Welcome back, Buckeyes!

It has been a wonderful week reunited with our favorite students, staff, and families. Thank you to all who joined us at Information Sunday and our First Day of School blessing; seeing our community come together to kick off another year of learning, love, and laughter was extraordinary. We hope you and your families had a restful, fun, and joyful summer.

We are looking forward to all the good to come. Thanks for choosing us to be part of your child’s educational journey. We are blessed with the best! 

Buckeyes Forever, 

Mr. Stack and Ms. Sadowski 

School News & Staying Connected

Welcome to the first official School News of the 2023-24 school year. For those new to St. Barnabas School, School News is our weekly email newsletter sent each Friday afternoon. It is one of the primary sources of school communication, and we ask all parents/guardians to set aside time each week to read it. You’ll find calendar news and helpful briefs to keep you connected and aware of all the happenings at the school. A note: formatting looks slightly different on each device. Some users may notice a ...read more info midway through the newsletter. If your browser shows that prompt, be sure to click for the full newsletter.

Here are a few other tips for staying connected...

• Website: The PARENT RESOURCE section of our website can serve as a helpful guide for many common questions.
• Social Media: If you're on social media, join our St. Barnabas School Buckeyes Facebook GROUP. This private online group allows current school families to share information and ask school-related questions. You can also follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages for the best way to see pictures from the school day activities.
• Who to Contact: On our website, you''ll find the STAFF DIRECTORY and a WHO TO CONTACT guide.  
• School Directory: We will launch a new online family directory in mid-September. This password-protected directory is intended to support parent communication between peers and friends.  
• Our Main Office: When in doubt, give us a call! Mrs. Connolly is the Main Office Admin and a helpful and friendly resource to all. During school hours, please call 773-445-7711.

Theme for Year

As is the tradition at St. Barnabas, we celebrate our one book, one school initiative each year. This year’s book, Maybe by Kobi Yamada, is a beautifully written and illustrated story about the potential and possibility in all of us. Our students and teachers enjoyed a book reading, a school assembly, and team-building activities to kick off our first week together. We encourage you all to experience this inspiring STORY in your own homes.

Each year, we also highlight one of our ROOT BELIEFS. “We are called to nurture the mind, body, and spirit” is the highlight for this school year. We are filled with optimism about the year ahead and the importance of each of us living our root beliefs.

You’ll also hear a message of “Buckeyes Forever”. This is an exciting time in our parish as we begin the 100th Anniversary of our founding. As the year unfolds, we look forward to celebrating and honoring our traditions and also rejoicing in the potential and possibility of our future.  

Facilities Updates

We have made some tremendous improvements throughout the school campus this summer. We are pleased to share that we now have A/C cooling in all educational classrooms, a significant blessing during this week’s heat wave. Every classroom is now equipped with smart boards, allowing all our teachers to integrate seamless and expert technology into their lessons. New, dimmable LED lighting has also been installed in each classroom, and wall paint has been refreshed throughout the Early Childhood Building and much of the main building. 

Our teachers have done an incredible job of preparing and decorating their classrooms, and we thank them for the care and attention they put into creating comfortable, engaging, and organized spaces for the students.

Visiting Campus During the Day

As a necessary safety precaution, all parents/guardians must check in at the main office when visiting campus during the school day. Our administration and staff are always happy to meet and talk with parents and students; however, we ask all parents to schedule meetings in advance. Drop-in meetings are not permitted at arrival, dismissal, and throughout the day. Please refer to the WHO TO CONTACT or STAFF DIRECTORY when coordinating communication with our school staff. Thank you for your cooperation.

Arrival and Dismissal

Next week begins our regular schedule. The doors open at 7:45am for the morning arrival. Students arriving past 7:55am will be marked tardy. 

Full-day preschool students dismiss at 2:50pm, and Grades K - 8 dismiss in a staggered manner between 2:55pm - 3pm. Grades 4-5 exit the doors on the north end of campus, along 101st Street. We encourage all families to set a designated meeting place for end-of-day dismissal. 

The complete arrival and dismissal procedures can be found in the Parent Resource section of our WEBSITE.

