaje inglés) a todos los estudiantes de escuelas públicas en los grados 3 a 8. Los distritos escolares, incluido Nanuet UFSD, se han visto afectados negativamente cuando los estudiantes no participaron en las evaluaciones de ELA, Matemáticas y Ciencias de los grados 3 a 8 del Estado de Nueva York. Si el 95% de los estudiantes no toman las evaluaciones del estado de Nueva York para Nanuet UFSD, el distrito corre el riesgo de ser sancionado o etiquetado como una escuela que necesita mejoras. Si un estudiante se niega a participar en las evaluaciones, se codifica como rechazo y se informa de esta manera al Estado de Nueva York.
El estado de Nueva York ha trabajado para mejorar las evaluaciones durante los últimos años. Esto incluye sin límite de tiempo, más preguntas escritas por los maestros e informes mejorados para los padres. Puede leer sobre todas estas mejoras en el sitio web del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York.
Las pruebas están diseñadas para proporcionar una instantánea de las habilidades de su estudiante. No existe una prueba que pueda reflejar con precisión el nivel potencial o actual de su hijo. Los datos generados a partir de estas evaluaciones ayudan a identificar áreas de crecimiento y éxito para cada estudiante individual. A un estudiante que se niegue a participar en las evaluaciones estatales le faltará un punto de datos utilizado al programar a los estudiantes para cursos necesarios para apoyo o enriquecimiento, como apoyo académico y cursos de honores.
No dude en hablar con el maestro de su hijo sobre cualquier pregunta o inquietud que pueda tener.
Si su estudiante se niega a realizar la evaluación estatal, infórmeselo a la escuela antes del jueves 28 de marzo de 2024.
Gracias por su asistencia.
Atentamente,
Lisa Brady, Ed.D.
Superintendente
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
A. MacArthur Barr Goals Update Presentation to the BOE on March 12, 2024
We are proud of the teaching, learning and relationship building happening at Barr this year! We welcome you to view the presentation we shared at the March 12, 2024 Board of Education meeting, by clicking this link. We also welcome your feedback, which can be entered by clicking this link, which will take you to a Google Form.
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
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Take a virtual tour of A.MacArthur Barr Middle School!
Music teacher, Mr. Josh Emmanual, worked with the student video production club to create a brief school tour of A.MacArthur Barr, with the goal of helping new students get an advance look at the their new school! Click HERE to enjoy the video!
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
News from the Nurse
In the event your child shows signs and symptoms of illness, we ask that you keep them home and notify our attendance secretary, Daniella Ng, at 627-4420 to report the absence.
If your child or a family member tests positive for COVID, please contact our School Nurse Giovanna Conklin, R.N, directly at 627-4041.
As a reminder, students will be marked unexcused late to class unless the reason for their late arrival is directly due to a bus arriving late or another unavoidable scenario such as documented appointment, weather, or traffic issue outside of our drop-off line. Students arriving late to school must report to the attendance office for a pass before heading to class.
The following procedures are in place at this time:
- Unexcused lateness will result in consequences as follows:
- First late: verbal reminder from attendance office
- Second late: verbal reminder and phone call to parent from attendance office*
- Third late: letter sent home and after school detention
- Cycle begins again but phone call from AP* or principal*
- If a child is not present in school, they will be marked absent. Please call the attendance secretary, Daniella Ng, at 627-4420 to inform her of the absence. If your child is absent due to a vetted COVID-related situation, a daily call is not necessary.
- Students missing class can keep up with their coursework by visiting Schoology and contacting each teacher individual for course-specific information.
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School - Unexcused lateness will result in consequences as follows:
Upcoming Barr Events [CLICK CALENDAR BUTTON] ===>
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High School Library
Board Meeting
Nanuet Union Free School District -
District-Wide Spirit Day
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
High School Library
Board Meeting
Nanuet Union Free School District -
Barr Incoming Grade 5 Parent Orientation
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
Grades 7 & 8 Spring Concert
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
Welcome
At A. MacArthur Barr, our students are surrounded by passionate educators who prioritize safety, communication, collaboration, inclusivity and shared accountability. We are committed to building relationships and providing the highest level of education through engaging, relevant and rigorous learning opportunities. We understand the importance of our students developing the knowledge, 21st century skills, social emotional skills and character traits necessary to be successful members of our thriving community. Our professional learning, planning and instruction is rooted deeply in the district's mission statement, which is to prepare and inspire students to apply learning in a changing, complex, and interdependent world. Our school, along with the district, has undergone many changes since the original one room school house was built in 1806. However, our strong sense of community and our dedication to the individual learning journey of each student remains at the heart of what we do!
This school year brings many new exciting learning opportunities and challenges. By recognizing the talents, interests, and goals of our students and staff, we work each day to build on our strengths, while also collaborating to achieve our goals. As part of our commitment to growth and forward momentum, we regularly ask ourselves what each opportunity and challenge can teach us as individuals as well as a school community. Your feedback, as our collaborative partners, is valuable to this process.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's teachers or the main office, at 845 627-4040.
Warm regards,
Michelle O'Sullivan, Principal
Khris Arvanites, Assistant Principal
Latoya Oates, Assistant Principal
Raising The Barr Newsletter
