Safety Alert

Earlier this morning, we emailed our parent/guardian community about a safety incident on campus. We share those details here as well…

At approximately 7:20am, a plumbing contractor working at our school was robbed. The individual was approached by armed person(s) in a vehicle who demanded the equipment and tools in their van. The person, thankfully, was not injured, and police were immediately called to the scene to help with the investigation. 

We will continue to stay in close connection with the Chicago Police Department as they review the facts, and the police will provide an extra presence on campus today and at tonight's 8th Grade Halloween Dance.

St. Barnabas is a welcoming and safe community, and your children’s safety is our utmost priority. Still, with crime on the rise throughout our city, we ask everyone to be aware of their surroundings. We encourage people to walk in groups and avoid distractions, like using a cell phone or headphones when walking to and from school.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to connect with Mr. Stack at jstack@stbarnabasparish.org.

Text Alert - Signup

Are you receiving text messages from St. Barnabas School? Occasionally, we send text messages for helpful reminders about early dismissals, due dates, or other important notifications. Text messaging may also be used in an emergency alert. 

If you received a text Tuesday afternoon reminding you of the early dismissal on Wednesday, you’re all set. If you didn’t receive that text, we encourage you to opt into the service by texting YES to 67587.

Communication News

We have made some recent changes to our school's webiste. We wanted to highlight a few helpful features we created with parents/guardians in mind.

NEWS - on the main page, you’ll see some key school happenings. These activities are always detailed in the newsletter but will also be shared on the website for quick access. Tap the title of each article for more details. 

EVENTS - we now have three calendar views. You can view the calendars as a feature on our main page or under the Calendar & News tab.

• School Events - similar to what is outlined in our weekly newsletter.
• After-School Activities - the schedule of after-school clubs, including choir, chess, and craft club
• Athletic Games - review our game schedule and come cheer on our Buckeyes!

PARENT RESOURCES - here, you’ll find a wealth of information and details about many of the school policies and procedures. 

We will continue to tweak and improve the site, and we hope it can serve as a reliable and helpful source for each of you. VISIT THE SITE.

Halloween Details

Halloween is an exciting time at St. Barnabas School. We ask you all to take a few moments to review the Halloween details so we’re all on the same page.

Costumes - All students are invited to dress up in school-appropriate costumes on Tuesday, October 31. No masks, weapons, or political themes will be permitted. Children with inflatable costumes may only wear them during the parade; inflatables must be off and deflated during the school day. Be mindful, especially with younger children, that all students must be comfortable and self-sufficient in their costumes throughout the day.

Parade - All kindergarten - 8th grade students will be walking in the costume parade. The parade steps off from the school’s main entrance at 1:30pm (weather permitting). Students walk west up 101st Place, turn north on Seeley, and return down 101st Street hill towards the school. Parents/guardians, grandparents, younger siblings, and friends are encouraged to clap, cheer, and take pictures along the route.  

Classroom Parties & Treats - We have some severe food allergies in our school, and we ask all families to take great care in respecting our no-treat policy. Candy or edible treats are NOT allowed. Small items to share with classmates (stickers, pencils, playdough, etc.) are permitted (and optional). Students who send candy will not be permitted to distribute it. If you plan to distribute treats, please confirm the number of students in your child’s homeroom with the classroom liaison or teacher.

Classroom parties are at the discretion of homeroom teachers, with the help of classroom liaisons. Details about individual class parties will be shared in the teacher’s Google Classroom. 

Teal Pumpkin Partnership - Thank you to The Student Council for educating our students on how they can help to create an inclusive and safe environment. All families are encouraged to take part in The Teal Pumpkin Project by offering allergy-friendly treats to trick-or-treaters. Download a FLYER to print and display in your home window.

DOWNLOAD THE DETAILS.

Warm Clothing Needed 

We have been alerted to an urgent need for warm clothing for the young migrant children at District 22. Contributions of warm socks, mittens & gloves, hats, and coats sized for infants - age 10, are needed as the temperatures drop. Please bring items to the school lobby by next Friday, November 3. Thank you for your support and kindness.

