This week we honored and celebrated our amazing teachers and all they do to make our school a wonderful place to learn. Our teachers are the people who make the magic happen day in and day out! Teaching is truly a work of HEART, and we are so blessed to work alongside the best of the best. Thank you to our amazing community for helping us celebrate this week!

This week was also filled with moments that will leave lasting impressions on the minds and hearts of our students, teachers, and families. Congratulations to our 2nd-grade students on their First Holy Communion last weekend. It was a memorable day filled with so much joy. May God bless them this week and always. This week, our 8th-grade celebrations continued at the Ribbon Mass and the Arts & Athletic Banquet. It is incredible to witness the amazing accomplishments of our students. The smiles and tears of joy were contagious at Thursday's Preschool Mother’s Day celebration. It was an adorable day full of love as the students participated in a fashion show, sang songs, and enjoyed sweets. Thank you to our preschool team for making it so beautiful. 

This afternoon's May Crowning is certain to be a beautiful celebration honoring our Blessed Mother. Thank you to our 2nd and 8th-grade students for leading this special tradition; a perfect way to enter Mother’s Day weekend.

God bless all mothers this weekend and always. Have a great weekend, Buckeyes!  ~ Mr. Stack and Ms. Sadowski.

It has been a heartfelt week of love and appreciation for our staff as we celebrate Teacher Appreciate Week. Thank you, parents, for your unwavering support, gifts, letters, kind words, and for the abundant break room snacks and drinks! Many thanks to our axillary boards for your generosity in treating the staff. We enjoyed a beautiful breakfast from the FSA and a fantastic week of lunchtime treats - Buona Beef from The Athletic Board, Joey’s Food Truck from the Parent Foundation, and Chi Tung from The School Board. We are so grateful this week and always.

Thank you to the many families that generously contributed to Special Olympics and participated in the Chipotle Eat & Earn! We raised $800 for Special Olympics athletes, and $423 was raised for St. Barnabas through the FSA Eat & Earn!

APPLICATION DUE TODAY

The Board seeks three new members to fulfill a 3-year term from June 2023 through June 2026. Applications are due today, Friday, May 12. Complete the application HERE.

OPEN FORUM

The Open Forum meeting will be held on Monday, May 22, at 7 pm, in the Church Hall. If you would like to address The Board during the Open Forum, please review the details HERE and email the School Board no later today, Friday, May 12. Questions for the School Board may be sent to schoolboard@stbarnabasparish.org.

SOX GAME THIS WEEKEND

Tickets are still available! The FSA is hosting a Mother-Son baseball game this weekend, Saturday, May 13 at 6:10pm Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros. Click HERE for details and to order tickets. Questions, contact Katie Rao at kathar6@hotmail.com.

iREADY 

Next week is the end-of-year iReady diagnostic for Math and ELA. Students will complete the diagnostic over the week, with two partial days for Math testing and two partial days for ELA testing. Questions regarding the iReady diagnostic may be directed to the student’s teacher.

END-OF-YEAR DATES

Calendar dates for the final week of the school year are outlined below. Please call or email Ms. Sue Connolly at the School Main Office with questions or report a school absence at 773-445-7711; sconnolly@stbarnabasparish.org.

Also important to note: Wednesday, May 31 is a 1:30 dismissal day.

KEY DATES FOR NEXT YEAR

We look forward to next school year with great excitement and are sharing some key dates, including the first and last day of school and holiday vacations. At Information Sunday on August 20, 2023, we will release the complete calendar of the year, including early dismissals and professional development days.

PRESCHOOL NEWS 

We are opening a half-day afternoon option for preschool students. Help us spread the word! In addition to our traditional full-day and half-day morning options, we are thrilled to offer an additional schedule choice for our young Buckeyes. We encourage you to share this news with your friends and neighbors.

We are also hosting a Preschool Shadow Day for prospective families on Wednesday, May 31; please invite friends and neighbors to shadow!

SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR ALL

Per guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Elementary School Association, ALL St. Barnabas students must have an annual sports physical on file next school year. Sports physicals may be completed by your child’s pediatrician or at any clinic such as CVS, Walgreens, or St. Xavier. Sports physicals are due at Information Sunday, August 20, 2023. Students will not be permitted to participate in practice or games next year without a physical on file. Download the Sports Physical form HERE.  

MEDICAL FORMS FOR NEXT YEAR

In addition to sports physicals for all, annual medical forms are due for some grades. Students with an allergy action plan or who require medication must complete authorization forms annually. Medical forms and authorization forms are due at Information Sunday, August 20, 2023. Forms may be accessed HERE.

