Online School Directory

We are excited to announce the launch of our new school directory using the DirectorySpot app. The school directory is intended to support parent communication between peers and friends. Within the directory, authorized parent users will have the ability to view:  

1. Parent data: parent name, phone and email address (if available), and the child’s name. 
2. Student data: student name, grade, and homeroom. 

You should have received an introductory email this afternoon from Directory Spot to set up your account for the first time use. (check your junk/trash if you missed it!).

HOW TO GET STARTED

1. Download the Directory Spot app for your phone. Apple Users; Android Users. You can also access the directory from a desktop at DirectorySpot.net, but the phone app is the simplest way to utilize it.   
2. First-Time Access:

• Click the "set password" link in the introductory email that came from Directory Spot. OR
• Open the app, enter your email address as the username, and click on "Reset Password."  An email will be sent to you with a link to set your password. After setting your password, relaunch the DirectorySpot app, and log in with your username and password. VIEW password set instructions.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Shannon Griffin at [email protected]

Fall Fest & Big Bucks

St. Barnabas Parish Fall Fest is this weekend - Saturday, September 23! The all-ages fest begins with a 4pm mass, followed by entertainment and dining. Don’t miss this fantastic community event that includes our Big Bucks Drawing. Who will be the $50,000 prize winner?

SCHOOL FAMILIES

Each school family received three Big Bucks tickets at Information Sunday, and the cost is included in your tuition. Tickets for school families are automatically entered into the drawing.

ONLINE PURCHASE LINK

The link to purchase through GIVE CENTRAL will remain open until we sell out! Please share with your friends and families!

DRAWING 

The drawing will take place around 8pm on Saturday night. While we hope to see each and every one of you there, you do not need to be present to win.

Best of luck to all! We look ahead with great excitement for the winning announcement.

Reminder

We have a few upcoming days off and early dismissals we wanted to call to your attention.

• Friday, September 22 - No School
• Wednesday, September 27 - 1:30pm Dismissal, Aftercare until 5:30pm
• Thursday, October 5 - 11:50am Dismissal, no Aftercare
• Friday, October 6 - No School
• Monday, October 9 - No School

Upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 4, from 4pm - 7pm and Thursday, October 5, from 1pm - 6pm. Parents/guardians are welcome to schedule a meeting with up to two teachers per child. Students in grades 6-8 are highly encouraged to attend conferences with their parents/guardians. A scheduling link will be sent early next week to all families. 

Van Gogh School Pictures

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces at PK - Grade 7 Picture Day this past Monday.

8th-grade students will have their graduation portraits taken on Wednesday, October 18, and retakes for all students will occur on Friday, November 3.

If you did not pre-order your photo packages, Van Gogh Photography will send proofs home in a few weeks, and you will have another opportunity to order a photo package if you choose.

Bitty Buckeyes Registration

Registration is now open for Bitty Buckeyes. Sessions begin on Tuesday, October 3. Spots are limited, REGISTER TODAY!

Bitty Buckeyes is our weekly, one-hour session for young children (18 months to age 3) accompanied by their adult companion. Children are exposed to language and motor skill development and religious instruction through fun, age-appropriate activities, including interactive stories, songs, crafts, and exploratory play. 

Help spread the word; please share the Bitty Buckeyes information with your friends and neighbors. We love welcoming new families to our school through Bitty Buckeyes.

Lunch Volunteers

Consider signing up for Lunch Duty, a great way to see your child during the day and meet their classmates. 

• Volunteer during the Week of September 25
• Volunteer during the Week of October 2

High School Admissions

Earlier this week, we shared an email with our 6th - 8th grade junior high families. The email outlined helpful tips about admissions at some of the area Catholic High Schools. If you missed the message, you can find it HERE.

Sacramental Preparations

Attached are two helpful calendar overviews of the Sacramental Events for our 2nd and 8th-grade students. Please feel free to contact Mr. Patrick McGowan, Director of Faith Formation, [email protected] with any questions.

2nd Grade Sacraments Calendar

8th Grade Sacraments Calendar

FSA News

Order Fall Mums

One more week to order beautiful fall floral mums for pick-up on Saturday, September 30. Pre-ordering is highly encouraged. Order today on MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT.

Thank You Class Liaisons

Once again,we have a tremendous team of volunteer parents to support our homerooms. You have likely heard from your child's homeroom liaison already; if not, their contact information is listed HERE. Liaisons offer help to teachers, school administration, and the FSA through sharing support, guidance, and community connection. A big thanks to Carly Hurd for coordinating the liaisons

Men's Club Progressive Mixer

The Men’s Club is excited to host the 17th Annual Progressive Mixer on Saturday, Decemeber 3! Travel from house to house, celebrating the holidays with old friends and meeting lots of new ones. Enjoy food, drinks, and the warmth of the holidays. This incredible night helps fund the FSA Stocking Stuffer for our teachers. PURCHASE your tickets today; this event always sells out!

REQUEST FOR HOST HOMES

We cannot make the Progressive event possible without you! If you would like to be a host home or know of someone that we should contact, please reach out to us! It is a wonderful way to meet new friends. For more information, feel free to contact the coordinators -

• Ted Kiper: 773-852-1028, [email protected]
• Joe Stoiber: 312-363-9434, [email protected]
• Patrick Doig: 312-363-9434, [email protected]

Call for Volunteers

2024 is the 100th Anniversary of St. Barnabas Parish. We are looking forward to a year of celebrating the past century of faith, family, love, laughter, and life as a beloved community.

We are in need of many hands and hearts to make this a year that our parish will look back on for the next 100 years. If you would like to be part of the planning and execution of this celebration, please complete the volunteer FORM by Wednesday, September 27th.

Please share this form with family, friends, and neighbors! Please reach out to Grace Sadowski at [email protected] with any questions. Communication will be sent out about committees by October 1st. 

SPR Update 

Southside Parish Renewal is now officially entering its second year of engagement. SPR is a partnership between four south-side parishes: St. Barnabas, Christ the King, St. Cajetan, and St. John Fisher. Lay parishioners, with the support and guidance of clergy, drive SPR. The goal is to strengthen the faith lives of Catholics in our community by addressing the reasons for the increased disengagement from parish and faith life.  

The program's success depends on the support and active involvement of a broad range of parishioners. Make sure and sign up to receive their email newsletters, and learn more HERE. 

Taize

Please join us for an evening of prayer, chant, and quiet reflection on Tuesday, September 26 at 7pm in the Holy Spirit Chapel at Church. Learn more HERE.

Honoring St. Phoebe

Join us on Sunday, October 1, for 10am Mass. The mass offers a special blessing to our 2nd-grade and 8th-grade at the Sacrament Promises mass. At this same mass, we also celebrate and honor St. Phoebe and women’s gifts to the Church.