News

The Barstow School welcomed award-winning writer Jacqueline Woodson to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 9, for a memorable visit planned by the Inclusion, Diversity + Equity department.

The middle school pep club planned an afternoon of spirited support for Knights athletics on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Eighth grade Spanish students are creating a STEAM project that combines technology and tradition as they learn about Día de los Muertos.  
 

Congratulations to three members of the Class of 2025 who are National Merit Commended Scholars.

Girls tennis defeated St. Michael the Archangel 6-3 on Friday, Oct. 4, and went on to celebrate a dominant victory over the Pembroke Hill Raiders on Wednesday, Oct. 9, winning 7-2.

The Barstow School has been named the best private K-12 school in the Kansas City Area in 2025 by Niche.com.

It's never too early to learn financial literacy, according to a Barstow parent who shared expertise with fifth grade students at IDEA Space on Friday, Sept. 27.

Join us Friday, Sept. 27, for a community-wide celebration packed with events! Harvest Festival opens at 4 p.m., with games and activities, food trucks and tours of our new Foster Athletic Center. Here are a few things to know:

Apples harvested from Barstow's orchard will be distributed to agencies that serve people with food insecurity, thanks to a partnership with Mitzvah Garden KC.

The Barstow School Class of 2025 celebrated Senior Day on Monday, Sept. 23.

Jacqueline Woodson, a celebrated voice in children's and young adult literature, will visit The Barstow School on Wednesday, Oct. 9, for a series of inspiring events for students of all ages.

Students in first and fifth grades share a hallway this year, so they're using the buddy system to get to know each other.

Barstow's Sixth Grade Experience gives students who are new to middle school an introduction to world languages and culture, with a rotation in executive functioning as well.

Borrowing bits of Barstow lore — and a nod to the four houses of Hogwarts — upper school students have started a spirited competition to build community and win end-of-year bragging rights.

Knights brought home two trophies in one day on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Sixth graders embarked on an interdisciplinary unit that combines STEAM skills with language arts and other core curriculum concepts during the week of Sept. 9-13.

Congratulations to three seniors named 2025 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Barstow loves traditions — and one of our favorites is Kindergarten-Senior Buddies. A year of activities and adventures kicked off Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Barstow's first class of preschool prep students had one of their first "out of the classroom and into the world" experiences on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Upper School Club Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 11, filled Senior Circle with new activities and returning favorites for students to explore and join.

Students are earning accolades for demonstrating good character that models middle school community expectations.

The College Counseling Department helped students connect with more than fifty colleges and universities across the country this week, culminating in the Barstow Mini College Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Want to know more about what's happening in your child's classroom? Lower school parent coffees begin next week.

Upper school robotics team members started building toward another successful season at IDEA Space this week.

Barstow crowned a middle & upper school Rock Paper Scissors champion on Tuesday, Aug. 27.

Cris Doretto is surely one of the sweetest members of The Barstow Alumni Association. That is a reference to her disposition, of course, but also a nod to her occupation. 

Lower school STEAM students brought a legendary video game to life at IDEA Space this week, combining the fun of video games with real-world robotics, coding and STEAM learning. 

Cast and crew for the upper school musical has been announced. Students will perform "The Lightning Thief, the Percy Jackson Musical" October 17, 18 and 19.

The initial cohort of upper school engineers in the Pathways Program and Project Lead the Way are tackling their first assignment.

All students in grades 1 through 5 made monochromatic self portraits during their first art class of the school year.

Middle School Makers have started a unit in reverse engineering.

One of the greatest assets of The Barstow School is its faculty and staff, an experienced group of educators committed to providing our students with the best independent school education. Join us in welcoming these new members. 

Barstow's eagerly awaited second driveway is open for the 2024-2025 school year. Knights Drive  leads to the middle school entrance and is designed to ease traffic congestion during arrival and dismissal.

The Barstow School Board of Trustees announced on Monday, August 12, that the school's new athletic building will be named the Foster Athletic Center in honor of President Shane Foster.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has awarded The Barstow School, an independent coeducational school for students in preschool-grade 12, a $225,000 grant to continue and strengthen its Inclusion, Equity and Diversity (ID+E) initiatives. Read our press release here.

Third graders presented Shark Tank style pitches on Monday, May 13 as an entrepreneurship exercise. Each invention was intended to make Barstow a better place.

Fifth graders gathered with teachers, family and friends in the auditorium Wednesday morning, May 15 to celebrate the end of the school year and their upcoming transition to middle school.

Students in lower and middle school classes elevated creative writing and storytelling projects this year, developing ideas and inspiration from a variety of sources and exploring different formats for the finished product.

The middle and upper school debate teams celebrated a year of honors, awards and outstanding performances for Barstow's celebrated signature program.

Senior Paranjay Sharma, a Barstow "lifer," has been named a U.S. Presidential Scholar. Paranjay is one of only three seniors from Kansas and 161 nationwide to receive this honor.

