Student Talent Show - at 1:30pm

This afternoon, we will enjoy our annual Talent Show, hosted by the Student Council!

Due to limited seating capacity in the gym, we can only welcome parents/guardians of students performing in the show. Guests may park in the lot and enter through the gym doors for the 1:30pm performance. You will be asked to sign in at the gym vestibule prior to entering the show.

Flag Football Pack the Field - Sunday

Join us Sunday at 4:30pm at the Marist Football Field as we cheer for our 8th-grade girls flag football team in this inaugural season! The team has worked hard to learn new skills and bring their tenacity and athleticism to the field. They play St. Catherine at 4:30pm and St. Germaine at 5:30pm. Go Buckeyes! Learn more!

$3 Dress Down in Red - Monday

On Monday, we invite all students to wear red and contribute $3 in support of Kids Helping Kids - Special Children's Charity. Donations can be made online, or students may bring $3 cash to school. Thank you for your support of this wonderful charity! Learn more and contribute online!

No Hot Lunch - Tuesday & Wednesday

Our hot lunch provider, Country House Restaurant, will NOT provide lunch service on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21. Please be sure all students bring a bag lunch from home.

Hot Lunch is also not available during the final week of school. The last day of Country House provided lunch is Friday, May 30.

Summer Camps

We recently made some adjustments to our summer camps. A few camps were cancelled due to low enrollment numbers. If your child's camp was cancelled, you have been notified via email and will be issued a refund check. If you are still seeking camp activities, please check out the offerings detailed on our site. Summer Activities

Spirit Day - Next Friday

Spirit Day is next Friday, May 23. This is a 11:50am student dismissal (11:40 PK) leading into the long Memorial Day weekend. After Care is NOT available on May 23.

The school parking lot will be closed throughout the day, beginning at 6am. If possible, walking to and from school is encouraged. All students should also apply/bring sunscreen.

VOLUNTEER TO BE DUNKED!

The committee is searching for brave parents willing to take a turn in the dunk tank!! Sign-up for the fun.

WHAT TO WEAR/BRING:

The day takes place predominantly outdoors. All students should apply/bring sunscreen (baseball hats/sunhats are welcome). Students should wear comfortable gym shoes (no open-toe shoes or sandals) and bring a water bottle.

As we did last year, each grade will wear a specific color. For those who purchased shirts, orders will be sent home next Thursday (just in time for the big day!) The online orders for this year's "Camp Barnabas" shirt have closed, but all students are encouraged to wear a shirt from home reflecting their grade's color.

Preschool - Red

Kindergarten - Royal Blue

Grade 1 - Green 

Grade 2 - Pink 

Grade 3 - Yellow

Grade 4 - Light Purple

Grade 5 - Orange

Grade 6 - Light Blue 

Grade 7 - Purple 

Grade 8 - Light Green

Math Competition Winners

The Academic Excellence Committee recently hosted a math competition for our junior high students. Modeled after the Mathematical Association of America AMC-8 test, students in 7th and 8th grade enjoyed multiple weeks of preparation and fun before the official competition last Friday. Congrats to the winners!

8th GRADE WINNERS:

• 1st Place: Jimmy Jennings
• 2nd Place: Lyon

7th GRADE WINNERS:

• 1st Place: Katie Oswald
• 2nd Place (tie): Jacob Pearson and Finn McNerney



Thank you to the committee, Jim Pfeiffer, Janet Barry, Vinny Thiagarajan, and Brian Pearson!

Science Fair Winners

This week also brought some competition in Science. Our 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students have spent the past six weeks in and out of the classroom preparing for this week's school science fair. Congrats to the winners!

7th & 8th GRADE WINNERS:

• 1st Place: Quinn Griffin, Mary Herber, and Larissa Krabbe
• 2nd Place: Lilly Hurd and Audrey Lunkes
• 3rd Place: Finn Curley

6th GRADE WINNERS:

• 1st Place: Molly Kreiter and Dottie Lunkes
• 2nd Place: Skye Morris, Devan LaRosa, and Colette Snow
• 3rd Place: Sam LoMaglio, Jude Long, and Andrew Walsh

Thank you to Junior High School teacher, Mrs. Sandra Gaytan, for leading the Fair and to our judges: Ms. Araceli Lara from Mother McAuley, Mr. Kevin Butler from Marist, Mrs. Diadra Viz and Mr. Dave McGovern from St.Rita, Dr. Noel Gaytan, Dr. Matt O'Keefe, and Deacon Andy Neu.

We ask parents/guardians to take a few moments to share some feedback on the Science Fair. Complete the Feedback Survey.

Register for the Ridge Run

All those running the annual BAPA Memorial Day Ridge Run are encouraged to join team: Run Like a Cheetah. Run Like a Cheetah, owned by school parent Mary McNerney, provides valuable and engaging after-school enrichment to many of our students. Please support these two local organizations, which are a force for good in our community! Learn more and register.

The race route comes down Longwood and passes by St. Barnabas. We are looking for volunteers from 7:45am - 10am to help serve at the water table and also be a friendly and welcoming face outside of St. Barnabas. If you are available to help out (children with their parents are welcome!), please email Ms. Sadowski.

Hiring, Help Spread the Word!

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about working at St. Barnabas School, please reach out. Learn more, help spread the word, and submit a resume.