Required Authorization Forms

Thank you to the many families that have already submitted their annual authorization forms; we are grateful for your prompt attention. Forms are due from each family by Wednesday, August 30, 2023. Families who have not submitted their form by August 30 may be asked to withdraw their child(ren) from the school until authorization documentation is complete. One form submission is required per household.

Topics for review include Handbook Agreement, Technology Responsible Use Policy, Asbestos Release, School Directory Agreement, Concussion screening, and the Universal Permission Form. ACCESS AND COMPLETE FORMS HERE.

Class Liaison Sign-Up

An easy way to get involved and help out St. Barnabas - Class Liaisons! Class Liaisons, coordinated through the FSA and our school administration, serve in a role similar to a traditional room parent. Click HERE to learn more and sign up to volunteer.

Extended Day Program

Before and After Care Begins Monday, August 28

Enrollment is accepted continuously throughout the school year, and all students using this service must be pre-registered. The school’s main entrance is not accessible during Extended Day; drop-off and pick-up occur at the south doors (near the parking lot). If you plan to use Extended Day, please familiarize yourself with the pick-up and drop-off procedures detailed on our WEBSITE. Register for Extended Day HERE.

Questions may be sent to Ms. Jan Butts, Extended Day Director, at [email protected].

MealManage

Hot Lunch begins Tuesday, September 5, and the first order is due by Thursday, August 31.

Optional hot lunch for grades K-8 is available through Gilhooley's Country House. A school lunch (which includes milk) costs $6.25 per day; milk may be pre-ordered separately for $0.85. Hot lunch is not available for preschool students, but PK students may order milk. VIEW the September lunch menu.

Families pre-order lunch through the MealManage online account, and orders must be placed by Thursday night, the week before food service. Earlier today, MealManage sent new families an email with account activation details.

Questions about hot lunch may be sent to Ms. Jeanne Reilly, School Business Manager, at [email protected]. Click HERE for FAQs from MealManage.

Safety Drill

We will host a lockdown drill on campus for all grade levels on the morning of Thursday, August 31. The purpose of a school lockdown drill is to protect the people in the building from a potential emergency, such as the presence of a school shooter. As with fire drills and other safety programs, we hope and pray that these drills always stay drills, but it’s critical to teach our school community what to do quickly and correctly in an emergency. We encourage all students to participate in this safety measure. If you prefer to have your child opt out of the drill, click HERE to learn more about the day's procedures and complete the opt-out form.

Important Upcoming Meetings

All meetings detailed below are parent/guardians-only events. We recognize that attending evening meetings with children at home can sometimes be challenging, so please know while we welcome all parents/guardians from your household, it is fine if only one parent attends. 

New Families: Info Night, Tuesday, August 29 at 6:30pm

We are thrilled to welcome over 30 new families to St. Barnabas this school year. New school parents/guardians are invited to our “New Family Night” on Tuesday, August 29, at 6:30pm in the Innovation Center. You’ll hear from our school administration and some of our auxiliary board representatives and have the opportunity to meet other new St. Barnabas parents.  

All Families: Back to School Night, Thursday, September 7 at 7pm

Our annual Back to School Night is Thursday, September 7, beginning at 7pm in the Church. You’ll first hear from the school administration before heading to the school to meet with the teachers. The evening concludes with a parent gathering and Early Bird Big Bucks drawing in the school gym.

8th Grade Families: Info Night, Tuesday, September 12 at 7pm

The class of 2024 is the 98th graduating class of St. Barnabas School! We invite 8th-grade parents/guardians to an Info Night on Tuesday, September, at 7pm in the outdoor classroom. You’ll learn about the numerous events and procedures of the 8th-grade year.

Big Bucks Raffle

The Big Bucks Raffle is in full swing! Big Bucks is our largest fundraiser and generates $100,000 for the school each year.  All school families automatically receive three tickets. The cost is integrated into your tuition fees, and tickets were in the Information Sunday packets. Most school families prefer to keep these tickets in their name, allowing them three chances to win the $50,000 Grand Prize. You also have the option of reselling your tickets. If choosing this method, keep the $100 you collect for the ticket (as the ticket price has already been integrated into your tuition statements).

All ticket stubs should be returned to the school’s Main Office or Parish Rectory.  