The varsity boys golf team competed in the MSHSAA Class III District 4 Tournament at Mozingo Lake Recreation Complex in Maryville on Monday, May 6.

Students in Honors Spanish classes take the National Spanish Exam each year. This year, 14 Barstow students earned awards and 19 earned honorable mentions based on their exam results.

Second graders put their knowledge of business and entrepreneurship to the test on Tuesday, hosting lemonade stands at IDEA Space.

Senior Jayden Sampat has received the National Speech and Debate Association’s Academic All-American Award.

Seniors Chanelle Anderson and Joshua Thornton have both committed to playing basketball at the collegiate level.

Student-athletes who earned one or more sports awards from spring of 2023 through this spring were recognized in an awards ceremony the evening of Thursday, May 9

Students from upper, middle and lower school gave this year’s final music performances this week.

For the third time in six years, the boys tennis team had both doubles entries advance to the individual district finals, which guarantees advancement to the state championships.

Friday, May 10 was the last day of school for seniors, who completed the annual Senior Walk from Cherry Street to State Line.

Barstow's middle and upper school summer reading program reminds students of the joys of imagination, the thrill of adventure and the necessity of compassion.

Upper school arts students were honored at Applause Night on April 29. Afterward, students and families were invited to the opening of the Senior Art Show in the Upper School Commons' Embry Gallery.

Barstow students, parents faculty, staff and alumni gathered on the front lawn to celebrate Tree Day on Tuesday, April 30.

Fifth grade students toured Washington D.C. during the first week in May. The annual trip is a lower school tradition, combining lessons about government, history, citizenship and leadership> This year's trip also included a surprise stop at Andrews Air Force Base.

Senior Tyler McNeive won the Crossroads Conference golf tournament on Monday, April 29. Barstow placed second overall. Junor David Williams and senior Dylan Markey received all-conference honors.

Family members of third graders were invited to IDEA Space on Thursday, May 2, for a game of mini golf on a course  designed and built themselves by students themselves.

Barstow Knights had a strong showing at the Crossroads Conference track meet on Wednesday, May 1. Sophomore Mo Darboe, senior Zoey Hrabe and the girls 100 meter relay team all placed first in their events.

"Agathon" is The Barstow School's annual student-led literature and arts publication. "Agathon" is available here. this year's stff members are:

• Executive Editor: Helton Walker, senior
• Assistant Executive Editor: Lilly Kennedy Gregg, senior
• Senior Editor: Rachel Jacobs, sophomore
• Editor: Liane Bdair, senior
• Editor: Leilani Galles, senior
• Editor: Lasya Maganti, senior
• Staff: Avani Lakkireddy, senior

Faculty Advisor: Sean Holmes, Director of Broadcasting & Media Studies

Barstow grade 6 students presented their integrated learning capstones to an audience of experts, faculty and families during the Environmental Project Showcase at Dan & Cassidy Towriss IDEA Space on Wednesday, May 1.

The boys tennis team brought home the first place trophy from the Lee's Summit North doubles tournament Wednesday, April 24.

Congratulations to senior Paranjay Sharma, selected as a U.S. Presidential Scholar semifinalist.

Seniors learned real-world skills from faculty and alumni during an all-day seminar on Friday, April 19, as they prepare for life after Barstow.

Students expand the way they learn about core subjects by incorporating  STEAM activities at IDEA Space.

Middle and upper school students and faculty gathered at the track Thursday, April 25, for a two- lap Kindness Walk, hosted by the SevenDays Kindness Club.

Junior Ethan Brunell-Wright is bringing home a gold medal for his piano performance at the MSHSAA State Solo Competition in Columbia on Friday, April 26.

Seniors Ava Levin and Paranjay Sharma capped their Barstow debate careers with an outstanding accomplishment.

Members of the varsity debate team competed in the National Debate Coaches Association Championship in Bloomington, Indiana last week. This is the first national competition Barstow has qualified for since 2021.

Upper school French, Spanish & Chinese language students competed in the UCM Foreign Language Film Festival on Thursday, April 11. Barstow won 28 awards overall.

Middle school students used STEAM tools to turn ordinary posters into an interactive electrical engineering project.

Congratulations to four seniors who will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The group signed commitments in the Varsity Gym on Thursday, April 17, surrounded by family and friends.

Lower and middle school students earned top division awards at the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair March 27-30. Seventh Grader Diya Krishnan also qualified for a national innovation award.

Fourth graders visited the Missouri state capitol in Jefferson City on Thursday.

Middle and upper school students interested in health and biomedical science are participating in a club organized by sophomore Sanjana Akkulugari and science teacher Amie Buckner. HOSA encourages entry into global health care fields.

FIRST Robotics Team 1939 received the Judges' Award at the Greater Kansas City regional FRC event last weekend. It recognizes creativity, commitment and teamwork.

Sixth grade continues their interdisciplinary study of trash, waste, and their social and global effects.

Students, faculty and staff gathered outside Monday afternoon to experience the historical solar eclipse.

