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A Letter from Mr. Barkman
October 3, 2026
Dear Parents,
It’s hard to believe that our first quarter is nearly over! We know our students are looking forward to a well-deserved Fall Break, and we hope everyone enjoys a restful and refreshing long weekend.
As we look ahead to the second half of October, we want to highlight a few important dates and opportunities for our students.
College Visit to Anderson University — Wednesday, October 14
On Wednesday, October 14, our first day back from Fall Break, our high school students will visit Anderson University in South Carolina. As part of our PLACED program, we plan to take our students on two college visits each year. Our goal is to expose them to a variety of educational models and help them begin to envision the possibilities for their own college journeys.
Unlike Queens University, which we visited in May, Anderson University is a medium-sized Christian university. During our visit, students will have the opportunity to attend chapel, tour the campus, and participate in an information session.
Because of the travel schedule, students should arrive on campus by 7:00 a.m. to board the bus. Students will also need to bring a packed lunch. We anticipate returning to campus by approximately 4:30 p.m.
Please click HERE to register your student for this field trip.
College Planning Workshops with Mrs. Elizabeth Hartley — October 15 & 22
We are also pleased to welcome Mrs. Elizabeth Hartley of Scholarship Gold to campus twice this month. Mrs. Hartley is a college counselor with more than 20 years of experience, and her “College Bound Essentials” workshop last year was very well received.
This year, she will offer two presentations:
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Thursday, October 15: Mastering the CollegeBound Journey — for our 10th and 11th grade students and parents
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Thursday, October 22: How to Be a High School Rock Star — for our 8th and 9th grade students and parents
We encourage families to take advantage of these valuable opportunities to learn more about preparing for the college journey.
Please click HERE to register for the workshop of your choice.
Rescheduled Middle School Fall Fest
Due to this weekend's unfavorable forecast, the Middle School Fall Fest at Hall Family Farm has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 17. Thank you for your flexibility as we work to ensure a safe and fun evening for our middle schoolers.
Please click HERE to RSVP.
PSAT/NMSQT — Friday, October 23
Finally, we want to remind all 11th grade parents that our juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT on Friday, October 23. The test will be administered in our usual classrooms.
Students should be dropped off and picked up according to their regular schedule. Please also make sure that their devices are fully charged before arriving at school.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. We are grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside your families and look forward to a wonderful month ahead!
Warmly,
Greg Barkman, M.Ed.
Upper School Principal
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