Who we are today

              We are celebrating our 50^th anniversary at Barnhart!  During this landmark year we mark the journey of a school that has successfully educated hundreds and hundreds of students who have gone on to flourish as contributing citizens, while growing families of their own.  We take pride in all that Barnhart has accomplished.     We are honored and grateful to those parents who have entrusted us with their most precious assets – their children.

                But who are we today?  Known as a “down to earth” family oriented community school, we are as passionate as ever in our mission of educating young people.  We have not wavered from our belief that the “beauty is in the balance at Barnhart” and that our mission is to provide an atmosphere where education is a comprehensive human experience.  A strong academic program must be accompanied by excellent integrity, empathy, and active involvement in the community and world around us.  Growth and change are a necessary part of moving forward with continued success.  Effective leaders know that a school’s vision must contain images of the past, present and future.  The demands of our current times demand resiliency and continuous reflection and innovation so that we meet the needs of our students.

                Barnhart’s legacy of mind, body, and spirit, continues with fresh perspective in our vision of fostering:  Intelligence, Integrity, Involvement as three key components to inspire the future.  It is at the forefront of all our initiatives and programs.  We also continue to value the model of a K-8 school culture that promotes a genuine 9 year investment with our students and families.  Every day we see the positive influence of cross age mentoring, modeling, and learning together.  Many of our students and their families remain friends for a lifetime, long after leaving Barnhart.  In a fast paced world that demands constant resiliency to change, these bonds become deeply meaningful in times of joy and challenge.

                Our instructional programs have grown stronger over the past few years and we are looking forward to new levels of achievement and stimulation for our students.  Here, every child is nurtured from kindergarten on, to be a lifelong reader – for purpose and for pleasure.  Our early literacy program is taking strong root, along with our focus on the belief that all students should be compelling and highly skilled writers.  Math, science, and social studies are core subjects taught each day.  These are enhanced with a complement of co-curricular subjects throughout all grades including: Spanish, computers, art, PE, and music.  Our Virtues program and regular Chapel attendance is the foundation of infusing integrity and overall good character within our students.  Finally, we graduate students who are ready “above and beyond” to enter top area high schools of their first choice.

                To accomplish this, our staff works within and across grade levels as a full school team – collaborating  together and closely evaluating our own practice against the latest training and research.  More recently, I have been told by parents that they love the way we so visibly enjoy each other and seem to have fun each day!