We also ask for your help in selling tickets. Spread the word to family and friends by sharing the PURCHASE LINK, or contact one of the ticket sellers listed below to guide you through the selling process.

• Martin & Jessie Carroll: [email protected]
• Melissa Kreikemeier: [email protected]
• Gena O’Malley: [email protected]
• Lisa & Dan Payne: [email protected]
• Eileen & Joe Stoiber: [email protected] or [email protected]

FSA News

Spirit Wear, Skating Party, Flower Sale, and upcoming meeting dates! As always, the Family School Association (FSA) is busy at work helping the school. We thank them for hosting the Back to School Snow Cone Social and the First Day Welcome Coffee.

Getting to know the school and your fellow community members is a great opportunity. We encourage all families to get involved and play a role in volunteering with our FSA.  

Back to School Skating Party - Friday, September 8, at 5:30pm in the parking lot. Students are welcome on rollerblades (or skates) and scooters. Helmets are strongly encouraged, and bikes, skateboards, hoverboards, and electric scooters are not permitted. VIEW all the details.

Mum Sale - Pre-order gorgeous fall flowers for pick-up on Saturday, September 30. 9” potted mums in assorted colors are available for $11 each. Same-day sales will be limited, and pre-ordering through MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT is recommended.

Spirit Wear - Thank you to all the families that helped to make the Info Sunday Spirit Wear sale a success. The BUCKEYE SHOP is open and ready to keep you equipped throughout the year; check out the new athletic socks!

Upcoming Meeting Dates - The FSA returned to most regularly scheduled events and activities last year after pausing due to COVID. It takes a village, and more active volunteers are needed to help this incredible school auxiliary group. The vast majority of volunteer roles can be primarily managed at home. Get involved and help our community flourish!  Contact Kathleen Hogan, FSA Chair, at [email protected] to learn more.

FSA Meeting Dates:

• Thursday, September 14, 7:30pm on Rectory Porch
• Thursday, October 12, 7:30pm in Innovation Center
• Thursday, November 16, 7:30pm in Innovation Center 
• Thursday, December 14, Christmas Party - TBD location
• Thursday, November 16, 7:30pm in Innovation Center 
• Thursday, December 14, Christmas Party - TBD location
• Thursday, January 11, 7:30pm in Innovation Center
• Thursday, February 8, 7:30pm in Innovation Center
• Thursday, March 21, 7:30pm in Innovation Center
• Thursday, April 11, 7:30pm in Innovation Center
• Thursday, May 9, 7:30pm in Innovation Center

Student Ministry

School Mass Choir - open to grades 6-8, rehearsals are on Mondays from 3-3:45pm, beginning next week, August 28. School Mass Choir will perform at our first School Mass on Tuesday, August 29 at 8:45am. Interested Junior High students should plan to attend the first rehearsal to learn more. For questions, contact Mr. Patrick McGowan, Director of Faith Formation, at [email protected].

Parish Children's Choir - open to grades 3-8, rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 3-4pm, beginning September 6. Students perform at various parish masses throughout the year, including Christmas Eve and First Communion.  Registration details can be found HERE. For questions, contact Mr. Alexandre Tsomaia, Music Director, at [email protected].

Altar Servers - open to grades 6-8. All interested Junior High students are encouraged to share in the wonderful ministry of altar serving. The initial training begins on September 7. Learn more HERE. Questions regarding altar serving may be sent to Deacon Andy Neu at [email protected].

Fall Fest

St. Barnabas Parish Fall Fest is Saturday, September 23. The all-ages fest begins with 4pm mass, followed by entertainment and dining. The Big Bucks Raffle Drawing is the showcase of the evening! Don’t miss this fantastic community event. If you’re interested in helping with planning or day-off volunteering, please contact Ms. Sadowski at [email protected].

Cub Scouts

Girls and boys in grades K - 5 are invited to join Cub Scouts, Pack 3607. With Cub Scouts, children embark on an unforgettable experience that builds character, instills values, and nurtures leadership skills. Meetings are held on Thursday evenings at Bethany Union Church. Learn more HERE. Contact St. Barnabas parent, Amy Ogrin, at [email protected] with questions.