This week’s issue of School News will follow a slightly different format. We will wrap up this final newsletter before Thanksgiving break with some quick “November Notes.” 

To help you prepare for the Christmas season ahead, we have linked a webpage detailing the many festive and fun December initiatives and events. We will send additional reminders and details as each event draws closer, but we wanted to ensure you had all the December details leading into our extended Thanksgiving break. We encourage you to bookmark the Christmas at SB page, linked further below, for easy reference in the coming weeks.

Dress Down on Monday!

We invite all students to dress down on Monday as a thank-you for their generous contributions of food for Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry and stuffed animals for Share a Bear Hug. We are so thankful for your kind hearts and abundant gifts. Students may dress down in any school-appropriate clothing of their choice (sweats, jeans, hoodies, etc).

Trimester One

Trimester One ends today Friday, November 21. Power School will be temporarily shut down beginning Tuesday, November 25, as we prepare for the December 5 report card release.

Lost & Found

Please check the lost-and-found table for any missing items. All remaining pieces will be donated over our Thanksgiving break.

ASE Resumes After Thanksgiving

A reminder that ASE classes will not meet next week due to the shortened weekly schedule. Classes will resume on December 1!

Hiring - Jr. High Math and Extended Day

We have an immediate opening for a Junior High Math teacher position and Extended Day support staff to work alongside a team of experienced employees. If you are interested in either position or know someone who may be a qualified applicant, please complete the online application or connect with Mr. Stack and Ms. Sadowski to learn more.

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break begins with an 11:50am half-day dismissal (11:40am PK) on Tuesday, November 25. After Care is not available. We look forward to welcoming back the students on Monday, December 1.

Buckeye Shop, Round 2

The Buckeye Shop is open for a new round of orders. All orders placed by December 1 will be delivered before Christmas break. Spirit wear, gym uniforms, and dress code-friendly sweatshirts are all available for purchase! Shop the collection.

Thank You

Food Drive - We are so appreciative for the many donations we received. We thank our 7th-grade students for their support in organizing the contributions for delivery to The Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry.

Stuffed Animals - We are so touched by the amount of new and gently loved stuffed animals that our students contributed. The toys will provide comfort to young migrant and refugee children arriving in Chicago.

Volley for Veterans - Thank you to the many 5th - 8th grade students who participated in the charity Volley for Veterans event on Wednesday afternoon. We also thank our Student Council for organizing the event and our teachers who served as guest judges.

December is a time of great joy and excitement at St. Barnabas School. We are grateful to experience the awe and wonder of Christmas through our students' eyes, and we feel fortunate to celebrate the Christmas season together as we rejoice in Christ’s birth. 

To help you prepare for the season ahead, we’ve created a section on our website dedicated to December Christmas initiatives and activities. You'll find a printable calendar for the month, followed by a detailed description for the events. The descriptions first illustrate our ongoing initiatives - Christmas Luminaries, Staff Stocking Stuffer, Parish Red Tag, and an Advent Guide for Families. We then move into specifics on the numerous events organized by date. Some events are school- or parish-wide, and others are grade-level specific.

We know navigating the holiday season can sometimes feel hectic for parents. We encourage you to savor the moments, cherish the memories, and let us extend ourselves grace. Join in these events as much or as little as your schedule permits. Embracing our faith and sharing love and kindness should always be the most important item on the Christmas calendar. 

• FAMILY RESOURCES - School Policies and Procedures
• STAY IN THE KNOW - Link to top news & events
• REPORT AN ABSENCE - Report illness or planned absence by 8am
• HOT LUNCH - Country House food service
• STAFF DIRECTORY - Staff emails
• FAMILY DIRECTORY - DirectorySpot Access
• ROOM PARENTS - Contact Info for each homeroom
• INCIDENT REPORT - Online Incident Reporting Form
• CLASS OF 2026 - 8th Grade Events Page
• VOLUNTEER - Get Involved!
• TREATS FOR TEACHERS - Donate drinks and snacks for staff
• BUCKEYE SHOP - Spirit Wear and Uniform Apparel
• SCHOOL NEWS ARCHIVE - Links to previous issues
• PHOTO GALLERY - Links to Meghan Jones images