News

Anya Shah, grade 8, shared her writing with grades 3-8 as a guest author on Thursday, April 2. She read excerpts from her book, "Nandi's Secret: The Chateau Children."

Barstow students looked to the moon this week for lessons that revolved around the historic lunar mission of Artemis II.

Student-athletes from the boys and girls basketball teams earned multiple honors and awards for their performance this season.

Freshmen Noah Dutton and Gui Tabuchi qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament in policy debate.

A group of student musicians represented Barstow at the MSHSAA Solo and Small Ensemble Contest on Saturday, March 28 in Grain Valley, Missouri.

At The Barstow School, community is not just something we talk about—it is something we actively build together. One of the most meaningful ways to strengthen our community is through volunteering with the Barstow Parents’ Association.

Girls basketball faced Portageville on Wednesday, March 11, and Marionville on Thursday, March 12, in the Class 2 State Tournament. They ultimately placed fourth in the state. The tournament caps a historic season — and a week that began with an all-school send-off to Columbia and culminated in a first-ever trip to the Final Four.

Six students represented Barstow at the Missouri Chess Association (MCA) State Scholastic Chess Championship on Saturday, March 7, in Columbia, Missouri.

Eighth grade students launched an independent historical research project on Monday, March 9 at IDEA Space with a group read-in. Each student received a book they had selected from a curated list, covering a wide range of topics and time periods, allowing them to explore history in greater depth.

The middle school Science Bowl team competed in the regional tournament on Friday, March 6 at Metropolitan Community College, Longview. The group placed second overall.

FRC Team 1939, the Kuhnights, competed in the First Robotics Oklahoma Regional Tournament March 4-6, reaching the playoffs and bringing home a creativity award. 

Sixth grader Nezar Alchekakie won first place in his grade at the South-Central Division of the 2025 American History Essay Contest, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Congratulations to the cast of the lower school musical, “The Lion King KIDS! ” hMore than 65 students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will perform this crowd favorite on Thursday and Friday, April 23 and 24.

Three middle school students earned Barstow’s top scores on this year’s AMC 8 math exam.

Barstow’s Science Olympiad team competed at the regional tournament at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. this past weekend, earning several recognitions.

Carlos Salazar, senior, has been named a 2026 Coca-Cola Scholar, one of the most competitive scholarships in the country.

Upper and middle school debate teams both celebrated victories this week, with tournament success for middle schoolers and state qualification for the upper school team.

Sixth grader Nezar Alchekakie was selected as the first place winner for his grade at the state level of the 2025 American History Essay Contest, organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Barstow’s FIRST Robotics Team 1939 is competing this week at the Oklahoma Regional Tournament in Enid, Ok.

Seniors Olivia Richards and Nik Mykhailenko took the sword and crown as this year’s Homecoming royalty during halftime at the varsity boys basketball game Friday, Feb. 20.

Upper school students donated 537 household and hygiene items between Feb. 9-20, during the French Honor Society’s service drive benefiting KC for Refugees.

Middle School Pep Council members completed the final step of their service project Wednesday, Feb. 25, shopping for essential items to support local nonprofit Giving the Basics.

Lower school students explored new stories and met local authors during this year’s Wizard of Oz-themed Book Fair, held Monday through Friday, Feb. 23–27.

Elliot McCarty, grade 6, won the sixth-grade division of the 2026 Kindest Kansas Citian Essay Contest.

Students gathered in the Varsity Gym on Friday, Feb. 20, for a pep assembly ahead of tonight's homecoming basketball games against Van Horn High School. Girls play at 6 p.m., and boys play at 7:30 p.m.

KMBC-9 has selected seniors Rohan Thomas and Eshan Patel as KCMB-TV and HyVee Scholar Athletes for 2026. Each year, KMBC-9 recognizes ten high school seniors from the Kansas City area who have demonstrated academic and athletic excellence and who are actively involved in school and civic activities throughout their high school career.

Kansas City-area teachers, club leaders, camp directors and program managers — start planning now for unforgettable STEAM-based field trips, visits or special events at the Dan & Cassidy IDEA Space KC. Here are five reasons to plan a hands-on learning trip to IDEA Space.

Are you searching for the best middle school or high school in Kansas City for your child? The Barstow School offers the most exceptional college preparatory education in the area. Finding the right school fit for a student in grades 6-12 is a major moment for every family. That decision can ensure a match between the student's developmental needs and an environment that promotes academic achievement and overall well-being. Here's why Barstow is where you belong.