Ofrenda Altar

There is still time to participate in our lovingly adorned ofrena. In Hispanic culture, an ofrenda is an altar built to honor lost loved ones. Photos and offerings are displayed to help us remember, celebrate, and honor their lives. We invite families to add to our altar by sharing a photo of someone special who has passed on. Please send your photos with your child's name and homeroom to Mrs. Natalie Bachler.

Art to Remember

Art to Remember is here! Our art teacher, Mrs. Bachler, has guided the students in creating incredible and unique art pieces. You can enjoy the complete creative collection HERE. Keepsake art gifts can be purchased to enjoy in your home or make a memorable gift. Profits help to purchase supplies for the art room. Order by November 10 to ensure delivery by Christmas. Email Mrs. Bachler at bachler@stbarnabasparish.org with any questions.

Basketball Playoffs

The girls basketball teams are wrapping up the regular season and moving into the playoffs! We will do our best to include game details on the Athletic Calendar. 

• 5 Red vs tbd - October 28, 9:50am at St. Barnabas
• 7B vs St. Cajetan - October 28, 10:40am at St. Barnabas
• 8A vs St. Gerald - October 28, 11:30am at St. Barnabas
• 8B vs St. Cajetan - October 28, 11:30am at St. Cajetan
• 7A vs St. Christina - November 2, 8:00pm at St. Christina
• 6V vs tbd - November 4, 2:10pm at Marist HS

VIEW the complete Athletic Games calendar on our website.

All Saints’ Day

Wednesday, November 1

Next week, we celebrate and honor the saints of the Church. We hope you can join us for a memorable day with our 4th-grade students. The 4th-grade students have been diligently researching and reflecting on the lives of saints that inspire and influence. We invite each of you to join us for a special All Saints’ Day mass on Wednesday, November 1 at 8:45am. After mass, join us in the school gym for a presentation by the students.

Scholastic Book Fair

The FSA is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair, an annual highlight and an event favorite of many students. Students will visit with their class on Wednesday, November 8, or Thursday, November 9, in the Church Hall. View the complete details HERE.

Purchasing Books - students can use cash or set up an eWallet for cashless shopping. The eWallet is simple to set up, and book fair volunteers will have an easy-to-access record of your child’s eWallet at check-out.  If you set up an eWallet last year and have funds remaining, it now appears as a gift card in your Scholastic account. To use those funds, set up a new eWallet and select the option to transfer a gift card balance. Set-up HERE.

Class Schedule - Students in Preschool - Grade 3 attend with their homeroom, and grades 4-8 attend with their ELA class. You may view the class schedule HERE. 

Volunteer - Volunteers are needed for set-up, breakdown, and during the event. Check out the class schedule linked above, should you wish to volunteer when your child attends. Register to volunteer on MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT. 

Questions - Reach out to FSA Book Fair coordinator Carolyn Burke at ckaymeyer@hotmail.com is you have any questions about volunteering or book purchasing.

Support for Breast Cancer

Thank you to all those who came out to our Pack the Pews mass this past Sunday and those who donated and dressed in pink - all in support of breast cancer awareness and research. We support those fighting the fight, admire the strength of the survivors, honor with love those we have lost, and pray with hope in our hearts for all those affected by this disease.

Thank you to our school community for helping raise over $800 for Y-Me Softball Chicago! View some pink dress-down pictures HERE.

SPR Mass at St. John Fisher

On Saturday, November 4, we invite everyone to 4pm mass at St. John Fisher. The mass will celebrate the one-year anniversary of SPR and unite parishioners from all four SPR parishes - St. Barnabas, St. Cajetan, Chris the King, and St. John Fisher. Celebration after mass in SJF's Kane Hall.

Advent Wreaths

Save the date for the return of the Advent wreath-making activity on Sunday, December 3, after the 10am mass. A limited number of spots are available and we invite you to share in this beautiful new tradition. Registration details will be shared shortly. Contact Director of Faith Formation, Mr. Patrick McGowan at pmcgowan@stbarnabasparish.org, for details.

Vocation Awareness

Vocation Awareness Week is November 5-11. Catholic Sisters continue to serve and have an impact! Take some time to visit c4wr.org for inspiring in-person and virtual events, discernment resources, and moving stories and videos about the impact of Catholic Sisters on education, healthcare, and the social and spiritual lives of individuals and communities in Illinois and around the world.  For questions, contact Mark Piper at mpiper@cenaclesisters.org.