Our Open House this weekend offers an opportunity for prospective families to tour our school and experience our incredible community. It is also an opportunity for you - our current school families - to experience and appreciate St. Barnabas. The 10am parish mass is a celebration of Catholic education and will feature our Children’s Choir, student representatives, and guest speakers. We also invite all our current families to spend time in the school from 11:30am - 1pm. Let your child give you a tour of the building, visit their classroom, and spend time in the gym connecting with friends, shopping for spirit wear, or connecting with our auxiliary clubs and activities.

This year, we invite you to contribute desserts to a shared sweets table in the gym. Thank you to those who have signed up to CONTRIBUTE. You may drop off your sweets at the gym doors on Sunday morning 8am - 10am!

Dress Down Days Next Week

As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, we invite students to enjoy a few free dress-down days. As always, dress down is optional, and students are welcome to wear their regular uniform if they prefer.

• Monday, January 29: Student’s choice, any school-appropriate clothing
• Wednesday, January 31: Red, white and blue
• Friday, February 2: St. Barnabas spirit wear
• Tuesday and Thursday are both regular uniform days.

Hall of Heroes

On Wednesday, we celebrate our nation as part of Catholic Schools Week. In honor of that day, we are creating a "Hall of Heroes." We invite you to send a photo of a current or retired military loved one to display. Use the attached TEMPLATE (or use an index card from home) to indicate the service member's name. Students should give the photo to their homeroom teacher. 

Thank you to those families who have already submitted a photo; if you would still like to participate, please send a photo by Monday, January 29. Please only send copies of the original photo, as we cannot guarantee that images will be returned.

Grandparents Mass - January 30

We will honor our grandparents on Tuesday, January 30, at the 8:45am weekly school mass. We encourage students to extend an invitation to their grandparents, senior citizen family members, friends, or neighbors to join our weekly mass. Reserved seating will be available behind the student section. After mass, guests are invited to the school’s Main Hall for coffee and sweets.  

1:30 Dismissal - January 31

Wednesday, January 31, is a 1:30pm dismissal for students (1:20pm for preschool). Aftercare is available until 5:30pm.

Celebrating Black History Month

In February, we celebrate Black History Month! We kick off the month with an 8:45am mass on Tuesday, February 6, and wrap up the month with our Black Excellence Student Assembly on Friday, February 23.  

Tshirt sale: Our Culture Club has designed incredible t-shirts, which are offered in both short and long-sleeve options. Proceeds from t-shirt sales will benefit the Culture Club and United Negro College Fund (UNCF). Order t-shirts in MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT by Friday, February 9, for in-school delivery February 20-21.

Dress down: On Friday, February 23, we will also host a dress-down benefiting Culture Club. Wear your Black History shirt or contribute $3, and dress down in red, black, and green.

Call for performers for our Black Excellence Assembly! 

PK-8 students who are interested in participating in a student-led African dance please contact Mrs. Bachler at [email protected]. Practices will be Tuesday, Wednesday, or Fridays afterschool during the month of February! Email Mrs. Bachler for details, flyers available in the Art Room! 

Grades 5-8: Don't forget to register for High School Musical

All students in grades 5 - 8 are invited to be part of the cast or crew of High School Musical, Jr.!  Register closes on January 31. Cast auditions will be held on February 7 and 8. CLICK HERE for the registration link and the details about audition and rehearsal times and students and family requirements.

Boys Volleyball

Registration for Boys Volleyball, grades 4 - 8, is now open in REGISTRATION BUZZ. There is a tight turnaround time, and the deadline to register is next Thursday, February 1! For questions, contact Andrea Crowley, Boys Volleyball Coordinator, at [email protected].

Afterschool Yoga

Afterschool Yoga is back! Open to students PK - 8, enjoy yoga on Tuesdays from 3-4pm with Ms. Jackie Braggs from The Studio Beverly. Sign-up in MEMERBSHIP TOOLKIT.

Parker's Party

Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Save the Date to take the plunge with Parker's Party for the annual Special Olympics Polar Plunge. Join the party or click to donate HERE!

School Board: Trivia Night

Together with Chicago Trivia Guys, the School Advisory Board Presents Trivia Night on February 2nd. There will be a cash prize for 1st place! Sign up individually and be placed on a team or as a group of six. Tickets are available for PURCHASE via Give Central.

Athletics: Pack the House

Save the Date for the upcoming Pack the House. Girls Volleyball is Friday evening, February 9, and Boys Basketball is Saturday evening, February 10. We look forward to a fun weekend celebrating the hard work and commitment of our Buckeyes!

FSA: Fun Food Due Today by 3pm

The FSA is hosting Barraco's Fun Food on Friday, February 2. Student lunch offerings include pizza, chicken tenders, burgers, and mostaccoli. Orders are due TODAY, January 26, at 3pm. To place an order, log into your MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT account. Country House hot lunch is not available on Fun Food days. Questions regarding order placement may be sent to Elise Mayer at [email protected]

100th Anniversary Banners

Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of St. Barnabas Parish with a personalized banner on Longwood Drive. Learn more and order a banner HERE.

Men's CRHP Retreat

All men of St. Barnabas are invited and welcome to the Christ Renews His Parish Weekend February 3 - 4. More than 1,000 St. Barnabas parishioners have taken part in this overnight experience over the past 20 years. Learn more about the retreat weekend HERE. 

Share the Warmth

On Saturday, February 10, please join in a Pack the Pews Mass & Pot Luck celebration. After the 4pm mass, all are welcome to gather for a potluck in the Church Hall; sign up to RSVP and/or contribute HERE.

Burning of Palms

Sunday, February 11, 12:30pm at Cajetan

Join us as we pray together with our fellow Southside parishes and prepare for Lent. In a spirit of collaboration among our southside parishes, St. Barnabas parishioners are invited to bring any old palms they have saved from last year and bring them to St. Cajetan on Sunday. February 11 at 12:30 pm. There will be a short prayer service. followed by a ritual burning of palms. The ashes from the ritual fire will be made into the ashes we use on Ash Wednesday, February 14th.