• Preschool - Medical Form
• Kindergarten - Medical Form, Dental Form, Vision Form, 
• 2nd Grade - Dental Form
• 6th Grade - Medical Form, Dental Form

We have a few upcoming volunteer opportunities! Register today on MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT.

The Art Fair Committee is in need of volunteers for event set-up on May 18, and throughout Art Fair weekend, May 20 & 21.  The Spirit Day Committee is in need of volunteers for the all-school Spirit Day on Friday, May 26.

ART FAIR

The "Unique and United" Art Fair is Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21. All students will showcase their school-created art, and Culture Club will host a Craft Fair. Also, please join us for a special 10am Mass on Sunday, May 21, before the Art Fair, to honor and celebrate the artists.

Registration is now open for most fall 2023 sports, make sure to get your registration in asap so coordinators may formalize teams for the start to next school year! Register today on REGISTRATION BUZZ.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

• Coordinator: George Carson - georgecarson7788@outlook.com
• Rising Grades 6th - 8th: Tryouts for Girls’ Basketball were earlier this week. Registration is required by May 19. After the registration process is complete and we have an accurate number of players per grade, athletes will be sorted into A and B teams. Players can expect to hear team placement by the week of May 22.
• Rising Grades 3-5th: Registration is also open for the younger students, however, tryouts were not required in these grades.

FOOTBALL

• Coordinator: Brian Murrihy - stbfootball@gmail.com.
• Open to rising 4th - 8th grade students

CHEER

• Coordinators: Lucy Hibbird, Tara Miles, and Katrina Murrihy - stbarnbascheerleading@gmail.com
• Open to rising 4 - 8

SOCCER REGISTRATION - OPENS NEXT WEEK!

• Coordinator: Kevin O’Kelley - saintbarnabassoccer@gmail.com
• Saturday Soccer League open to rising PK -4
• League Soccer open to rising 1-8

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Elections for next year’s Student Council are coming soon! Interested 5th, 6th, and 7th-grade candidates received detailed instructions at the after-school info sessions earlier this week. Important dates to note: 

• Wednesday, May 17 - Candidate permission slip due to Mrs. McGowan or Ms. O’Neill.
• Monday, May 22 - Campaigning officially begins, be sure to follow all campaign guidelines.
• Friday, May 26 - Printed speech due to Mrs. McGowan & Ms. O’Neill
• Wednesday, May 31 - Speeches and Election

BEAN BAG & BOARDS WANTED

Student Council is hosting its first annual "8th Grade Barnabags" bean bag tournament on Friday, May 19th, and is looking to borrow boards and bean bags for the tournament. Please email Mrs. McGowan mmcgowan@stbarnabasparish.org or Ms. O'Neill moneill@stbarnabasparish.org if you can lend boards and bags for this event.  

All 8th-grade students are invited to participate in the “Barnabags” fundraising event. The event will take place during the school day, and additional details will be shared with the students. Proceeds will support the Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation, which supports ovarian cancer research and childhood literacy initiatives.  

TALENT SHOW

The annual Talent Show will take place on Thursday, May 25th. All students in grades K-8 are invited to participate in a solo or group act. Interested participants should submit this FORM by Friday, May 19th. All talent show participants must attend a mandatory rehearsal and run-through on Tuesday, May 23rd from 3-4 pm. View FLYER for more details.

HOWL AT THE MOON

Gather with friends to start the summer and celebrate the Feast of St. Barnabas as you enjoy the dueling pianos of Howl at the Moon. Tickets are now available for purchase on Give Central. Individual tickets are $35 in advance, purchase HERE. Premium seating tables for six are $300 and available for purchase HERE. Questions, contact Anita Snow at anitamsnow@gmail.com.

RIDGE RUN

Register HERE with the St. Barnabas team for a $5 discount if you plan to run the BAPA Ridge Run this year! Use code: team2023, team captain: Ms. Grace Sadowski when registering. We are not hosting a formal group training this year, but feel free to connect with your running buddies and plan a few training days together.  

FATHER MALLOY SPEAKER SERIES

We honor the life of our beloved former pastor with the engaging Father Malloy Speaker Series that kick-off June 11. The first talk “When the Catholics Came to Beverly” will focus on the origins of St. Barnabas Parish and the Irish trek across Chicago’s South Side from the Stockyard neighborhoods to Beverly. Read more about the Speaker Series HERE.