Nanuet Public Library Closed Today, April 24th
The Nanuet Public Library will be closed today, Thursday, April 24th.
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
News & Announcements
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Barr State Assessment Information
March 24, 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science assessments will be administered to students over the next several months. These assessments are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction and are a valuable tool to help ensure students have the support needed to be successful. New York State has worked to improve the assessments over the past several years. The improvements include 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.
Since we will be participating in computer based testing, grade levels will test on different days. You will find testing date information below, by grade level.
*We will run a regular 7:39 am - 2:32 pm schedule on all testing days.
*We will run a regular 7:39 am - 2:32 pm schedule on all testing days
5th grade
ELA - Tuesday, April 8th and Wednesday, April 9th
Math - Tuesday, May 6th and Wednesday, May 7th
Science - Wednesday, May 14th
6th grade
ELA - Tuesday, April 8th and Wednesday, April 9th
Math - Tuesday, May 6th and Wednesday, May 7th
7th grade
ELA - Thursday, April 10th and Friday, April 11th
Math - Thursday, May 8th and Friday, May 9th
8th grade
ELA -Thursday, April 10th and Friday, April 11th
Math - Thursday, May 8th and Friday, May 9th
Science - Wednesday, May 14th
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. The data generated from these assessments assists in identifying areas of growth and success for each individual student. A student who refuses to participate in the state assessments will be missing a data point used when planning to schedule academic support and honors courses.
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. These tests are not tied to student grades on the report card. We ask that families please have their children participate in these assessments and encourage them to do their best. If a student refuses to participate in the assessments, it is coded as a refusal and reported in this manner to New York State.
Please feel free to speak with your child’s teacher about any questions or concerns you may have.
If you are refusing to have your child(ren) take the state assessment(s), please let the school know, in writing, no later than March 31, 2025. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE OR DAY OF TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THIS HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SCHEDULING.
Michelle O'Sullivan
Principal, A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
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Raising the Barr Newsletter - MOST CURRENT EDITION
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
New Communication System Parent Square
The district has moved to a new communication system, called Parent Square, to send alerts out to parents, guardians and the community. Follow this video to set notification and language settings in the app or website. The Parent Square app can be downloaded from your app store. Note: The Parent Square system is synched with our eschool system, so it is VERY IMPORTANT you notify the district if you have had any changes in address, phone numbers or primary/emergency contacts.
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A MacArthur Barr Book Discussion Club for Parents/Guardians
Join Us for our Barr Book Discussion Club
Have you noticed your children spend more time looking at their phone than talking with you?
Do they choose to play online games or scroll on digital devices instead of talking or participating in outside activities?
Do they seem to have a short attention span or have difficulty with organization and task completion?
Do they seem moody when they are unable to access their technology devices?
Did you answer yes to any of these questions? If so, you are not alone!
Jonathan Haidt, the author of The Anxious Generation, wrote a whole book about some of these shared concerns. His book covers important information including the impact of smartphones on a child’s development, how technology has changed the concept of “play” and what all these mean to our growing children.
We are hosting an informal book/discussion club where we will get together a few times to explore excerpts from this book, discuss how technology is affecting our children and their lives, and learn about the recommended four steps we can try at home to help our children and ourselves, while also developing healthier relationships with each other and technology.
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School -
Home Access Information
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News from Food Services - BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MEALS
Families,
All students need healthy meals to learn! The Nanuet School District offers healthy meals (both breakfast and lunch) every school day. All students are eligible for ONE breakfast meal and ONE LUNCH meal per day. A second breakfast can be purchased @ $1.65 and a second lunch can be purchased @ $3.00. Assorted choice of milk is included in breakfast and lunch meals; water must be PURCHASED separately, see monthly menu for a la carte item prices.
Families are encouraged to complete the 2024-2025 Household Income Eligibility form. To apply, please complete this form found in the summer packet (these forms are mailed home prior to the first week of school) or online in the Food Service Department section of the district’s website.
These forms have benefits beyond free meals. The forms might allow eligible families to have the following:
-Fee Waivers for SATS & ACTS
-Fee Waivers for College Application
These forms also allow the district to apply for grants and classroom resources.
Upon completion, please return the form to:
-The main office of your child’s school
-Or mail to:
Ms. MaryAnn Gregor, Food Service Director
Nanuet School District
101 Church Street
Nanuet, NY 10954
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Staff Contact Information on Website
The link to the Faculty and Staff directory, located on the bottom of the school web page, is currently not active. If you need to contact a staff member, please call the main office at 627-4047 and we will be happy to provide you with assistance.
