The Barstow Bulletin

Daily Drop-Off & Pick-Up Procedures

Thank you to our families for your continued patience and partnership in keeping our students safe during daily arrival and dismissal.

For morning drop-off, please split into two lanes at the top of the hill: the right lane for Grades 4–8 and the left lane if your oldest passenger is in Grades PK–3. Pre-K families and anyone needing to step out to assist their child should pull all the way up to the first cone before exiting the vehicle. If you arrive after buses at 7:55 AM, feel free to use the front of the school to bypass the back parking lot.

For afternoon pick-up, please remain in a single lane and keep the hill clear so departing staff can exit. Lastly, please remember that parking between the gazebo and the basketball court is strictly prohibited during both drop-off and pick-up times.

From Ms. Hunt:

Halloween Parade Donations Needed

Help Barstow get ready for the Rutland City Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 24! We need individually wrapped candy, yellow winter hats, plain yellow shirts, blue pants or overalls, and thin black gloves. Our 6th–8th Grade STEM students are creating the Minion-themed band float. Send donations to school labeled “Ms. Hunt — Halloween Parade.” Please label any items you would like returned.

Approved Parade Chaperones Needed

We need approved adult volunteers to help supervise band members and participating 6th–8th Grade STEM students at the October 24 parade. If your Central Office volunteer approval is current, please complete the chaperone form and return it to Ms. Hunt by email or with your student on Monday, October 19.

Help with the Middle School Halloween Dance

Our 6th–8th Grade Halloween dance needs adult help with setup, chaperoning, and cleanup, plus food and drink donations. Students can help with planning, decorations, setup, the food area, and cleanup. Please complete the dance sign-up form to let us know how you can help.

For questions, translated information, or accessibility support, contact Jackie Hunt at jhunt@rnesu.org.

• BUU Board Meeting, 6pm

• 2nd & 3rd Grade Field Trip to Billings Farm
• 8th Grade Field Trip to Camp Sagamon

October 19: BUU Board Meeting, 6pm
October 23: 2nd & 3rd Grade Field Trip to Billings Farm
October 24: MS Band (and others) perform in the Rutland Halloween Parade
October 26-30: Barstow's Spirit Week!

October 27: Pk3 Picture Day and All School Retakes

October 30: Early Release - Students dismissed at 11:30am

October 30: Middle School Halloween Dance, 7-9pm

November 5: Term 1 Report Cards Emailed Home, 12pm

November 5: Fall Conferences Night 1, 3-7pm

November 11: Veterans Day - No School

November 12: Fall Conferences Night 2, 3-7pm

November 25-27: Thanksgiving Break - No School

• Take a Leaf-Peeping Hike: Take advantage of the crisp air with a family hike up scenic trails like Mt. Tom or local nature centers to soak in the remaining fall foliage and panoramic views.

• Visit a Local Orchard or Farm: Spend an afternoon apple picking, navigating a corn maze, or visiting a pumpkin patch. It’s a great way to stay active while enjoying fresh cider and local treats.

• Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt: Turn a neighborhood walk or park visit into a game by having kids search for specific colored leaves, pinecones, animal tracks, or acorns.

• Plan a Backyard Campfire Evening: Gather around a fire pit to roast marshmallows, tell stories, or stargaze. It’s an easy way to enjoy the outdoors comfortably as the evening temperature drops.

• Bike or Walk a Local Rail Trail: Pack some warm layers and hit a flat, family-friendly trail for a scenic bike ride or afternoon stroll through the countryside.

Which of these sounds like something your family would enjoy, or are you looking for activities geared toward a specific age group?

Working in collaboration with Game One, we have opened a 365 store for Barstow Gear. The items in this store are fully customizable with a number of Barstow-related styles. The store will be open all year long and is set as an "on-demand" ordering store, so when you place an order, it will be delivered as soon as it is produced. The link to the store can be found below.

Community members are always welcome at Barstow School Board meetings to learn more about the work happening in our school. Join us to stay informed, ask questions, and be part of the conversation supporting our students and staff.

Shape the future of local Education - Join the School Board!

The following seats are up for election in March 2027.

OVUU:

· Brandon – 3-year term (Natalie Steen)

· Brandon – 1 year remaining of a 3-year term (Patricia Welch)

· Goshen – 3-year term (M.Fernanda Canales)

· Pittsford – 3-year term (Kevin White)

· Whiting – 3-year term (VACANT)

· At-Large* – 3-year term (Katelynne Hill)

*At-Large candidates can be from any of the OVUUSD towns: Brandon; Goshen; Leicester; Pittsford Sudbury; and Whiting.

