December is a busy month at St. Barnabas School. We feel so fortunate to celebrate the wonder of the Christmas season together as we rejoice in Christ’s birth. Detailed below, you’ll find a description of many of the December events. Some events are student-only or grade-specific, but a number of the events are open to all our families. We share event details here if you wish to adjust your schedule to accommodate some of these activities. All events are listed on our website calendar, and a helpful printable is also available.

December Field Trips

December is an active month for field trips. Permission forms and details will be sent home with each grade, but we are highlighting them in one central place for December. 

• Kindergarten - Thursday, December 14 - Mrs. Claus at the Beverly Art Center
• Grade 1 - Monday, December 4 - Live Nativity at The Children’s Farm 
• Grade 2 - Tuesday, December 12 - Christmas Around the World at The Museum of Science & Industry 
• Grades 2, 3, and 4 - Wednesday, December 6 - Christmas Choir Concert at Mother McAuley
• Grade 5 - Thursday, December 7 - Christmas Around the World at The Museum of Science & Industry 
• Grade 8 - Monday, December 18 - Chicago Christmas Experience

8th Grade Prayer Service

Friday, December 1, 2pm at Church

Who: 8th Grade students, families welcome

Details: Opportunity for reflection and prayer prior to the Saturday morning High School Entrance Exam.

8th Grade Bowling Party

Saturday, December 2, 1:30pm - 4:30pm at Eagle’s Bowling Lanes

Who: 8th Grade students and parent chaperones

Details: Celebration for 8th-grade students after their High School Entrance Exam. 

Progressive Mixer

Saturday, December 2, 6pm, beginning at the Gym

Who: Adults only; advance tickets required

Details: This fantastic event benefits the Staff "Stocking Stuffer" Christmas bonus. Tickets are $80 per person, and advance tickets are required. This event will likely sell out; click to view ticket purchase OPTIONS.

Advent Wreath Workshop

Sunday, December 3, 11am, in the Church Hall

Who: families welcome, please pre-register.

Details: We invite you to share in this beautiful new tradition. The cost is $25 per wreath, and a limited number of spots are available. PRE-REGISTRATION is required.

2nd Grade Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tuesday, December 5, 7pm at Church

Please note: start time recently changed to 7pm (from 6:30pm)

Who: 2nd grade students and their parents/guardians

Details: Our 2nd graders will make their Sacrament of First Reconciliation. Please keep the children in your prayers on this special evening.  

Senior Friends Luncheon

Wednesday, December 6, 12:30pm at the Gym

Who: 8th grade students + parent volunteers

Details: Senior citizen parishioners and friends are invited to a Christmas lunch hosted by our 8th-grade class. VIEW the invite

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Friday, December 8, 8:45am at Church

Who: Students grades K-8, all families welcome

Details: Celebratory mass honoring our Blessed Mother. This week, the school mass will take place on Friday instead of Tuesday morning. All are welcome to attend.

Confirmation Retreat

Friday, December 8, 10am at Church

Who: 8th grade students

Details: Student in-school retreat reflecting on the upcoming Sacrament of Confirmation, lunch will be served.

Family Movie Night

Friday, December 8, 6pm at the Gym

Who: All families welcome (students should have designated adult supervision).

Details: All aboard The Polar Express! Join us in the gym for a showing of The Polar Express hosted by our Student Council. A suggested family donation of $5 will be donated to the Lights and Ladders Brigade and the Parish Red Tag Program. Pajamas are encouraged, and a hot chocolate and concessions stand will be available. Doors open at 5:45pm, and the movie begins at 6pm.

Red Tag Program

Saturday, December 10, final day to contribute

Who: open to all 

Details: Through the Red Tag Program, St. Barnabas has contributed thousands of Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children for decades by partnering with Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army. Last year St. Barnabas Parish helped 1,700 children. We invite all families to contribute to this heartfelt parish program. Financial contributions may be made through Give Central. LINK to Give Central.

Christmas Pageant

Friday, December 15 at 1:45pm at Church

Who: Students in Grades 1, 5, and 7 serve in the main roles; all families are welcome.

Details: Student-led telling of the Nativity story. 1st-grade students serve as angels and shepherds, 5th-grade students serve as the choir, and 7th-grade students are the actors. All families are welcome to attend this moving retelling of the First Christmas.

Christmas Luminaries

Pick-up of individual and block kits is Sunday, December 17, 11am - 1pm at school; advance ordering is recommended.  

Who: Parish-wide event

Details: Warming our hearts and brightening the way, The Luminary Project is a service project coordinated by the St. Barnabas 8th-grade students, families, and staff. Candles are displayed throughout the parish on Christmas Eve, lighting the path home after Christmas Eve mass. Luminaria kits may be purchased as a block (288 candle sets) or individual house (18 candle sets). 

• Order a Block Kit for $250
• Order an Individual House Kit $25

Spirit Wear Sale

Sunday, December 17, 11am - 1pm at school

Who: Parish-wide Event

Details: The FSA will be selling Spirit Wear immediately following 10am Mass. Come stock up on St. Barnabas wear for under the tree.

Christmas Dress Down

December 18 - December 22, students are welcome in full dress down for the week. All attire should be school-appropriate and in keeping with the chosen theme for the day. Thank you to our dedicated Student Council for organizing our Christmas dress-downs! 

• Monday, December 18 - Advent colors - pink, purple, green
• Tuesday, December 19 - Grades PK - 2 Christmas tree green, Grades 3- 5 snow white, Grades 6 - 8 Rudolph red
• Wednesday, December 20 - Christmas character day
• Thursday, December 21 - Christmas pajama day
• Friday, December 22 - Classic Christmas attire

Christmas Around the World

Tuesday, December 19 at 10am in the Church Hall

Who: Students, all families welcome

Details: After 8:45am school mass, the School Culture Club is hosting a Christmas Around the World gathering. Students and families are invited to see the wonders of Christmas as shared by Culture Club.

Christmas Band Concert

Wednesday, December 20, 7pm at the Gym

Who: Christmas Band Concert for all students of Band Director Mr. Phil Enns - St. Barnabas, St. Christopher, St. Cletus, and St. Francis Xavier 

Details: all are invited to join in this beautiful Christmas concert. 

Preschool Pageant

Thursday, December 21, 10am (school performance) and 7pm (family & friends performance) at Church

Who: Preschool students, all families welcome

Details: A heartfelt retelling of the Christmas story by our preschool students. All preschool students dismiss from school at 10:50am and will return for the evening performance.

Seating: The school day performance has limited seating for adults. Evening performance has ample seating and viewing.

Christmas Carol Assembly

Friday, December 22, 9am at the Gym

Who: Students only

Details: Our annual tradition to kick-off Christmas break, Student Council leads the show as each grade performs a Christmas carol.

Thank you

The Student Council dedicates much time to making December a special month - planning our Advent Actions, treats from St. Nicholas, Family Movie Night, Christmas dress down, classroom door decorating judges, and the Christmas Carol Assembly! We thank our Student Council members and club moderators, Mrs. McGowan and Ms. O’Neill, for serving as an example of our Root Belief, “We are called to nurture the mind, body, and spirit.”  

Christmas Break Begins

Friday, December 22, 11:50am (11:40am for Preschool).

Who: All students and staff.

Details: Christmas break begins with a half-day dismissal; After Care is not available. Our Main Office will be closed during break. We looking forward to welcoming the students back on Tuesday, January 9

“We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” Laura Ingalls Wilders