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Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences Letter from the Head of School 3 For the past nine years, I have had the great pleasure of serving as Head of Barnesville School. When my family and I arrived in 2006, we entered into a warm, caring community of educators, a place where I was eager to enroll my oldest two sons. My goal then (as it is now) was to build upon the many great achieve- ments that former Head of School Jeri Hough brought about. Barnesville has always been a strong school, so I have sought to sharpen its strengths and make a great school even better. What have we done these past years? • We created new outdoor spaces for learning, including a student garden, outdoor classroom, low ropes course, wooded theater space, and most recently, a courtyard amphitheater. • We achieved Green School certification through the Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education. • We maintained our Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools accreditation, passing all of the rigorous standards given. • We instituted an Early Childhood program for the education of three- and four-year-olds. • We undertook significant facilities improvements, including the creation of a new lunchroom space and the development of our library and media center. • We created new community partnerships with local for-profit and non-profit organizations in the arts, sciences, and agricultural fields. • We instituted thoughtful technology initiatives, such as our Middle School iPad program. • We repositioned Barnesville as a School of Arts & Sciences, with a new website and admission materials. • We have developed a robust culture of philanthropy, with significant donations for arts and sciences, tuition assistance, facilities, and our library. is past year, we reached an incredible 95% parent participation rate in our Barnesville School Fund. How has this been made possible? First, none of these initiatives would have been possible if it were not for the hard work and efforts of our faculty and staff. ey have been the thought leaders who have shaped and devel- oped our curriculum. Second, our Board of Directors has worked diligently to ensure that the School has been positioned for success and long-term stability. ird, our parents have continued to show their faith and com- mitment by enrolling their wonderful sons and daughters at Barnesville year aer year. Finally, and most significantly, we have been able to achieve all of this through the generosity of our many do- nors. Each year, I am staggered by the size of the roster of generous philanthropists who help bring about posi- tive change at Barnesville, and this year is no different. To read through the names in this publication is to see a fiercely dedicated group of supporters, people who believe in Barnesville and who wish to shape its future. is year marks my ninth and final year at Barnesville. Come July, I will be moving back to the Midwest, where I will serve as Head at Emerson School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am delighted to pass the torch to Susanne John- son, our Director of Institutional Advancement, who will serve as Barnesville's Interim Head of School for the next two years. I leave with the comfort in knowing that the School will continue in its tradition of growth and development. As I look at my oldest son, who entered Barnesville as a 4th grader and now is ready to leave for college, I know that the preparation he received, and that all of our students receive, is as strong as ever. For this, I thank you, for your giving then, and your giving now. With deepest appreciation to all our donors, supporters, and contributors, John Huber Head of School