COVID-19 INFORMATION & RESOURCES
An Update from our President
On Thursday, April 9, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson ordered that all public, private and charter schools in the state remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year. As a result, The Barstow School campus will not reopen during the fourth quarter.
Gov. Parson also recommended schools continue remote learning; Barstow will provide online classes for the rest of the academic year for our students in preschool-grade 12. Announcements about the final day of classes and scheduled events that will be impacted by this extension will be made soon. This includes Commencement Week and our Eighth Grade Celebration.
We thank our students, parents and faculty for your understanding, flexibility and support as we make these difficult decisions. Our division directors and I will continue to communicate with you through email, weekly newsletters and our virtual Town Halls every Thursday. Our next meeting is April 16; links to the meeting and to submit questions will be sent to our school community each Friday.
We thank our students, parents and faculty for your understanding, flexibility and support as we make these difficult decisions. Our division directors and I will continue to communicate with you through email, weekly newsletters and our virtual Town Halls every Thursday. Our next meeting is April 16; links to the meeting and to submit questions will be sent to our school community each Friday.
We invite prospective families to join us for our next virtual Admissions Open House on Wednesday, May 6, at 9 a.m. You'll hear about our online class delivery, but you'll also get to see The Barstow School as we know it: a vibrant community of learners where students are challenged to be makers, doers and confident leaders.
Warm regards,
Shane A. Foster
President
Shane A. Foster
President
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
List of 5 frequently asked questions.
APRIL 3 UPDATE TO AP EXAM INFORMATION
College Board has released updated information about AP Exam schedules and formats. Traditional face-to-face exam administrations will not take place. Instead, students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home. Follow this link for information released on Friday, April 3.
Updates to school-sponsored activities
Please take a moment to review the following school-sponsored trips and activities that have been canceled to date:
UPDATE: Friday, April 3: Due to the extension of the campus closure, Applause Awards Night, originally scheduled for April 27, and Debate Awards on April 30, are canceled.
All upcoming international trips offered through the Global Education program have been postponed.
Spring sports seasons are canceled.
The Girls Adventures in Math competition (GAIM) scheduled for April 18 at First Church of the Nazarene is canceled.
The state National History Day competition scheduled for Saturday, April 25, in Colombia will be held as a virtual event. Barstow upper school students who qualified for this competition will receive further information and instructions from the NHDMO organization and our faculty.
Missouri State Parks suspended all programs and events, including tours of the capitol building, through April 30. As a result, the grade 4 field trip to Jefferson City scheduled on Wednesday, April 1, is canceled.
FIRST Robotics has suspended the current competition season and canceled World Championship events. Read the letter here.
The Great Midwestern Novice and JV Debate Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is also canceled. This was the final in-person debate tournament on the Barstow calendar for the 2019-2020 school year.
Grade 5 trip to Washington, D.C. scheduled for April 26-30, is canceled.
Teton Science School canceled the grade 8 trip scheduled for March 31-April 3.
UPDATE: Friday, April 3: Due to the extension of the campus closure, Applause Awards Night, originally scheduled for April 27, and Debate Awards on April 30, are canceled.
All upcoming international trips offered through the Global Education program have been postponed.
Spring sports seasons are canceled.
The Girls Adventures in Math competition (GAIM) scheduled for April 18 at First Church of the Nazarene is canceled.
The state National History Day competition scheduled for Saturday, April 25, in Colombia will be held as a virtual event. Barstow upper school students who qualified for this competition will receive further information and instructions from the NHDMO organization and our faculty.
Missouri State Parks suspended all programs and events, including tours of the capitol building, through April 30. As a result, the grade 4 field trip to Jefferson City scheduled on Wednesday, April 1, is canceled.
FIRST Robotics has suspended the current competition season and canceled World Championship events. Read the letter here.
The Great Midwestern Novice and JV Debate Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is also canceled. This was the final in-person debate tournament on the Barstow calendar for the 2019-2020 school year.
Grade 5 trip to Washington, D.C. scheduled for April 26-30, is canceled.
Teton Science School canceled the grade 8 trip scheduled for March 31-April 3.
COLLEGE ADMISSION STATUS
More than 600 colleges and universities have submitted information regarding changes in their admission events, campus visits and deposit dates. Updated information is available here, from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Johnson County (KS) Department of Health and Environment
- Kansas City (MO) Health Department
- Jackson County (MO) Health Department
- MSHSAA SPRING SPORTS & ACTIVITIES STATEMENT
- UPCOMING ACT ADMINISTRATION
- UPCOMING SAT ADMINISTRATION
FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR
During uncertain times, anxiety can increase or arise in our children and in ourselves. When your children ask why these events are happening or what happens next, knowing how to answer can be difficult.
Consider limiting media exposure and using our mindfulness app, Mind Yeti, to calm minds, focus attention and connect to new environments. Mind Yeti requires a login and password, which is available in the Character Corner section of our Resource Boards.
Please use the resources listed below to frame your conversations and help alleviate anxiety. They each recommend a few basic, but important steps: take the time to talk, to listen and to reassure.
Sincerely,
Jessica Chanos
School Counselor
Consider limiting media exposure and using our mindfulness app, Mind Yeti, to calm minds, focus attention and connect to new environments. Mind Yeti requires a login and password, which is available in the Character Corner section of our Resource Boards.
Please use the resources listed below to frame your conversations and help alleviate anxiety. They each recommend a few basic, but important steps: take the time to talk, to listen and to reassure.
Sincerely,
Jessica Chanos
School Counselor
Health Policies and Procedures
What is Barstow’s health-related attendance policy?
The Barstow School follows the guidance of public health departments and the Centers for Disease Control in protecting our school community from contagious conditions.
Our school policy restricts anyone with a fever above 99 degrees from attending school. Students, faculty and staff must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to the building. Students, faculty and staff should remain at home when experiencing respiratory symptoms such as persistent coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath.
We encourage these actions to prevent the transmission of germs:
- Frequent hand-washing for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
- Keep unwashed hands away from one's eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash hands.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick with fever and/or respiratory symptoms.
- Consistently clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Our maintenance staff uses a hospital-grade disinfectant during daily cleaning throughout the building.
FACILITIES AND FOOD SERVICE
Our maintenance and janitorial staffs have taken extra steps to continually clean and sanitize campus. In October, staff began using a hospital-grade disinfectant during daily cleaning. Hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes are available in classrooms, the dining hall and reception areas. Additional staff will be on campus to assist in deep cleaning during the break.
SAGE Dining Services has also taken extra precautionary steps. Read more about SAGE's food safety measures.
