sCHOOL bLOG

Summer vacation is right around the corner, and while your children are probably thrilled for a break from all of the formal learning they're doing in the classroom, summer presents a great opportunity to continue learning in a more non-traditional manner. Help your children establish and maintain a love for learning by filling the summer with fun and educational activities.

At St. Barnabas we’re proud to say that nearly one-quarter of our student body are people from minority communities. As other private education institutions are criticized for a lack of diversity, we are charging ahead on a mission to promote diversity on our campus. Our students come from different communities and some from different countries, but is it enough to put students together on the same campus and call it diversity? We think there are very specific factors that make private education a great place for building a diverse community.

You’re probably here perusing our website because you've done your research, and you’re convinced that private education may be the best fit for your student. We’re so glad to hear that, but you may not know what it is that sets St. Barnabas apart from other schools like it. So before you make this huge choice for your family, take a moment to dive into the details that make St. Barnabas such a special place for your family.

We are living in a strange time. Our children will grow up in a world that is vastly different than we did, and totally unrecognizable to our parents. With the advent of the internet and the rise of social media, kids have access to more information than ever and it’s not always a good thing.

DeLand, Fla., February 19, 2018 – The world we live in seems to become more frightening with each passing day, and now in light of the recent shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, there is more urgency then ever to protect loved ones. St. Barnabas Episcopal School in DeLand is seeking to inform parents of the safety regulations they should look for in their child’s school or potential school.

“We take our students safety very seriously, and after the shooting that happened in Parkland, we must choose to pay particular attention to the review of our safety policies and drills, and encourage all schools to do the same,” said Head of School, Paul Garcia.

The heat of the moment is not the time to decide how to react to a potentially dangerous situation. Senses are heightened, emotions are running wild, and reaction times can mean the difference between saving a life or ending one. That is why it is so important for schools to have prearranged plans in the event that they should ever need to respond to a threat.

All schools should absolutely have a safety manual, a safety team consisting of teachers and coaches on the front lines who implement instructions from the manual and should regularly practice safety drills with students. Safety drills should include information about safe locations off campus, and how to get to them if needed. These steps are all necessary to avoid injury during emergency situations, but the anticipation of an emergency will go even further in preventing causeless harm. This means that security cameras should not only be spread out across the entire campus, but should also be regularly monitored for suspicious looking persons. Of course, all adults visiting campus should check in to the office and receive a nametag, and it should be established that those found wandering campus without a tag are to be pointed out to an administrator.

Seeking out professional advice is also extremely valuable, which means that semiannual, or even quarterly training with a law enforcement officer should be implemented for teachers and faculty. This knowledge will not only further their safety skills, but will also enhance their confidence should a true safety issue ever arise. Lastly, in the event of an emergency that requires immediate communication with the parents of students, there should be a schoolwide alert system that enables parents and guardians to be contacted instantly.

There is no feeling worse than having to send our children off to school, not knowing if they will come home safely; that’s why choosing a school that implements all of these safety precautions is so important for peace of mind.

St. Barnabas Episcopal School is a pre-K thru 8th grade private institution in DeLand, Fla. Its mission is empowering each student to achieve academic and moral excellence in a faith-filled environment based on God's Word. For more information, visit https://www.sbesyes.org/.

In early childhood, school is not simply about memorizing facts or tackling complex equations. Your child is learning many critical skills that help them develop into well-functioning learners. One of the best ways to integrate these basic skills into the classroom is through art.

We know that a private education is a top choice for many parents, but we don’t expect you to take our word for it. Statistical support for the long-term benefits that a private education has for children, especially when they begin in kindergarten.

Parenting is hard and complicated, and we know you want nothing more than to do what’s best for your family. Raising healthy children may feel overwhelming in the midst of all the other priorities in life, but by focusing on these three parenting tips you can set your child up for success with a healthy, happy lifestyle.

Starting your kindergartner in private school will have great immediate social and educational benefits. Students in private schools have more access to teachers, smaller classrooms, and a childhood education based on their family’s faith preference. But there are excellent long-term benefits to being an alumnus of a private institution like St. Barnabas School.

There are some very clear advantages to a private education that most people are familiar with. Having the ability to infuse our teaching with our spiritual beliefs, small class sizes, and a rigorous curriculum are some of the most evident. But some of our greatest advantages are born from the fact that decisions about our curriculum and our campus are made by leaders who are active members of our community.