It is hard to believe that we kicked off the 3rd trimester this week. We will blink, and it will be May. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your continued commitment to St. Barnabas!  We are so proud of all that our students, teachers, and families have accomplished in the first two trimesters and look forward to ending the year stronger than ever as we approach the final months of the school year.

Thank you to the FSA for coorindating the St. Barnabas float in the South Side Irish Parade. It will be a treasured memory for many of our students, staff, and families and we definitely feel "Lucky to be a Buckeye." Our 8th graders began preparing for this year's Stations of the Cross this week. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they approach the Sacrament of Confirmation next Sunday. Thank you to our Culture Club for leading the way in celebrating Women's History Month. Each morning during the advisory period they share stories and history of the many incredible women who shape and influence us.  Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick, and on Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of St. Joseph. We honor the legacy of these two fine saints who can serve as beautiful role models. Have a great weekend, Buckeyes! ~ Mr. Stack and Ms. Sadowski

REPORT CARDS COMING HOME

Trimester 2 report cards will be sent home with all students this afternoon; please take a moment to review them with your child. There is so much to celebrate, and there is always room to grow, improve and set new goals. 

Please sign the report card envelope, and return it to school by next Friday, March 24. You may keep the report card for your records; only the envelope should be returned to school.

ARCH SURVEY CLOSES TODAY

Today is the final day to complete The Archdiocese of Chicago Parent Survey.  If you still need to complete it, please connect HERE.  It should take about 10 minutes of your time and will provide the school with valuable insights.

WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

Tuesday, March 21

We invite all students to "Rock Your Socks" on Tuesday in honor of 7th-grade student Parker Baudo and in support of Down syndrome. Students are encouraged to wear bright, colorful socks with their uniform.

Students that own Parker's Party t-shirts and sweatshirts are also welcome to wear their gear with uniform bottoms (and colorful socks). Need gear? There is still time to order! Deliveries can be arranged for this weekend or sent home with students on Monday. ORDER HERE.

Why "Rock Your Socks on the 21st"? March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have three copies of their 21st chromosome, and when looking at a picture of chromosomes under a microscope, the chromosomes look like striped socks.

THE BOOK FAIR IS NEXT WEEK

The FSA is hosting the Scholastic Book Fair next week on Wednesday, March 22, and Thursday, March 23 in the Church Hall. The Book Fair is an annual highlight and an event favorite of many students. View the complete details HERE.

Class Schedule: Students in grades Preschool - 5 attend with their homeroom, and grades 6-8 attend with their ELA class. You may view the class schedule HERE.  

eWallet: For cashless shopping, we recommend setting up an eWallet for your child. It is simple to set up and book fair volunteers will have an easy-to-access record of your child’s eWallet at check-out. Set-up HERE.

Volunteer: Volunteers are needed for set-up, breakdown, and during the event. Check out the class schedule linked above, should you wish to volunteer when your child attends.  Register to volunteer on MEMBERSHIP TOOLKIT. 

Gift to the Media Center: If you would like to contribute to the St. Barnabas eWallet, you may donate HERE. Media teacher Mrs. Cindy Quick will use the donations to fill our Media Center shelves with new titles for all grade levels.

ST. JOSEPH’S DAY MASS

All are welcome to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day this Sunday, March 19, with a 5pm Mass at Church and a shared pasta dinner in the Church Hall. Sunday night mass is an alternative to our typical morning mass schedule and an excellent opportunity to center yourself for the week ahead, followed by good company and cheer with fellow parishioners. We hope to see you all on Sunday evening!

SCHOOL BOARD

New visitor policy

The next School Advisory Board meeting is on Monday, March 27, at 7pm in the Media Center. The Board will hold its second Open Forum of school year on Monday, April 24.

At the February meeting, the Board approved its first official Visitor Policy. The policy details the guidelines for visitor attendance at School Board meetings. The meetings have never been private, but specific visitor guidelines have never existed in the St. Barnabas Board bylaws. The Board welcomes parent and community involvement, and we recommend that you view the new policy HERE.

In the coming month, the School Board will open the application process for new members to serve on the School Advisory Board. We look forward to significant interest from the St. Barnabas community. You may read about the board member process on page 2 of the bylaws, found on the school website or linked HERE.

SPRING SPORTS

The deadline to register is next week.

Register for spring sports on REGISTRATION BUZZ.

• Spring Soccer, grades K-8. Season is late March through early May; expect one weekly game (various days of the week and locations) and one-two practices per week.
• Junior Basketball, grades K-3. Season is late March through early May on Sunday afternoons in the school gym. 
• Golf, grade 8 only. Season is late March through late May; practice at The Meadows in Blue Island on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The complete schedule can be found on Registration Buzz.

FIELD TRIPS NEXT WEEK

Next week the 3rd and 4th grade students will have the opportunity to explore some museums. On Thursday, March 22 the 3rd Grade will visit the Field Museum and on Friday, March 23 the 4th Grade will visit the Museum of Science and Industry. Both grades of students should plan to bring a bag lunch and wear their gym uniform.  

THANK YOU

Thank you to Lauren Doig and the FSA for coordinating the St. Barnabas float in the South Side Irish Parade. And thank you to Meg Kreiter for supporting the spirit wear sales. We are so grateful for your time and dedication that allowed our school and parish to showcase Buckeye Pride!  

THANK YOU

We also thank Jessica McCarihan and Colleen Cooney for their dedication in planning this year’s celebration of Pat Mac’s Pack and St. Baldrick’s Day. Our students raised over $28,000 in support of pediatric cancer.

SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL MUSICAL

If you have items to contribute, please email Mrs. Bachler at nmalinowski@stbarnabasparish.org.

PARISH TAIZE PRAYER

All are invited to gather for an evening of Taize Prayer on Thursday, March 23, at 7:00 PM in the Holy Spirit Chapel. With song, scripture, and quiet reflection, Taize is an easy way to bring more light into your prayer during Lent.