We share the news that a few of our teachers will not be returning next year: Mrs. Cynthia Gil, Mr. Michael Leveille, Ms. Molly O'Neill, and Señor Jake Schell. Please join us in wishing them well on their next adventure.

Warm Weather Uniform Reminders!

As the weather temperatures begin to rise, we remind you of our weather-related uniform policy. On warm-weather days when the outside temperature is predicted to be 75 degrees or warmer, students may wear navy uniform-style shorts paired with a uniform top or their PE uniform shorts and t-shirt. 

Tuition Reminder

A reminder to all families, please check FACTS Tuition Management to confirm your account is paid in full. A student's enrollment spot will not be secured for the next school year if an unpaid balance remains from the 2024 - 2025 school year. School transcripts/report cards will also not be released if there is a past-due amount.

i-Ready Results, Course Placement

In the coming weeks, you will be emailed your child's end-of-year i-Ready Diagnostic results. The results provide valuable insights into their current performance, highlighting both strengths and areas for continued growth. 

When grouping students for placement in Math and ELA, we use a comprehensive placement process that draws from numerous data points throughout the school year. These include: i-Ready Diagnostics 1, 2, and 3 results and growth; Savvas/HMH beginning, middle, and end-of-year assessments and growth; grades from Trimesters 1, 2, and 3; professional teacher input and classroom performance.

If your child’s placement in ELA or Math is adjusted for next school year, you will be contacted directly by their current reading or math teacher prior to the end of the school year.

Girls Basketball Tryouts

Tryouts for Fall 2025 Basketball placement on A and B teams for Grades 6 - 8 athletes will take place May 28 and May 29 in the school gym. Students must be registered prior to tryouts, Register here!

• Rising 6th Grade Tryouts: Wednesday, May 28, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
• Rising 7th Grade Tryouts: Wednesday, May 28, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
• Rising 8th Grade Tryouts: Thursday, May 29, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• Tryouts are not required for Grades 3 - 5

Sports Registration for Fall 2025

Registration for Football, Cheer, and Girls Basketball (Fall 2025 Season) is required for all interested athletes before the end of school year. Rosters are finalized in early summer, and practices begin before the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Fall Soccer registration is coming soon and will be open throughout the summer.

Football (Grades 4 - 8) and Cheer (Grades 5 - 8) - Football and Cheer athletes can now register for Beverly Catholic Knights, the new collaborative partnership between the St. Barnabas and Christ the King communities. Learn more and register. 

Girls Basketball (Grades 3 - 8) - Girls Basketball is open to all girls in (rising) grades 3 - 8.  Learn more and register.

Upcoming Field Trips

We have a host of field trips coming up during the month of May. Be sure to mark your calendar and, if needed, remember to send a bagged lunch. Thank you in advance to the many parents/guardians who are sharing their time as chaperones.

• BITTY BUCKEYES - Tuesday, May 20: Dan Ryan Woods Native Garden. bring bagged lunch
• KINDERGARTEN - Tuesday, May 27: Homewood Science Center. will return to school for lunch; wear gym uniforms
• GRADE 2 - Wednesday, June 4: Lunch at Horse Thief Hollow. wear gym uniform
• GRADE 3 - Friday, May 30: Lincoln Park Zoo. bring bagged lunch; wear gym uniform
• GRADE 4 - Wednesday, May 28: Little Red School House. bring bagged lunch; wear gym uniform
• GRADE 5 - Friday, May 30: Fair Oaks Farm. bring bagged lunch; wear gym uniform
• CULTURE CLUB - Monday, May 19: Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute. lunch provided

The Week Ahead

So much fun lies ahead - Dinner Dance this Saturday! Flag Football Pack the Field on Sunday! White Sox Game on Wednesday, and Clap Out on Thursday! Please be sure to carefully review the details of each of these events including event times, suggested apparel, and what to bring (and not bring) for the White Sox Game. Details on the Class of 2025 Events Page.

Grad Week!

When we return from the Memorial Day holiday, we officially enter Grad Week! 8th-grade students do not attend traditional classes this week and are on an alternate schedule. Please do not order Hot Lunch for 8th-grade students this week.

• Tuesday, May 27: Class Of 2025 Retreat at school 7:45am - 7pm (student only)
• Wednesday, May 28: Graduation Practice & Picnic  at school 10am - 1:30pm (student only)
• Thursday, May 29: Awards Ceremony at church 10am - 12pm (students + parents/guardians). Pick up your custom Class of 2025 yard sign on the rectory lawn after the ceremony!
• Friday, May 30: Graduation Day! Legacy Photo - student + alumni parents and/or grandparents) 6pm at Rectory Porch; Graduation Ceremony & Liturgy - 6:30pm student arrival + open family seating in church. The Liturgy and Ceremony begins at 7pm and lasts ~ 90 minutes; Student & Parent Graduation Party - Wiers Family Home at 10pm

May Crowning - Thank you to all from our community who attended last Friday's May Crowning. It was a beautiful service dedicated to the love and devotion of Mother Mary. Thank you to our 2nd and 8th grade students for reverently leading the day, and to their parents and guardians for supporting the experience. We also thank Mr. McGowan, Mrs. McGowan, and Ms. Sadowski for their efforts in planning the service.