Upcoming Days Off & Early Dismissals

We call to your attention a few upcoming days off and early dismissals over the next few weeks:

• Friday, February 16: 11:50am Dismissal (11:40 PK), NO After Care
• Monday, February 19: NO School, Presidents Day
• Wednesday, February 28: 1:30pm Student Dismissal (1:20 PK), After Care until 5:30pm
• Friday, March 1: No School, Staff Development
• Friday, March 8: 11:50am Dismissal (11:40 PK), NO After Care

Presidents Day Skating Party

On Monday, enjoy the day off of school with an Ice Skating Party hosted by the FSA at the Morgan Park Ice Rink! All St. Barnabas families are welcome to attend, CLICK for details.

Drop off Protocols

Over the past few months, we have seen an uptick in parent/guardian fender benders outside of school. Following the vehicle protocols we have in place is vitally important to safety. Per our policy: “For safety and traffic efficiency, cars are not permitted to stop, slow, or park anywhere along the east “school-side’ of Longwood Drive from 102nd St. - 100th St.”

Cars pulling over to allow quick drop-off on Longwood during morning drop-off is never allowed. One day this week, we counted 30+ cars dropping off on the east side of Longwood; please ensure you adhere to the established policy outlined in our WEBSITE.

Archdiocese Survey 

In recent years, the Archdiocese of Chicago - Office of Catholic Schools has partnered with the University of Chicago to conduct an annual Climate, Culture and Catholic Identity Survey. Teachers and students will take the survey as part of their school day. Parents/Guardians have the opportunity to take their own survey. It will take approximately ten minutes to complete. We encourage you all to take part in this important survey. BEGIN PARENT SURVEY.

Dress Down Days Explained

In February and March, we have a number of dress-down days planned, and we understand it can sometimes feel a little confusing. We have two different types of dress-down days: “Free” Dress Downs and Charity Dress Downs. 

Free Dress Downs are generally around holidays or school spirit events, and there is no fee associated with these days. Students are invited to wear specific colors or St. Barnabas spirit wear to celebrate the day.

We also host optional Charity Dress Down days. These days help to support meaningful charities. Students can contribute $3 or sometimes purchase apparel to wear (such as Black History Month t-shirts). The $3 contribution can be paid online in MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT, or cash may be brought to school. Students who purchase a charity shirt (such as Parker’s Party, Pat Mac, etc) don’t need to contribute an additional $3; purchasing the apparel is considered your donation.

We have three optional Charity Dress Down Days coming up! If you purchased gear in support of these events wear that OR contribute $3 and dress down in the designated color!

• Friday, February 23 - Black History Month
• Thursday, February 29 - Parker's Party
• Friday, March 8 - Pat Mac's Pac

Spring Sports Registration

The Athletic Board is excited to launch TeamSnap Registration, the new registration and scheduling platform for the St. Barnabas sports teams.  

If you already have a TeamSnap account, please click the Registration button below to begin the enrollment process for spring sports.

If you are NEW to TeamSnap, you’ll need to create an account first. Click the Registration button below, and you'll be prompted to enter your email > then create your account (use parent contact info, not child). You can then register additional members in your household (children) and register for select sports teams. For questions about setting up a first-time account, please contact Kevin O'Kelly at [email protected].

CO-ED SOCCER - Practices start in mid-March, with games in April through the end of May.

Kindergarten: $60

Grades 1- 4: $65

Grades 5 - 8: $70

CO-ED GOLF - Tuesday afternoons

Grade 8 ONLY: $75 Registration fee + additional $13 course fee payable to time of play.

CO-ED JUNIOR BASKERBALL with Ms. Sadowski - Sunday afternoons late March - mid-May. 

Grades K - 3: $95

Volunteers Needed: 7th Grade

Next Friday, February 23 at 7pm, our 8th grade class will make their Sacrament of Confirmation. It is a tradition for our 7th-grade families to help host a reception in the Church Hall after the 8th-grade Confirmation liturgy. We are looking for a few parent volunteers to help take the lead in organizing this effort. Coordination involves organizing parent volunteers to contribute small baked goods for the reception and coordinating the set-up and clean-up.  If you are willing to be a parent lead for the reception, please email Ms. Sadowski at [email protected] or Mrs. McGowan at [email protected].  

Volunteers Needed: Yearbook & Spirit Day

The FSA is in need of a few parent/guardian volunteers from EACH grade to help with the yearbook layout and design. Please contact Cortney Harris [email protected] if you would like to volunteer.

The FSA also needs a coordinator for our upcoming Spirit Day. The date is set for Friday, May 24, and a “playbook” will be provided, but in order to host the event, a lead volunteer coordinator is necessary. Spirit Day is a favorite day of many of the students - filled with games, friendly competition, and camaraderie with classmates. For more details, please connect with FSA Chair Kathleen Hogan at [email protected].

In March, we celebrate three events. These events connect us as a community and honor three people who illustrate our root beliefs. They are and were the Hands of Christ and have impacted our community in a unique, long-lasting, and powerful way.

Parker's Party:

We support 8th-grade student Parker Baudo with the annual Parker’s Party Polar Plunge. Parker has been part of St. Barnabas School since kindergarten. Parker (and his family) have given our community the most incredible gift - a true understanding of the power of inclusive education and friendship. It’s Parker’s final year at St. Barnabas, and we would LOVE this to be our very best turnout at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge on Sunday, March 3.

Pat Mac's Pack:

Patrick McNamara was a St. Barnabas student who lost his life after battling a brain tumor for 11 years. Patrick inspired the entire community with his good-natured personality and kind heart. Since 2014, every March, our school honors Patrick and raises money to fight childhood cancer by supporting two great charities - Pat Mac’s Pac and St. Baldrick’s. On Friday, March 8, students have the opportunity to dress down in support of the PMP Foundation, and they can also opt to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation by shaving their heads or cutting their long hair (and raising funds).  Watch a recent WGN piece about Patrick’s legacy.

Kevin G. Barron Scholarship:

Kevin Barron was a loving father and husband and an incredibly dedicated member of St. Barnabas Parish. He was kind and friendly to every person he crossed paths with and was always willing to lend a supportive hand. His sudden and tragic death in 2021 broke the hearts of his countless friends and family members. To honor Kevin’s commitment to his faith and to Catholic education, the St. Barnabas Men’s Club awards scholarships to St. Barnabas 8th-grade students who are continuing their education at a Catholic high school. On March 24, all are welcome to gather for a March Madness event at Cork & Kerry, celebrating Kevin’s legacy, the power of Catholic education, and the joy of gathering with friends.

Please know that while financially supporting these causes is most appreciated, helping to spread awareness is also impactful. Give if you can, but also give the gift of your time by helping to spread the word about these wonderful people and the charities they are connected to - thank you to all our supporters.