Updates and Information

Dear I.S. 24 Parents and Guardians,

 

I hope this letter finds you well and that you were able to embrace the summer of 2025 as a time for relaxation, rejuvenation, and connection with family and friends. Here at Myra S. Barnes Intermediate School 24, we welcomed our new and returning students today for the first day of classes. 

 

At the heart of everything we do is our unwavering commitment to our students’ education and personal growth. Our goal is for every student to build meaningful relationships, engage fully in their learning, and experience academic growth throughout their three years with us. As we begin another school year, I encourage each student to challenge themselves academically and explore opportunities through extracurricular activities. You never know the lasting relationships that may form or the doors that could open as a result of active engagement in both the classroom and school community.

 

Long-term student success begins with consistent attendance. The expectation is that students come to school every day, ready to engage fully in the academic and/or extracurricular activities available to them. Regular attendance plays a crucial role in each student’s development, and we greatly appreciate your partnership in emphasizing its importance, as our goal every year is 95% attendance for our students.

 

Equally essential to a productive learning environment is minimizing distractions. We appreciate students keeping their cell phones off and stored away in the pouches we provided and in backpacks. This simple practice will help ensure that students build meaningful connections with their peers and teachers, focus on their lessons, and participate actively in discussions, enhancing their overall academic experience. Our school cell phone policy has been shared with families and is also posted on our website www.barnes24.org.  This policy is in line with the New York State Education Law, creating a bell-to-bell school day restriction on cell phone use by students. I truly believe our students will model the practice well and will see the benefits of this practice quickly.

 

As we look forward to the start of another school year, we are excited about the promising future that lies ahead for our students and staff. It is with great enthusiasm that I share the following projects and initiatives we have begun, as well as ones we expect to see this year and into the next two years.

 

 -Construction of a new STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math) Lab

-Renovation of classrooms to modernize them and create new classroom spaces

-The addition of a Financial Literacy elective in eighth grade for select classes in September 2025

-New curriculum in grade 6-8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science beginning in September 2025.

-Upgrades to our Performing Arts Classroom, modernizing the space for all students.

-The addition of $150,000 of new technology for our classrooms.

-The addition of a turf field in our schoolyard.

-New windows for the entire school building.

 

These enhancements are part of our efforts to provide a safe and inspiring learning environment for our students.

 

We are excited for the opportunities that the new school year holds and look forward to supporting each student on their academic journey. Together, we will continue to cultivate a culture of positive relationships, active engagement, and continuous growth.

 

Best wishes for a great school year, and I look forward to seeing all of you soon!