MS News---Week of December 7, 2020

• Middle School Holiday Service Project: For over the last 30 years the Middle School has visited the Bryon E. Thompson School for Orthopedically Challenged students in El Monte. We paired up with students there and provided gifts and companionship for a day. This year we can’t visit due to the pandemics. To continue our tradition of service we are partnering with Shepherd's Pantry in Irwindale to fill stockings for kids from 0 to 13. Here is what our middle schoolers can do to participate:

• Buy a stocking and decide if it's for a boy or a girl. • Pick an appropriate age range: Infant, Toddler, 4-7. 7-10, or 10-13. • Fill it with fun stocking stuffers (candy, small toys, etc). • Shepherd's Pantry will be adding a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble to each stocking. • Our students can drop off the stockings here at Barnhart on the evening of Dec. 17th during our holiday drive through.

• Food Drive: Eighth graders Lana and Sarah are organizing a food drive as their project for the Anti-Racism Exploratory Class. They are asking for donations of canned food to be brought to the Holiday Drive-Through on Thursday, December 17. Their goal is at least 100 cans of healthy food—fruit and vegetables—low-sodium and low calorie if possible. They will accept any and all donations. You may drop off donations prior to December 17 if you will not be attending that evening. • Art Needed for Future Exhibition: As part of their Anti-Racism Exploratory Class, Sixth grade students Erika and Samantha are asking students to create art that relates to racial injustice. Any work is welcome. Take pictures and submit to your homeroom teacher and it will be forwarded to the girls. The deadline for submission is Monday, December 14. Original pieces only. A virtual exhibit will be created of all the submitted items. • Holiday Fun: Next week to celebrate the holidays, the Middle School will be allowing holiday attire every day to make things festive and bright! Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday students may come to class wearing holiday colors, hats, shirts, headbands, scarves, jewelry, accessories, etc. On Wednesday, December16, students should find their ugliest sweater to wear and we will have an Ugly Sweater Extravaganza during an all Middle School Homeroom. Seventh and eighth grades will meet with their buddies on Thursday, December 17 at homeroom time. • Community Service: In the Middle School every student is asked to contribute at least 10 hours of service each year as a graduation requirement. We are adjusting our expectations but even during this pandemic it is possible to be of service to others. Helping a neighbor, talking with older folks, making dog beds or dog treats for the Humane Society, writing letters or sending cards to people in nursing homes, or even helping out at home without being asked or paid are examples of service that can be counted. I urge all students to find some way to help others during this time. If you complete service hours, fill out the form and email it to me at [email protected]

• Community Service Opportunity: Ms. Jourdan’s mother is the operations manager at a food pantry in Irwindale called Shepherd’s Pantry. They are still open during this time and are always looking for volunteers. Activities range from sorting food, to making homeless hygiene kits or stocking shelves. Students would need to be accompanied by an adult and complete an application and other documents. Opportunities are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 10 and 12 and on Saturday from 9 to 11. Masks and safety measures are in place. If you are interested email or call: 626.305.0392 or [email protected] be sure and identify yourself as from Barnhart. • Community Service Opportunity--Sandwiches: As we review the events of the last six months, it is clear that some things haven’t changed. There are still many hungry people in our community. Barnhart has worked with the Foothill Unity Center for several year to provide sandwiches that are distributed to the homeless and hungry. We would like to once again offer middle school families the opportunity to participate in a community stewardship program. As part of this effort to foster awareness of needs in our community middle schoolers may prepare sandwiches that will be distributed to the homeless in the immediate area through the Foothill Unity Center. Community service hours may be earned for each donation made. Instructions for making sandwiches was attached in previous newsletters. You will have to arrange to drop off the sandwiches but follow the information attached in previous newsletters. Deliver sandwiches directly to Foothill Unity Center at 790 west Chestnut in Monrovia during the times indicated.

Eighth Grade News: . Checking the websites of the schools can be very valuable in keeping you informed of specific activities.

o Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (Girls): Contact the Admissions Office at 626-685-8521 or [email protected] if you have questions. In response to current disruptions, test dates and future test availability brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Flintridge Sacred Heart has committed to a test optional policy during the 2021-2022 admission cycle. This test optional policy aligns with our holistic admissions review process. With an emphasis on student equity and access, our admissions committee will place greater focus on all other required documents including academic achievement, curriculum, and rigor of coursework, essay, recommendations and involvement beyond the classroom. o LaSalle Preparatory High School (Coed): LaSalle is still hosting in-person tours of the La Salle campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00 p.m. by appointment only. Please visit our website at www.lasallehs.org for more information. Three documents concerning the application process and scholarships that are available were attached to previous newsletters. o St. Francis High School (Boys): Open House will be Saturday, January 9 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Tours and demonstrations will be on-going. The HSPT will be given there on January 23, 2021 on Campus—if allowed. (8:30-noon, meet in theater by 8:15 a.m.)(Students may bring in application and fee that day and take the entrance exam.)Family and Individual interviews will be held on Saturday February 6, from 8:00 am to 4 pm. t. Francis is located at 200 Foothill Blvd in La Canada. For more information call: (818) 790-0325 or contact the Admissions Director at [email protected]

o Loyola High School (Boys): As part of the application process, Loyola is requiring the HSPT test to be taken. It is being given at Loyola on January 9 and 16. It may be taken at any site offering it such as St. Francis High School or on their campus. Another part of the application is 2 video essays and a personal statement. Loyola does not conduct interviews. All tours and information session are virtual this year. For information on the tours go to https://www.loyolahs.edu/admissions/inquire/ For more information about applications contact Angela Reno, Admissions Director at [email protected] The school is located at 1901 Venice Blvd in Los Angeles. o Westridge School (Girls): Westridge is located at 324 Madeline Drive in Pasadena. They are holding virtual informational meetings and virtual tours. Start by going to tour.westridge.org and then check out their website. For more information contact [email protected] o Immaculate Heart High School (Girls): IHHS is a Catholic high school located at 5515 Franklin Avenue in Los Angeles. For more information contact Kelli O’Brian, associate Admissions Director at [email protected] or call 323-461-3651

• Mayfield Senior School (Girls): Mayfield Senior School is located at 500 Bellefontaine Street in Pasadena. . After careful thought and discussion, we have adopted a no test policy for students applying for the 2021-22 school year. We’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to reach out via email to www.mayfieldsenor.org • Flintridge Preparatory School (Coed): If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, 11/15! Our Admissions Team is hosting virtual information sessions on the following dates: December 15, and 22. All times are 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Go to our website to sign up and receive the zoom links to our events. o Alverno Heights Academy (Girls): Alverno is a Catholic all-girls school located at 200 North Michillinda Avenue in Sierra Madre. For more information or to arrange a visit contact Ms. Witherington, Director of Enrollment Management at [email protected]

As a reminder: Be sure to keep up on what is happening in class by visiting the FACTS/RenWeb Parent Site.

To reach the RenWeb site click: https://bh-ca.client.renweb.com/pw/

THANKS! Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Rose