Kindergarten students explored Japanese culture during a classroom feast on Feb. 12, encouraging global awareness from an early age.

The middle school math club earned top honors at the MATHCOUNTS Regional Competition at Burns and McDonnell on Saturday, Feb. 7. Several students received individual awards, and a few qualified for the state competition in March.

The Rabid Rabbots, Barstow’s middle school robotics team, concluded their inaugural season this week at the FTC Kansas City East Tournament, competing in the FIRST Tech Challenge against primarily high school teams.

Sixteen upper school students representing the National Chinese Honor Society and the Asian-American Pacific Islander Club sampled the art and culture of Asia on Thursday, Feb. 12.

The French Honor Society kicked off a service drive this week, collecting household and hygiene items for KC for Refugees, a volunteer-run organization that assists refugee families who have relocated to the Kansas City area.

Kindergartners in Ms. Hollie Kloser’s class welcomed six baby chicks to their classroom this week. The eggs hatched overnight on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

A group of eight seventh graders earned recognition for their writing after being selected for publication in “Creative Communication,” a national poetry anthology.

The varsity debate team won two awards in policy debate at the Crabtree Classic Speech and Debate Tournament, hosted by Park Hill High School, Jan. 30 and 31. The tournament featured 34 schools from across Missouri.

For a third consecutive year, The Barstow School has landed on the AP School Honor Roll at the platinum level, recognizing Advanced Placement programs that deliver results and broaden college participation.

Members of the National Elementary Art Honor Society (NEAHS) met with kindergartners at IDEA Space on Wednesday, Jan. 28, to help guide them through a special art project.

Three Barstow students were selected as grade-level winners in the 2025 American History Essay Contest by the Shawnee Mission Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

The middle school debate team competed in two tournaments recently and performed well.

Six volleyball players earned Academic All-State Honors this season, recognized by the Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association (MHSVCA).

Grade 3 concluded their unit on difference makers this week with a community service field trip, a research project and presentations.

The girls and boys varsity basketball teams take on St. Pius X Friday, Jan. 23 in front of a home crowd — and a metro television audience!

Students in Dr. Bryce Wagner’s grade 8 Earth Science class explored the school building this week in a scavenger hunt, searching for examples of different stages of the carbon cycle.

Arya Ashan, grade 8 and Carson Rea, grade 6 stepped in as middle school director and dean for a day on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

On Monday, Jan. 19, students across divisions gathered at Barstow to participate in an annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, organized by the Barstow Parent Association and the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity committee.

Young alumnae returned to Barstow on Wednesday to talk to freshmen about short- and long-term goal setting and seniors about college life.

Mac Barnett, award-winning author and U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, visited Barstow on Tuesday, Jan. 13 to discuss his craft, his role as an advocate for literature — and to meet some fans.

The upper school debate team competed at the annual Fort Osage New Year Kickoff Speech and Debate Tournament on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10.

Middle school golf and yoga clubs met for the first time on Thursday, Jan. 15 in the Foster Athletic Center.

The middle school musical, "Between the Lines JR" tells the story of a high school student at a new school who seeks comfort in the pages of her favorite book — with extraordinary results.

This year's FIRST Robotics season is underway, and Team 1939 is already planning, prototyping and preparing to compete.

The world of work is changing fast — and today’s middle and high school students in the Kansas City metro will enter careers shaped by artificial intelligence. According to LinkedIn’s "The Work Shift," hiring is growing in technology, media and manufacturing across the Midwest and the country. IDEA Space has an exclusive opportunity to become confident using generative AI tools this summer.

The Barstow Cyber Patriots placed third overall at the Missouri state cybersecurity competition on Friday, Dec. 12, competing in the Platinum division against schools from across the state.

Three students were selected as grade level winners in the 2025 American History Essay Contest, an annual competition organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Senior Carlos Salazar has been named a finalist in the 2025–2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Program, placing him among 250 students selected nationwide.

Families searching for the best independent school in Kansas City are often looking for more than strong academics. They want a school where their child is known, challenged, and supported — a place where they belong. At The Barstow School, belonging is not a promise we make lightly; it is the result of a connected learning community, exceptional teaching and a mission that has guided us since 1884.