A star of "Finding Nemo The Musical" at Walt Disney World visited the lower school musical cast on Thursday, April 11, taking them behind the scenes and under the sea. 

Jeff Penner '88, KSHB 41 meteorologist and Barstow "lifer," visited prekindergarten students this week for some weather show and tell.

Chinese, Spanish and French Honor Societies welcome 29 Barstow students this year.

Congratulations to junior Alina Stribling, recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal award.

Sixth grade began an interdisciplinary unit at IDEA Space this week anchored around the novel "Trash." The unit incorporates multiple disciplines in innovative ways.

Two Barstow students won the DAR American History essay contest at the state level this month, and one is advancing to national competition.

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. Kansas City will experience a deep partial eclipse beginning at 12:37 p.m. The school will provide glasses that meet ISO standards to students in grades 1-12 so they may safely view the eclipse while on campus.

In the dynamic landscape of education, the integration of science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) has become a cornerstone for fostering holistic learning experiences. Eighth grade English students at The Barstow School recently completed an integrated learning project as they delved into Sandra Cisneros' "The House on Mango Street."

AP Environmental Science students displayed the sustainable home designs they created for the annual Barstow Home and Garden Show.

Fifth graders visited John Brown Memorial Park and Museum in Osawatomie this week in preparation for their trip to Washington, D.C in April.

Students are celebrating March Madness with bracket competitions and activities.

The middle school Science Bowl teams, coached by Dr. Ben Ozenberger, competed at a state contest at Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday, March 2.

Team "Your Child is Our Favorite Student!" A faculty team won first place at FoTA Trivia Night on Saturday, March 2, at IDEA Space.  

Barstow debate squad won multiple awards at the Cross River Classic in Iowa City over the weekend.

Congratulations to junior Afraah Hawa, recipient of the Congressional Award Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor for youth. Established in 1979, this award honors young people for setting goals, creating an action plan and completing challenges. Recipients complete specific goals based on voluntary service, personal development, physical fitness, and exploration.

Two Barstow students will perform with a highly selective honor choiir at a regional conference in Denver on Saturday, March 2. 

Congratulations to the cast of Finding Nemo KIDS!

A group of upper school students spent Presidents Day spring cleaning at a Kansas State Historic Site.

Upper school students attended a KC Rep theatre production on Tuesday, Feb. 20, marking the return of the theatre field trip for the first time since 2019.

VEX Robotics Team 19390W will compete in Missouri VEX High School Championships on Saturday, March 2.

FoTA Trivia Night includes a live auction of one of a kind art masterpieces, created by students in grades 1 through 5. The collaborative art series is called "Fruits of Our Labor."

Some of our youngest students are learning about the importance of community helpers.

Senior Aidan Lawlor has been selected as one of ten 2024 KMBC-TV and Hy-Vee Scholar Athletes.

Liane Bdair, senior, has earned the Congressional Gold Award for initiative, service and leadership.

Middle school math club members earned several top awards at the MATHCOUNTS regional competition last weekend.

The Barstow debate team competed in the Golden Desert Debate Tournament in Las Vegas Feb. 3-5.

Five more writers have earned first place chapter honors in the Daughters of the American Revolution annual essay contest.

Middle school debate team earned four awards in student congress at the Eastgate Tournament on Tuesday, January 30.

Lower school recreational basketball teams and coaches dedicated weekend games to the fight against cancer.

The upper school speech team competed at Winnetonka High School on Saturday, Jan. 27.

On Wednesday, third graders gave presentations about difference makers from around the world, after making a difference themselves here at home.

Congratulations to Barstow's 2024 Homecoming Court! Representatives from each upper school class were announced during the middle & upper school meeting on Friday, Jan. 26.

The cast of “Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition” gave its first performance of the middle school musical Thursday evening.

Barstow's new VEX robotics teams gained valuable experience at the 2024 Western Iowa VEX Robotics competition in Council Bluffs on Saturday, Jan. 20. 

Owen Snyder, senior, earned a perfect 36 on the ACT, a rare feat accomplished by less than one percent of students who take the college entrance exam.

Senior Dylan Markey is representing Barstow in Missouri's All-State Choir this week in Osage Beach. He is one of only 192 vocalists chosen from across Missouri to perform with this elite group.

The girls swim team earned several medals during Senior Night at the Belton Pirate Invitational Jan. 19-20.

More than 200 students, parents and faculty and staff members spent part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday at Barstow in service to others.

Warm up your winter weekend Jan. 18-20, at the the middle school musical , "Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition." Tickets are on sale now.

Once again, young writers have earned awards in the annual essay contest sponsored by Daughters of the American Revolution.

Please note important changes to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 15, due to  subzero temperatures in the forecast.

It's an exciting time to celebrate construction projects around campus as the new year begins and Barstow marks 140 years since our founding in 1884. 

Once again, Barstow's cybersecurity team is the top Missouri finisher in the gold division of the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition.