Due Today!

• Family Authorization - Please review and authorize
• Service Day - Online registration for all students and chaperones
• 8th Grade - Parent/guardian volunteer roles
• Student Data Check - Please review, sign, and return the green sheet of paper that was in your Information Sunday Family Packet. This is an essential item to ensure we have the correct contact information for each family. If you have not yet submitted it, please return it no later than Tuesday; attention to Mrs. Connolly.

i-Ready Diagnostic Next Week

The i-Ready Diagnostic is a standardized assessment required in all Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic grammar schools. The test is completed three times per year: at the beginning, middle, and year's end. A student's i-Ready Diagnostic score and growth throughout the year are important factors for placement in our Math and ELA courses. Student's 7th and 8th-grade i-Ready results are also part of the application process to most Catholic High Schools.

The beginning of the year assessment will occur next week for all Kindergarten - Grade 8 students. Testing lasts for around 60 - 75 minutes per day. The Math portion will occur during the student's designated Math block on Tuesday and Wednesday and ELA on Thursday and Friday. All other classes will meet as regular sessions.

ALL students are required to have corded headphones (Airpods are not permitted). Please ensure your child gets a good night's sleep. To allow the students to rest and recharge after school, there will be no assigned homework next week during i-Ready testing; some students may be asked to complete required classwork that was not finished during the day.

You can learn more about St. Barnabas students' i-Ready results here. We are pleased that our students consistently outperform the state of Illinois proficiency levels in reading and math and test above the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools proficiency level.

Google Classroom and Power School

Access to PowerSchool and Google Classroom will open by September 4. Your Information Sunday Family Packet contained your login credentials for PowerSchool. Google Classroom and student email credentials will be shared with all families on September 4. The teachers will review the Google Classroom process with parents at the September 5th Back to School Night.  

Stay Connected

SB Text Alert - Occasionally, we send text messages to help you remember early dismissals, weather-related closings, and due dates. Text messaging may also be used in an emergency alert. Text YES to 67587 to ensure you receive our periodic text notifications.

St. Barnabas School Buckeyes - The school's official Facebook group. Monitored by the school administration, this private group is open to current school families and is a trusted, reliable source for quick questions about all things St. Barnabas. Join here.

Treats for Teachers

Thanks to the efforts and generosity of our school parents, a few years ago, complimentary beverage refrigerators and snack areas were installed in our teacher break rooms. These areas have been a true gift for boosting morale and showing appreciation, and we would love to continue this tradition of supporting the teachers. We invite all parents to help fill these areas with complimentary beverages and snacks. Consider making a financial contribution online (and we will do the shopping!) or dropping off snacks and drinks at our main office. Learn more.

Required Back-to-School Night for Parents

Our annual Back to School Night is next Thursday, September 5! The evening begins at 7pm in the Church with a presentation from school leadership. 

Parents/guardians will transition to the school for two 25-minute sessions with teachers. Junior High (Grades 6 - 8) will gather in the Media Center; all other teachers will present in their classrooms. If you have more than two children at St. Barnabas, you may wish to have two parents/guardians attend so you can meet with all/most of the teachers.

The evening concludes with an adults-only gathering in the gym. We will enjoy five $1,000 Big Bucks Early Bird drawings and shared time and conversation in the gym. Please return your Big Bucks raffle stubs by Wednesday at 3pm for a chance at the Early Bird Drawing.

Arrival and Pick-up

Safety is our number one priority, and every parent and caregiver must adhere to the arrival and pick-up procedures for vehicles. Please take a few moments to carefully review the process and share it with any caregivers driving or picking up your children.

Quick reminders:

• NO parking on the east (school) side of Longwood
• NO dropping off at the stop signs on Longwood
• NO prolonged drop-off along 101st Street (north of the school) 
• NO u-turns

Report a Student's Absence

If your child is absent from school, you must report the absence by 8am. Please use the Absence Reporting Form or call the Main Office at 773-445-7711. In addition to the absence reporting, the parent/guardian should send an explanatory email to the homeroom teacher. The absence reporting form is always linked above in the Quick Links section of our newsletter and also on our website in the Family Resources section.

If a student is arriving late or departing from school early, a parent/guardian must notify the Main Office and the homeroom teacher in advance. 

Absent Work Policy: Absent work should be picked up in the Main Office between 2:45pm - 3:15pm; you may also request that work be sent home with a designated sibling or neighbor. Arrangements to complete missed work and tests must be made with the individual teachers within two school days upon return. In the case of an extended absence, parents are encouraged to arrange a meeting with all of their child’s teachers to ensure clear communication regarding missing work and instruction. 

Big Bucks

Looking to buy or sell more Big Bucks Tickets? Reach out to one of our parent ticket captains to secure more tickets. Be sure to return your ticket stubs by Wednesday, September 4, at 3pm for a chance at our Early Bird Drawing (five chances to win $1,000!) at our Back to School Night for Parents.

Opportunities for Students

We have numerous offerings open for registration as we start the year. Many have limited spots or a tight turnaround, so prompt registration is encouraged. Click the title for registration details.

FAITH -

Parish Children’s Choir: Grades 2 - 8

School Mass Choir: Grades 6 - 8

Altar Servers: Grades 6 - 8

SPORTS -

Saturday Morning "Coffee League" Soccer: Grades PK - K

Golf: Grades 5 - 8

ARTS -

School Band: Grades 4 - 8

AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENTS -

Chess Lessons: Grades K - 8

Yoga: Grades PK - 8

Run Like a Cheetah: Grades K - 4

Irish Dance: Grades PK4 - 8

Cub Scouts: Grades K - 5

PARENT & CHILD CLUBS -

Adventure Guides & Blackhawk Princesses: all grades

YOUNGEST BUCKEYES -

Bitty Buckeyes: children aged 18 months - 3

Skating Party

The FSA is again hosting its annual Back to School skating party in the lot next Friday, September 6th, at 5:30pm. We hope you can join us for a fun evening of bonding with classmates and socializing with parents. Bring skates or scooters from home, and we recommend helmets for all! Electric scooters are not allowed. learn more.

Class Liasion

The Classroom Liaison, coordinated through the FSA and school administration, is a volunteer role similar to a traditional “room parent." We are still in need of more volunteers! If you are interested in serving as a Classroom Liaison for your child's homeroom, please complete the Volunteer Form. The School Administration will review all submissions and appoint liaisons. Please contact FSA Liaison Coordinator Brie Trierney with any questions at marybrienne@gmail.com.

Volunteer During School Lunch

“Lunch Duty,” the perfect opportunity to experience a taste of St. Barnabas! We welcome Virtus-trained parent volunteers to help with student support during our lunch periods. 

Preschool - parents can make arrangements directly with the homeroom teachers.

Kindergarten - Grade 1 - there is a daily 20-minute lunch block. There is no need to sign up in advance, but we recommend calling to confirm the day's schedule, as our lunch times change throughout the week due to mass, assemblies, or early dismissals. learn more

Fright Fest

The Miles family of St. Barnabas and Professional National Title Network are offering an opportunity for school families to purchase tickets to the September 20 Great America Fright Fest. learn more.

Thank you to our student-athletes and coaches for your understanding and flexibility during our heat-related sports cancellations this week.