BUU:

· Chittenden - 3-year term (Justine Cavacas)

· At-Large* - 3-year term (Tony Roberts)

*At-Large candidates can be from either of the BUUSD towns: Chittenden and Mendon.

Petitions are available at the links provided above, at your Town Clerk’s Office, and the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union Central Office at 49 Court Drive in Brandon. Requests for petitions can also be made by calling the RNESU Central Office at (802) 247-5757.

Completed petitions, along with a signed Consent of Candidate Form, are due to your Town Clerk by Monday, January 25, 2027. Petitions for town specific seats require signatures of the lesser of 1% of registered voters or 30 signatures. Petitions for at-large seats require the signature of 60 registered voters.

From the PTO:

This month the PTO Meeting will be held on THURSDAY 10/15 at 6 PM in the library. Trunk or Treat sign ups can be found here:

Sign up here:

or scan QR

Please sign up to be a "trunk", sign up your "treaters" and plan to have a ghoulish bite to eat with the 5th grade class fundraiser!

8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip Fundraiser, featuring a Grandma Miller's Pie Sale (a family-run bakery in Londonderry, VT). Here are the key details from the flyer:

• Important Dates:

  • Order Deadline: November 6th

  • Payment Deadline: November 6th

  • Pick-Up Date: December 11th (during car drop-off & pick-up)

• Payment Details: Cash can be delivered to the front office; checks should be made payable to Barstow Student Activities.

• How to Order: A QR code is provided on the flyer to view the menu and place orders.

• Contact: Questions can be directed to parent Claire Brosnan at clairebrosnan8@gmail.com.

Rutland Halloween Parade Information:

• Our Band & Float: The 6th–8th Grade Band will perform "Happy" by Pharrell Williams while marching and riding alongside a float designed and built in collaboration with 6th–8th Grade STEM students.

• Parade Details:

  • Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026 (Rain Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026)

  • Meeting Location: Christ the King Church parking lot

  • Arrival Time: 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

  • Parade Begins: 6:30 PM

  • Approximate End/Pick-Up: 8:00 PM – 8:15 PM

• Join the Fun & Costumes: Students and families are invited to walk alongside the band/float. Costumes are encouraged—dress up as a Minion or another school-appropriate Despicable Me character to hand out candy to spectators.

• Volunteers & Chaperones Needed: Help is needed for student supervision, check-in, keeping pace with spectators, float escort, and pickup logistics.

• Important Note: Participating students must return an official Student Field Trip Permission Form signed by a parent/guardian.

• Purpose: Seeking Lego donations for Barstow students to use in the Makerspace program so they have sufficient building materials.

• Drop-off Locations: Donations can be dropped off at the main office or the school library at 223 Chittenden Road, 05737 at your earliest convenience.

Activities: Make-your-own Trick-or-Treat bag & Bake Sale

The 2026–2027 district calendar can be found on both the Barstow and RNESU websites, as well as included below in this newsletter. This calendar is a helpful tool for planning ahead, including organizing family schedules for the upcoming school year. As you make appointments and vacation plans, we strongly encourage you to prioritize your child’s attendance, as consistent time in school plays a key role in their success.

Important Barstow Dates for 2026–2027

Note: Please see the RNESU School Year Calendar for all district-wide dates.

Quarter 1: Wednesday, August 26, 2026 to Friday, October 30, 2026

• First Day of School (Grades K–8): Wednesday, August 26, 2026

• Pre-K New Family Orientation: Friday, August 28, 2026, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM

• First Day of School (Pre-K 4-year-olds): Monday, August 31, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM

• First Day of School (Pre-K 3-year-olds): Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM

• Open House: Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 6:00 PM

• Picture Day: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

• Trimester 1 Report Cards Emailed: Thursday, November 5, 2026

• Fall Conferences:

  • Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

  • Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Quarter 2: Monday, November 2, 2026 to Friday, January 15, 2027

• Trimester 2 Report Cards Emailed: Thursday, January 28, 2027

Quarter 3: Monday, January 20, 2027 to Thursday, April 1, 2027

• Trimester 3 Report Cards Emailed: Thursday, April 15, 2027

• Spring Conferences:

  • Thursday, April 15, 2027, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

  • Thursday, April 29, 2027, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Quarter 4: Friday, April 2, 2027 to Tuesday, June 16, 2027

• Trimester 4 Report Cards Emailed: Last Day of School

Bob Myers - Principal

bmyers@rnesu.org

Barstow Memorial School

https://barstow.rnesu.org/

223 Chittenden Road, Chittenden, VT 05737

(802) 773-6926