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A. MacArthur Barr 2024-2025 Goals and Priorities Update Slides
On March 11, 2025, the Barr team presented an update to the BOE, specific to the goals and priorities of the 2024-2025 year. Our focus this year centered around communication and being literate across content areas, which are two specific areas found within the Portrait of a Graduate profile. Click the link below to view the presentation slides. You will also find a link on the last slide which takes you to a feedback form, which will be live until March 30, 2025. We hope you enjoy the glimpse into some of high quality teaching and learning taking place at Barr!
2024-2025 Barr Goals and Priorities Presentation at the 3/11/24 BOE meeting
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2024-2025 A MacArthur Barr Clubs Listing
Clubs for the 2024-2025 school year are in session! Please see the Clubs document below and check our Upcoming Events bulletin board just off the main lobby for more information. Students can join a club at any time during the year. A club is a great way to make new friends or explore an interest.
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
Upcoming Barr Events [CLICK CALENDAR BUTTON] ===>
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Stringfest/NHS 7:30pm
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Board of Education Meeting HS 7:30
Nanuet Union Free School District -
Barr and NHS Jazz Knight @ NHS 7:30pm
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DISTRICT WIDE SPIRIT DAY!
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K - 12 Art Show/NHS
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Grades 5-6 NYS Math Tests
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Board of Education Meeting HS 7:30
Nanuet Union Free School District -
Barr - Incoming Grade 5 Parent Orientation 6:30-7:30pm
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Barr PTA Meeting 7:30pm
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Grades 7-8 NYS Math Tests
A. MacArthur Barr Middle School
Message from Principal O'Sullivan
Dear Barr Middle School Families,
Spring is finally in the air! It is a pleasure to walk into our courtyard and hear the waterfall running and see the fish swimming in our pond. As we near the end of the 3rd quarter, it is a good time to check in on goals and set some new ones for the 4th quarter, which begins on April 22, 2025.
Setting Goals is a great way to start the new quarter!
- Academic - Where do you want to strengthen your learning? What steps do you need to take to help yourself? How can you connect with your teachers or guidance counselor to help you with your plan?
- Organizational - Do you keep your locker and folders organized so you can easily access all your materials? Do you use your planner to log assignments and due dates? What steps do you need to take to help get yourself organized?
- Social - How can you use your words and actions to show kindness and support for others at Barr? What steps can you take to start the ripple effect, which means that one act of kindness can spread like a water ripple as others follow and complete their own acts of kindness.
All students should feel free to talk with their guidance counselor about setting goals and developing a plan to help reach those goals.
The parent portal will be open in mid April for parents to see course selections specific to instrument (5th - 8th grades), foreign language (7th and 8th grades), electives (7th and 8th grades), Enriched Math (7th grade) and Regents classes (Algebra, Earth Science). Additional information about course selections will follow in a Parent Square email. Any requests for changes to student schedules must be received no later than May 1, 2025. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE OR MORNING OF TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL AS THIS HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON SCHEDULING.
Each month, we change the quotes on our daily bulletin, which is online and displayed in the lobby. We frequently remind the students about the quote and talk about ways to connect the quote to their lives. Our April quote is, "Be the HERO of your own life story." It is important to us that our Barr students understand they CAN make their goals possible with effort, dedication and support. Students recognizing the decisions they make everyday impact them in the moment and in the future is an important part of becoming mature and independent. Thank you for sharing your children with us and trusting us to create meaningful learning experiences which help them grow.
Important dates for April:
NYS Assessments:
- 5th and 6th grades will take computer-based ELA assessments on April 8th and 9th
- 7th and 8th grades will take computer-based ELA assessments on April 10th and 11th
Spring Recess: Monday, April 14th - Monday, April 21st
PTA meeting: Monday, April 7th at 7:30
Barr Stringfest: Monday, April 28th at 7:30 in the HS auditorium
Warmest regards,
Mrs. O'Sullivan (Principal), Mrs. Oates & Mr. Arvanites (Assistant Principals)
Raising The Barr Newsletter
At A. MacArthur Barr, we feel it is important for our families and community to feel connected to the rich learning taking place throughout the year. We love to spotlight a variety of learning experiences, athletics, accomplishments, students, faculty, staff and so much more! We encourage you to click the "Raising the Barr" newsletters below! If there is something you would like to see included in a future edition, please give the Main Office a call at 845 627-4040!
