As we wrap up the first week of Advent and kick off the month of December we are reminded how blessed we are to be able to celebrate the joy, love, and fun of Christmas and our faith. The hallways and classrooms have already begun to look, sound, and feel like Christmas. Today we had our third “Working on Our Roots” assembly & workshops, and report cards will be sent home with your children today. It is so wonderful to see the growth of our Buckeyes during this first Trimester, and we look forward to all that is to come during Trimester 2. We are so proud of our 8th graders, who will be taking their High School entrance exam tomorrow, and our 2nd graders, who will be making their First Reconciliation on Tuesday. Please keep all of our Buckeyes in your thoughts and prayers. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Progressive Mixer tomorrow and Mass on Sunday, celebrating Fr. Augustus Tolton! Please pause and enjoy the magic and love of the season with your family and friends. We know how tough it can be to find the time for a pause, but it is so worth it. Have a wonderful weekend, Buckeyes. - Mr. Jonathan Stack & Ms. Grace Sadowski 

DECEMBER OVERVIEW

In our previous issue of School News, we shared a comprehensive overview of all the exciting happenings we have planned for December. If you missed that email, find it HERE.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards are being sent home today with all students. Please review, then sign and return the envelope to acknowledge your review.  

GRADE K - 4 FIELD TRIP

Our kindergarten - 4th-grade students will be heading to the Mother McAuley Children’s Christmas Concert on the morning of Wednesday, December 7. The performance features the Mother McAuley choirs, orchestra, and theatre students. The cost of the field trip is $5 per student, and permission forms were sent home on Thursday. We appreciate your prompt attention and ask for the form and fee to be returned on Monday, December 5. A copy of the permission form may also be found HERE.

CHRISTMAS LUMINARIES 

The luminaries are a new and beautiful St. Barnabas tradition. Last year over 10,000 candles were lit throughout our parish on Christmas Eve. Please help spread the word and consider leading the efforts on your block. This is an 8th Grade Service Project, and proceeds from this year's event will be donated to Feed My Starving Children, a charity selected by the students. Click HERE for full details.

• Order a Block Kit for $250
• Order an Individual House Kit for $25



Adult and student volunteers are needed on December 13 and 18 to help prepare and distribute the luminary kits.  Student volunteers are eligible to receive service hours.   Click HERE to sign-up. 

STAFF STOCKING STUFFER

Many thanks to the FSA and Men's Club for coordinating the annual Staff Stocking Stuffer. As a school staff, we are grateful and humbled by the generosity of our families every year. Click for more DETAILS or contribute HERE on Membership toolkit.

CHRISTMAS DRESS DOWN

We thank our student leaders for planning and organizing the upcoming 12 Days of Christmas Dress Down. It begins next Wednesday, December 7 with a red and green dress-down, and continues until we break for the Christmas holiday. As always, dress-down days are optional, and students are welcome to wear their uniforms as an alternative. We look forward to seeing the Christmas cheer! VIEW the complete dress-down schedule.

SENIOR LUNCHEON

Our 8th-grade students are hosting their annual Christmas Luncheon for our senior parishioners on Wednesday, December 14, at 12pm in the Gym. School families are encouraged to pass along the invitation to their neighbors. Please click HERE for the invitation and RSVP details. The committee kindly asks for an RSVP by December 7.

CATHOLIC IDENTITY

School Masses - To help foster a sense of religious community, students in grades K - 8 attend weekly mass. Generally, school mass is on Tuesday at 8:45am in the Church; occasionally, the day shifts due to religious holidays or other conflicts. A different homeroom leads each weekly mass, and we have a few special masses coming up in December that we hope you can join us for:

• Thursday, December 8 - The Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass, led by Mrs. Hannigan's 3rd grade 
• Tuesday, December 13 - Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, led by Ms. Cloonan's 2nd grade 
• Tuesday, December 20 - led by Ms. O'Neill's 2nd grade

Grades 3-8 Reconciliation - On Monday, December 5, students in grades 3 - 8 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and our staff has been working to prepare the students for this beautiful opportunity. If you wish to reflect and prepare with your child at home, here is a helpful VIDEO and a printable copy of the Act of Contrition PRAYER.

2nd Grade First Reconciliation - Please keep our 2nd-grade students in your prayers as they make their Sacrament of First Reconciliation the evening of Tuesday, December 6. 

PARISH NEWS

Father Tolton Mass this Sunday

Chicago’s very own Fr. Augustus Tolton is a candidate for sainthood. This Sunday, December 4th, St. Barnabas has the honor of hosting Bishop Perry as we gather for 10am Mass to pray for the canonization of Fr. Tolton. After mass, join us in the newly renovated Church Hall, as Bishop Perry will share a presentation on the life of Fr. Tolton.  

Advent Eucharist Adoration

All are invited to participate in a pilgrimage throughout some of our southside Catholic Churches. The Advent Eucharistic Adoration begins at St. Christina Church on Sunday, December 11, and continues throughout the week, concluding at St. Barnabas Church on the evening of Thursday, December 15. CLICK here for the schedule and details. 

LEADERSHIP AWARD 

We are honored to share that 8th-grade student Kieran Towe has been awarded the Brother Rice HS “Be Exceptional Leadership Award.” The award recognizes 8th-grade students that demonstrate academic achievement and share their time and talent with the community. Congrats Kieran!

ATHLETIC ALL STARS

A huge congratulations to 8th-grade students, Anna Herber and Avery Mullaghy, who were invited to play in the Southside Catholic Conference All-Star Basketball Game. Well done and thank you for sharing your Buckeye talent and spirit!!

SCHOOL BOARD

Meeting Minutes from the October School Advisory Board meeting are now available for your review on the school website. Per Archiodiocese guidelines and School Board by-laws, minutes are available on a password-protected portion of our school website. CLICK to access. username: stbparent; password: BuckeyePride 

SWEETHEART SOIREE 

Friday, January 20 from 7pm - 10pm St. Barnabas girls and their favorite date are invited to FSA’s “Dancing in the Moonlight” Sweetheart Soiree. View the SAVE THE DATE.

FSA EAT AND EARN

Order S&T Provisions pizza setup vouchers and $2 of every voucher sold will go back to the school! These are perfect for weekday meals, stocking stuffers, or a fun and tasty Christmas break activity. Each order contains three pizza crusts and all the fixings. S&T vouchers can be picked up at school on the evening of Monday, December 19, or sent home with your oldest child on Tuesday, December 20.  

Orders are due by Wednesday, December 14th. 

ORDER now on Membership Toolkit. 

BITTY BUCKEYES

Registration is now open for Winter and Spring class sessions. Classes take place on Tuesday mornings and are open to our youngest Buckeyes (age 18 months - 3 years) and their caregivers. Register HERE or connect with Katelynn Gill at [email protected]