Barrie School?

[Anonymous]

it's the same agreement with all the schools, i think.
they're pretty clear about it.

they all recommend tuition insurance, but there are specific parameters for that. like, you might have to attend and withdraw before it is effective.

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts about the middle school?

[Anonymous]

I know it's an old thread but a warning to those considering Barrie:

The new headmaster is quite austerity-minded and not a charismatic figure. He is a former bureaucrat and his influence has, in my opinion, made Barrie more of a soulless bureaucracy. He has lost a number of important teachers and staff on his watch. He's on his third drama/music department head in two years. He lost the head of the highly-regarded equestrian program. Athletics are not emphasized in the Barrie culture which leans toward a "trophies for everyone mentality". The Upper school is small and shrinking. Many of the students there are international. It can be a good place for kids that have trouble fitting in at larger schools as the small size affords individual attention. Perhaps the most damning indication of the troubles (at least at the higher levels) is that fact that the Headmaster's own children attend a different school. That is not exactly a vote of confidence by the guy running the show. Also, a board member withdrew his child to send to a different high school this year. So if insiders don't send their own kids to Barrie, it certainly makes one wonder why they have so little confidence in the educational value of institution they run.

[Anonymous]

My kid experience at Barrie was so bad that I reconsidered my stance on public schools and I'm now sending my DC to the local public. I cannot believe I paid that much for a mediocre education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know it's an old thread but a warning to those considering Barrie:

The new headmaster is quite austerity-minded and not a charismatic figure. He is a former bureaucrat and his influence has, in my opinion, made Barrie more of a soulless bureaucracy. He has lost a number of important teachers and staff on his watch. He's on his third drama/music department head in two years. He lost the head of the highly-regarded equestrian program. Athletics are not emphasized in the Barrie culture which leans toward a "trophies for everyone mentality". The Upper school is small and shrinking. Many of the students there are international. It can be a good place for kids that have trouble fitting in at larger schools as the small size affords individual attention. Perhaps the most damning indication of the troubles (at least at the higher levels) is that fact that the Headmaster's own children attend a different school. That is not exactly a vote of confidence by the guy running the show. Also, a board member withdrew his child to send to a different high school this year. So if insiders don't send their own kids to Barrie, it certainly makes one wonder why they have so little confidence in the educational value of institution they run.

That is so funny PP. When we attended Barrie the head of the BOT switched schools for her daughter and actually told the parents it’s because Barrie girls are not of her daughter’s “ilk” and she kept on as the head of the BOT. Ultimately Barrie’s problems begin at the BOT. They need to institute term limits for all members; have an open nomination process; and have community vote verses a self appointing board that just feeds the BOT’s egos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it's an old thread but a warning to those considering Barrie:

The new headmaster is quite austerity-minded and not a charismatic figure. He is a former bureaucrat and his influence has, in my opinion, made Barrie more of a soulless bureaucracy. He has lost a number of important teachers and staff on his watch. He's on his third drama/music department head in two years. He lost the head of the highly-regarded equestrian program. Athletics are not emphasized in the Barrie culture which leans toward a "trophies for everyone mentality". The Upper school is small and shrinking. Many of the students there are international. It can be a good place for kids that have trouble fitting in at larger schools as the small size affords individual attention. Perhaps the most damning indication of the troubles (at least at the higher levels) is that fact that the Headmaster's own children attend a different school. That is not exactly a vote of confidence by the guy running the show. Also, a board member withdrew his child to send to a different high school this year. So if insiders don't send their own kids to Barrie, it certainly makes one wonder why they have so little confidence in the educational value of institution they run.

That is so funny PP. When we attended Barrie the head of the BOT switched schools for her daughter and actually told the parents it’s because Barrie girls are not of her daughter’s “ilk” and she kept on as the head of the BOT. Ultimately Barrie’s problems begin at the BOT. They need to institute term limits for all members; have an open nomination process; and have community vote verses a self appointing board that just feeds the BOT’s egos

Yikes. These 2 posts may be the most damning things I've read about a school on these boards. It doesn't say anything good about a school or the people running it if the head and a trustee send their children elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

My DD started Barrie in 6th grade this fall. We are so happy and I know many parents who are really happy there too. The teachers are amazing and my DD loves school. They have a really innovative 21st century education program in MS now. We really like the head of school and I know he has shaken things up a bit but I really believe he is on the right track with all the changes he is implemeting at Barrie. The MS faculty and staff really do a great job at supporting the kids and helping them to realize their best potential. We have also had a great experience socially there too. We really didn't know how it would go because the 6th grade class has been together for a very long time but they have been so welcoming to my DD-both boys and girls. The kids are really nice and you can really be yourself there without being judged. My DD got accepted to 3 other private schools for MS but this was our first choice as we really felt it was the right one for our family. My advice to parents is to visit the school you are interested in and make your decision based on what you think. I would not totally rely on forum advice-while it can be helpful it should not be the deciding factor. Before we came to Barrie, my DD was at another private school for years which got really good reviews and we ended up really hating it. In her other private school, we found kids in her class to be really mean there, judgemental, there were a ton of academic challenges and a whole host of other issues.

[Anonymous]

went there for a private event. the bathrooms and school were dirty and gross. couldn't imagine sending a kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, one or two kids could account for most of the Ivies. But take out the non-asterisked schools, and here's where kids matriculated:

American University*
Boston University*
Brandeis University*
Bucknell University*
Concordia University - Montreal*
DePaul University*
Goucher College*
Hampton University*
Howard University*
Longwood University* r
Macalester College*
Marymount University*
Northeastern University*
The Art Institute of Washington*
The College of Wooster*
University of Maryland, College Park*
University of Virginia*
Warren Wilson College*

That's a respectable list for a very small school.

Um. If it were Wilson HS that would be respectable a folks would assume it was a free public. Reality is Wilson has such better results! No offense but this is not a super list.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, my friend who lives in the area enrolled her child for a year...and pulled him out for her local ES. Says there's much more structure and stronger teachers at the public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD started Barrie in 6th grade this fall. We are so happy and I know many parents who are really happy there too. The teachers are amazing and my DD loves school. They have a really innovative 21st century education program in MS now. We really like the head of school and I know he has shaken things up a bit but I really believe he is on the right track with all the changes he is implemeting at Barrie. The MS faculty and staff really do a great job at supporting the kids and helping them to realize their best potential. We have also had a great experience socially there too. We really didn't know how it would go because the 6th grade class has been together for a very long time but they have been so welcoming to my DD-both boys and girls. The kids are really nice and you can really be yourself there without being judged. My DD got accepted to 3 other private schools for MS but this was our first choice as we really felt it was the right one for our family. My advice to parents is to visit the school you are interested in and make your decision based on what you think. I would not totally rely on forum advice-while it can be helpful it should not be the deciding factor. Before we came to Barrie, my DD was at another private school for years which got really good reviews and we ended up really hating it. In her other private school, we found kids in her class to be really mean there, judgemental, there were a ton of academic challenges and a whole host of other issues.

You are mistaken to think that the Barrie 6th graders have been together for a long time. Barrie can't retain students. There are more of my DCs' previous Barrie classmates in their new private schools than those that remained at Barrie.